Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia
A study was conducted to document how smallholder farmers in Ethiopia utilize desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and explain the determinants of alternative and competing uses of the grass. The study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire for 240 farmers in the districts of Burie Zur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
International Center for Tropical Agriculture
2016
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76916 |
| _version_ | 1855541984352010240 |
|---|---|
| author | Asmare, Bimrew Demeke, S. Ejeta, Taye Tolemariam Tegegne, Firew Wamatu, Jane Rischkowsky, Barbara A. |
| author_browse | Asmare, Bimrew Demeke, S. Ejeta, Taye Tolemariam Rischkowsky, Barbara A. Tegegne, Firew Wamatu, Jane |
| author_facet | Asmare, Bimrew Demeke, S. Ejeta, Taye Tolemariam Tegegne, Firew Wamatu, Jane Rischkowsky, Barbara A. |
| author_sort | Asmare, Bimrew |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | A study was conducted to document how smallholder farmers in Ethiopia utilize desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and explain the determinants of alternative and competing uses of the grass. The study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire for 240 farmers in the districts of Burie Zuria and Doyogena, complemented with input from key informants and secondary data. The dependent variables tested were the use of desho grass as a feed, multipurpose uses of the grass and types of livestock fed. To test the effect of the explanatory variables on the dependent variables, separate univariate Probit models were used. Although the majority of respondents can read and write, about 23% of respondents were illiterate. The average desho grass-producing farmer in the sample owned 0.95 ha of farmland and 3.56 tropical livestock units; average household size was 6.5 people with a household head who was typically male (91% of households). Eighty percent of respondents in Burie Zuria and all respondents in Doyogena district depended solely on rain for desho grass production. Fifty-eight percent in Burie Zuria and 65% in Doyogena district applied either manure or artificial fertilizer to the grass. Weeding of desho grass was not practiced by any respondents in either district. Sixty percent of farmers used desho grass as a feed and 35% used it for more than a single purpose. Forty-two percent of farmers who fed desho grass did so to only lactating cattle, 3% fed it to small ruminants and 53% fed it to all livestock species. There were significant negative correlations (P<0.01) between both experience in production of desho grass and access to training in its production and utilization, and its utilization as a feed. Seventy percent of farmers in Burie Zuria and 13% in Doyogena have received training in desho grass production. To expand the utilization of the grass to as many farmers as possible, further training should be provided. A multi-faceted approach would be needed for the 23% of illiterate farmers over the 2 districts. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace76916 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | International Center for Tropical Agriculture |
| publisherStr | International Center for Tropical Agriculture |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace769162024-04-25T06:01:55Z Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia Asmare, Bimrew Demeke, S. Ejeta, Taye Tolemariam Tegegne, Firew Wamatu, Jane Rischkowsky, Barbara A. animal feeding feeds farmers research A study was conducted to document how smallholder farmers in Ethiopia utilize desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) and explain the determinants of alternative and competing uses of the grass. The study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire for 240 farmers in the districts of Burie Zuria and Doyogena, complemented with input from key informants and secondary data. The dependent variables tested were the use of desho grass as a feed, multipurpose uses of the grass and types of livestock fed. To test the effect of the explanatory variables on the dependent variables, separate univariate Probit models were used. Although the majority of respondents can read and write, about 23% of respondents were illiterate. The average desho grass-producing farmer in the sample owned 0.95 ha of farmland and 3.56 tropical livestock units; average household size was 6.5 people with a household head who was typically male (91% of households). Eighty percent of respondents in Burie Zuria and all respondents in Doyogena district depended solely on rain for desho grass production. Fifty-eight percent in Burie Zuria and 65% in Doyogena district applied either manure or artificial fertilizer to the grass. Weeding of desho grass was not practiced by any respondents in either district. Sixty percent of farmers used desho grass as a feed and 35% used it for more than a single purpose. Forty-two percent of farmers who fed desho grass did so to only lactating cattle, 3% fed it to small ruminants and 53% fed it to all livestock species. There were significant negative correlations (P<0.01) between both experience in production of desho grass and access to training in its production and utilization, and its utilization as a feed. Seventy percent of farmers in Burie Zuria and 13% in Doyogena have received training in desho grass production. To expand the utilization of the grass to as many farmers as possible, further training should be provided. A multi-faceted approach would be needed for the 23% of illiterate farmers over the 2 districts. 2016 2016-09-02T11:55:21Z 2016-09-02T11:55:21Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76916 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Asmare, B., Demeke, S., Tolemariam, T., Tegegne, F., Wamatu, J., Rischkowsky, B. 2016. Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia. Tropical Grasslands 4(2):112–121 |
| spellingShingle | animal feeding feeds farmers research Asmare, Bimrew Demeke, S. Ejeta, Taye Tolemariam Tegegne, Firew Wamatu, Jane Rischkowsky, Barbara A. Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title | Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title_full | Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title_short | Determinants of the utilization of desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) by farmers in Ethiopia |
| title_sort | determinants of the utilization of desho grass pennisetum pedicellatum by farmers in ethiopia |
| topic | animal feeding feeds farmers research |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76916 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT asmarebimrew determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia AT demekes determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia AT ejetatayetolemariam determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia AT tegegnefirew determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia AT wamatujane determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia AT rischkowskybarbaraa determinantsoftheutilizationofdeshograsspennisetumpedicellatumbyfarmersinethiopia |