What Partnership in Agricultural Technology Pre-scaling up Has Brought about for Agricultural Development: Evidence from North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Aimed at assessing realized progresses on production and productivity of selected crops in Metekel zone attributed to partnership for pre-scaling up interventions, the study witnessed increments in area, production and yield of selected crops in Metekel zone between the base year and Triennium Ending 2014. Total cropped area increased by 265% while production volume increased by 465% indicating significant yield gain. From the selected crops yield of maize increased from 19 qt/ha to 33 qt/ha while yield of sorghum increased from 15 qt/ha to 24 qt/ha and that of finger millet from 12 qt/ha to 19 qt/ha. Rice has also gained yield to 29 qt/ha from 10 qt/ha and that of soybean to 22 qt/ha from 14qt/ ha while haricot bean realized yield gain from 6 qt/ha to 9 qt/ha and ground nut achieved exceptional yield gain of 18 qt/ha from 7 qt/ha. The observed yield gains are solely accredited to use of improve agricultural technologies which is manifested in use of improved quality seed and agronomic practices on which the pre-scaling up activities focused through training of farmers and delivery of quality improved seeds of the targeted crops since inorganic fertilizer consumption in Metekel zone was insignificant or nil for most of crops under study. This yield gain then narrowed the yield gap between the zonal average and the expected attainable yield on farmers’ field using improved crop technologies. The partnership created between wider arrays of partners under Metekel zone Agriculture Development Partners Linkage Advisory Council and the crucial role played by Pawe Agricultural Research Center as a trainer, source of quality improved seeds and main participant in farmers field follow up as well as quality assurance resulted in the massive yield gain on the selected crops in Metekel zone. The efforts exerted to promote and scale up improved agricultural technologies were fruitful and contextual similar approaches are advisable to change the life of the rural household in the area.

Keywords: Crop technologies, Pre-scaling up, Partnership, Metekel zone