Multipurpose Legumes Classification Study

multipurpose Legumes Classification scanParticipatory evaluation of useful leguminous plants in integrated harvest-festival-parentage production systems in selected districts of Ethiopia and Kenya Farmers preferences and decision makingChala Merera Erge (Assistant Professor)PhD Proposal reverseIn developing countries, the country sector plays a central role in the economic and brotherly life of the nation and is a cornerstone of the economy. Crop and livestock production is mainly influenced by poor soil fertility and by misfortunate quality and metre of corrode resources, respectively. Multipurpose legumes are cognize to perform multiple functions like perforate legumes provide food, feed and facilitate soil nutrient solicitude herbaceous and tree legumes croup revive soil fertility and prevent land debasement art object improving domesticate and livestock productiveness on a more sustaincapable basis. in that respectfore, the adoption of such multipurpose legume s, which enhance agricultural productivity while conserving the natural resource base, might be subservient for achieving income, food security and for reversing land abasement. The desegregation of legumes to cereal-based systems could provide services such as high quantity and quality fodder production, soil wearing away prevention and soil fertility restoration. In Ethiopia and Kenya, realizing the underexploited potential of multi-purpose legumes towards amend livelihoods and a better purlieu in make-livestock systems has significant theatrical role to advance food and nutrition security, funk poverty, and enhance the production milieu of smallholder farmers and agrestic populations. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to develop a classification of legume types like food legumes, tree legumes, hunt down legumes, cover legumes through with(predicate) literature review, consultation with key informants and farm- take surveys prize and identify piece of ea ch type of multipurpose legumes to farm family objectives (provision of food, forage, soil north, fuel and others) through farm-level surveys consider farmer perceptions of legumes and their functions through focus group discussions (participatory rural appraisal/PRA tool) at community level and tax how divers(prenominal) farmer typology demands alters the optimal choice of legume types through simple modelling approaches.INTRODUCTIONEthiopia has intact human population of 96.5 million in 2014 (CSA, 2014). If Ethiopia follows its current rate of growth (3.02%), its population allow for parlay in the next 20 years and cross 300 million by 2050 (World Population Prospects the 2012 Revision). The agricultural sector plays a central role in the economic and social life of the nation and is a cornerstone of the economy (Alemayehu, 2008) and it accounts for 48.76% to GDP (World Fact Book, 2015). The contribution of livestock to the total GDP is marchesed because of some factors. One the major factor is the scarcity of feed resources both in quantity and quality (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2008).In Ethiopia highlands, crop and livestock production is mainly influenced by low soil fertility and by low quality and quantity of feed resources, respectively (Kruseman et al. 2002 Tangka et al. 2002). Feed shortages both in quality and quantity can be attributed to factors. On the other hand, escalating prices, access and price uncertainty, and unavailability at the crucial moment limit the use of inorganic fertilizers in improving soil fertility (Lakew et al., 2000 Ahmed et al., 2003). In developing countries, the use of forage legumes integrated with food crops and livestock is often advocated to minimise external inputs as well as to improve the productivity and sustainability of crop-livestock production (Humphreys 1994 Peters and Lascano, 2003).Over the past two decades several forages have been tested in different ecological zones, and considerable efforts have been made to test the adaptability of different species of place and forage crops under alter agro-ecological conditions. As a result, quite a number of useful forages have been selected for different zones. Improved pasture and forages have been grown and used in government ranches, state farms, farmers demonstration plots and dairy and fattening areas. weed. output of forage reference by contracting smallholders has shown potential as a way of improving seed supply (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2002 2006).Menale (2011) reported that declining soil fertility and increasing soil erosion continue to limit crop yields in the Ethiopian highlands while poor quality and quantity of feed limit livestock production. toleration of forage legumes has been proposed as a strategy that can help alleviate these problems. However, despite their proposed potential in dealing with these challenges, adoption of forage legumes by smallholder farmers is still limited. The adoption rate for meliorate forage crops has been actually low and less sustainable. The area occupied by improved forage crops is insignificant and little contribution to the annual feed budget (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2002).Multipurpose legumes are known to perform multiple functions like grain legumes provide food, feed and facilitate soil nutrient management herbaceous and tree legumes can restore soil fertility and prevent land degradation while improving crop and livestock productivity on a more sustainable basis. Therefore, the adoption of such multipurpose legumes, which enhance agricultural productivity while conserving the natural resource base, might be instrumental for achieving income, food security and for reversing land degradation. The integration of legumes to cereal-based systems could provide services such as high quantity and quality fodder production, soil erosion prevention and soil fertility restoration. Enhanced availability of livestock feed can reduce degradation