Water for a food-secure world Teklu Erkossa (PhD) Researcher, Land and Water Resources International Water Management Institute, Regional office for East Africa and Nile Basin Some Lessons from Previous Activities in Jeldu District and Suggested Interventions

Introduction Jeldu’s Farming systems: Highland Temperate Mixed (Dixon et al., 2001)/Barely based single cropping Mixed (Erkossa et al., 2009)  Barley, Wheat, Potatoes, Tef, Peas, Beans, Sorghum, Maize + Sheep, Cattle, Equine, Poultry

Crop management practices

Soil, Water and Crop management 33% of monitored crop fields used no fertilizers 67% used DAP alone or DAP and Urea, but much lower than recommended High fertilizer rate used for potato Very few (13%) applied compost 53% used improved varieties 88% used traditional method of sowing: broadcasting Only few used water management practices:  Cutoff drains 6.6%  Deep furrows 11%

Crop type and Management Effect Grain yield (kg ha -1 )

Major challenges High level of degradation: – Deforestation: biodiversity loss – Land degradation: soil fertility and OM depletion – Erosion and gully formation – Eucalyptus replacing crops Unsustainable land use Market failure

Cost of Erosion Sub catchment Total fertilizer loss (kg ha -1 ) Yield loss (kg ha -1 ) due to Crop types Financial loss (Birr ha -1 year -1 UreaTSPUreaTSPUreaTSP Melka Barley Kollu Barley Galessa Potato

Objectives  Increase productivity through systems intensification  Conserve/regenerate natural resource base Slightly differing focuses based on altitude:  Upper (Baddaa)  Middle (Badadaree) Kollu Gelan selected for this year Proposed interventions 2014

A. Upper part 1. Flat areas:  Enhance productivity of the Barley based system (Barley-Fallow-Barley)  Suggested improvements  Replace with: Barley-Legume- Barley +Improved Variety and Management  Enhance productivity of both crops:

Proposed interventions 2014  Improved Variety (Barley and Legume)  Row planting  Rational use of Fertilizers (DAP, Urea, compost, FYM)  Legume: Faba bean or field pea 2. Slopping areas: Same as above + Soil and Water Conservation Practices + Permanent crops (Apple)?

Proposed interventions for 2014 B. Middle part:- Steep slops 1. Crop land  Soil and Water Conservation + improved crop management as above + Permanent crops (Apple)? 2. Grazing land  Soil and Water Conservation + Improved pasture  Soil and Water Conservation: Soil bund + Vegetative method  Improved pasture: Gramineae (eg. Desho) + Leguminosae (eg. Trifolium) + Permanent crops (Apple)?

Implementation strategy At least one cycle (three years) should be completed Select voluntary men and women farmers for both conditions  Plot size can be flexible: but ha is ideal Sloping plots should be under bunds or owner should be willing to construct new IP makes inputs available and guides the implementation of trials  Group of farmers (FRG) and researchers assess performance independently  Regularly review findings (progress)

Implementation strategy On the slopes: Identify men and women farmers plots with bund or those willing to construct new Modify the bunds to improve efficiency Avail planting materials for bund stabilization Crop land:  Avail improved crop variety + Management practices and inputs Grazing land: Avail improved grass + Legume species and seedlings of permanent crops Permanent crops? In-situ and ex-situ water harvesting