Evaluation and Demonstration of Indigenous Fodder Trees and Shrubs in Alicho-wriro District, Siltie Zone

Abstract

Agroforestry is a system and/or practices which incorporates different component in the same piece of land to produce forage, crop product, wood product and so on. Forage is the major limiting factor in tropical specially, in Ethiopia, feed source is depends on natural grazing (green grass). This research is design to dig out or assess and evaluate the nutritive value of other feed source that can easily found during dry season, natural grazing is abandoned and to demonstrate. Primary and secondary data were used. Group discussion, key informant interview and questioner were tools to collect primary data and document and literature review were used to collect secondary data during surveying. Leaf sample of identified fodder tree species collected and send to laboratory for further evaluation of their nutritive value. According to the research 41-60, 20-40 year and >60 years having the percent coverage of 46.6%, 38.6% and 14.8% respectively age distribution. About 55.7%, 39.7% and 4.5% of respondents are illiterate and elementary and others respectively. Total family size per household 6-10, <5 and >10 that account 56.8%, 31.8% and 11.4% from the respondent. 87.5% of respondent have greater 1ha land and 64.4%, 25% and 10.2 % of respondent medium, poor and rich wealth level. From interviewed farmer 84% of them have livestock less than 10 and only 16% were have greater than 10. Dry occurred about for six month in a year with high fodder shortage in the study srea. The major feed source for animal in wet season is green grass and in dry season tree are leaf, crop residue and enset leaf.  Bundelija polystachya, Yushanya alpin, Hygenia abysinica and Domoboya torrid are most frequently found fodder tree and feed source, which are naturally found around home, fence, and farm boundary and farm field. These fodder trees were more preferred by farmers because of their availability during dry season. Farmers use seedling to plant tree and pruning is most famer practices to provide forage/tree leaf for animal compared to other tending operation. Based on this we concluded that in the study area forage problem is high during dry season as the same time there are enough feed source with better nutritional value but not equally known or considered by all farmer. Therefore, indigenous fodder tree were recommended for best-feed source during feed shortage period and demonstration these indigenous fodder tree.

Keywords: Alicho-wriro, Agroforestry, Fodder tree, Indigenous, Livestock