Demonstration and Popularization of Mould Board Plow with Their Production Packages in Tigray Region

Abstract

Tigray is one of the national regional states of Ethiopia which is located in the North part of the country. Agriculture is the mainstay of Tigray’s economy. Agriculture in Tigray is predominantly of subsistence nature, characterized by the use of traditional farming implements and practices. Improved farm implements i.e. MBP with their production package were verified and demonstrated using the local farm implements as a local check. The overall objective of the project is to help increase agricultural production and productivity through the promotion of improved agricultural mechanization technologies (Melkassa mould board plough). Representative site and farmers were selected in collaboration with staff of MoARD. Then on-farm trainings were given to farmers and DAs. The Pre-extension popularization of Melkassa mould board plough was conducted on 215 host farmers respectively, across 6 woredas of the study areas from 2012-2015. Yield, economic data and farmers’ perception were collected. Descriptive statistics was used for analyzing quantitative data. The simple statistical analysis across all the demonstration sites indicated that the improved farm implements exhibited higher yield advantage and percent yield increase over the Traditional (Mahiresha). the improved MBP has  21-50% increment in productivity, 40% efficient in weed control,40 % decrease work frequency or time saving and 19% more power efficient  than the traditional Maresha. The demonstration of mould board plow on farmers field for different crops such as wheat, barely, sorghum, and teff was done since 2012. and the result of the trials shows that an average yield increment of 30.5%.and the specific result based on crop type also shows that use of improved Mould Board plow had 34.8%,45.25 %26.72% and  25.2% yield increment of teff, sorghum, barely,  and wheat respectively over the use of the tradition maresha. Different parameters were used to assess farmers’ perception on the improved farm implement MBP. Most of the farmers interviewed perceived that MBP  was technical suitable to their farm, time saving, effectiveness in weed control, and higher productivity. It was, thus, recommended that further popularizing and scale out of this improved farm implements are quite pertinent.

Keywords: Demonstration, Popularization, Melkassa Mould Board plow