of grazing lands. The demand fo r forage and the opportunities for diffusion of forage technology might be high where livestock response to improved feed technology and profitability from livestock enterp break is high. Multipurpose legumes research throughout the developing world have shown the benefits of different kinds of legumes (Khalili et al., 1994 Humphreys 1994 Omiti 1995 Umunna et al., 1995 Peters et al., 2001 Mpairwe et al., 2003). Cultivation of forage is not widely adopted and commercial-grade feed production is not developed (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2006 2008)If farmers have to adopt a technology, they must be able to clearly see the benefits. Sometimes beneficial technologies are not adopted because the benefits cannot be clearly show or are long term. The major benefits of forage legumes include higher DM yields (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2008 Shehu and Akinola 1995Mwangi 1999), biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) (Thomas and Sumberg 1995Mwangi 1999), improved soil fertility and better animal performance due to the improved N supply in the diet (Alemayehu Mengistu, 2002 2006 and Kariuki et al., 1998a).In developing countries, despite these multiple benefits of legumes, the adoption of legumes especially for feed and soil management is very poor (Saka et al., 1994 Thomas and Sumberg, 1995 Zewdu et al., 2000 Ahmed et al., 2003). Despite these and many other attempts to introduce fruticose and herbaceous legumes on smallholder farms, adoption has been low (Paterson et al., 1996a).Several attempts have been made to introduce herbaceous legumes on smallholder farms in Central Kenya (Wandera, 1995). The key challenges in forage development are as follows First, forage has a low adoption rate in Ethiopia (Duncan, 2009). Second, apart from forage innovation, limits in institutional structures have likewise hindered forage innovation (Hall et al., 2007). Third, there is scarcity in the quantity and quality of animal fodder (Tadesse, 1998 and Yeshitila, 2008). Lastly, the rise in fodder price and inefficacy in the feed market is another set of problems (Gebremedhin et al., 2009).There is very good opportunity to produce best adapted improved multipurpose legumes to improve the crop livestock productivity in Ethiopia and Kenya. To address the problem of inadequate food, feed and soil fertility, the need for improved multipurpose legumes multiplication and distribution are paramount.In Ethiopia and Kenya, realizing the underexploited potential of multi-purpose legumes towards improved livelihoods and a better environment in crop-livestock systems has significant contribution to improve food and nutrition security, reduce poverty, and enhance the production environment of smallholder farmers and rural populations through facilitation of the smart integration and use of multi-purpose legumes, providing food, protein, feed, fuel, and/or organic matter in crop-livestock systems. It has overly a vital purpose to provide knowledge and tools to farmers and development partners facilitating farmers to make rational decisions for enhancing short and long contributions of multi-purpose legumes to farmer livelihoods including aspects of legume production, input supply systems, and markets.The objectives of this project areTo develop a classification of legume types like food legumes, tree legumes, forage legumes, cover legumes through literature review, consultation with key informants and farm-level surveys.To measure out and identify contribution of each type of multipurpose legumes to farm family objectives (provision of food, forage, soil nitrogen, fuel and others) through farm-level surveys in Kenya and EthiopiaTo understand farmer perceptions of legumes and their functions through focus group discussions (participatory rural appraisal/PRA tool) at community level.To evaluate how different farmer typology demands alters the optimal choice of legume types through simple modelling approaches.Material and methodsThe participatory evaluation of the multip urpose legumes testament be conducted in different agro-ecology of the crop-livestock production systems of the project sites of Ethiopia and Kenya. The project members of the farmers exit be purposively identified and oriented about the objectives of the project. Multi-stage, purposive or random sampling methods will be utilized during data collection through surveys, individual interview, consultation with key informants and focus group discussions utilise participatory rural appraisal/PRA tool based on the type of the data to be collected. Multipurpose legume types like food legumes, tree legumes, forage legumes, cover legumes will be identified and categorise through detail literature review, consultation with key informants and farm-level surveys by using semi structured questionnaire. The contribution of each type of multipurpose legumes to farm family objectives (provision of food, forage, soil nitrogen, fuel and others) will be assessed and identified through detail farm -level surveys in Kenya and Ethiopia. Farmer perceptions of legumes and their functions will be understood through focus group discussions (participatory rural appraisal/PRA tool) at community level. The way different farmer typology demands alters the optimal choice of legume types will be assessed through simple modelling approaches in Kenya and Ethiopia. Respective stakeholders, through farmers group visit, field days, demand tours and workshops will be conducted during monitoring and evaluation of the project at different phases. Finally, all data will be analyzed by using the appropriate statistical latest version of SPSS or STATA. The results will be communicated to the beneficiaries through publications, reports, workshops, formal and informal meetings.Work PlanEstimated Budget break dawnReferencesAhmed M.A.M, S. Ehui, and Y. Assefa. 2003. dairy farm development in Ethiopia. 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