Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele w...

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Autores principales: Mengistu, S., Nurfeta, A., Tolera, Adugna, Bezabih, Melkamu, Adie, Aberra, Woldemeskel, Endalkachew, Zenebe, M.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Hindawi Limited 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114379
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author Mengistu, S.
Nurfeta, A.
Tolera, Adugna
Bezabih, Melkamu
Adie, Aberra
Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Zenebe, M.
author_browse Adie, Aberra
Bezabih, Melkamu
Mengistu, S.
Nurfeta, A.
Tolera, Adugna
Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Zenebe, M.
author_facet Mengistu, S.
Nurfeta, A.
Tolera, Adugna
Bezabih, Melkamu
Adie, Aberra
Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Zenebe, M.
author_sort Mengistu, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. The topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher ( p ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention ( p ≤ 0.01) areas. The majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. These forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary ( p ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention ( p ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding ( p ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access ( p < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization.
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publishDate 2021
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publisherStr Hindawi Limited
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spelling CGSpace1143792024-08-27T10:36:59Z Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia Mengistu, S. Nurfeta, A. Tolera, Adugna Bezabih, Melkamu Adie, Aberra Woldemeskel, Endalkachew Zenebe, M. animal production livestock forage animal feeding crops mixed farming farming systems This study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. The topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher ( p ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention ( p ≤ 0.01) areas. The majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. These forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary ( p ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention ( p ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding ( p ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access ( p < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization. 2021-06-25 2021-07-26T08:16:39Z 2021-07-26T08:16:39Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114379 en Open Access Hindawi Limited Mengistu, S., Nurfeta, A., Tolera, A., Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Wolde-meskel, E. and Zenebe, M. 2021. Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Advances in Agriculture 2021:ID 5553659.
spellingShingle animal production
livestock
forage
animal feeding
crops
mixed farming
farming systems
Mengistu, S.
Nurfeta, A.
Tolera, Adugna
Bezabih, Melkamu
Adie, Aberra
Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Zenebe, M.
Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title_full Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title_short Livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale District of Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia
title_sort livestock production challenges and improved forage production efforts in the damot gale district of wolaita zone ethiopia
topic animal production
livestock
forage
animal feeding
crops
mixed farming
farming systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114379
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