Lakamo Liben*, Melese Ejamo, Abebaw Bergena, Anteneh Bulke
Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center (Agricultural Technology Transfer and Communication Research Directorate), South Ethiopia Agricultural Research Institute, Arba Minch, P.O. Box 2228, Ethiopia.
*Corresponding author: Lakamo Liben
Abstract
Despite a large area under cultivation, the mean yield of wheat per hectare is low in Ethiopia. Limited access to improved wheat varieties and other relevant technologies is one of the contributing factors to low productivity. Popularization of better-performing wheat varieties is important to solve these problems for producers. Therefore, this study was undertaken to enhance the productivity of wheat by demonstrating early maturing and high-yielding wheat varieties with improved management practices in the 2025 Meher cropping season at Melo-Koza district, Gofa Zone of Southern Ethiopia. One kebele was selected purposively based on the convenience of the area for the technology. One kebele was purposively selected, and 98 farmers cultivated a total of 50 hectares using recommended agronomic practices (seed rate 125 kg/ha, NPS 100 kg/ha, UREA 100 kg/ha, row spacing 20 cm). Mean grain yield from 15 randomly sampled farmer fields was 4,950 kg/ha (range: 4,633-5,462 kg/ha), which exceeded the reported district average of 3,100 kg/ha. Weeding and other management practices were done as required. The crop performed well on all farmers’ fields. However, as this demonstration lacked a concurrent control or replicated treatment structure, the observed yield difference cannot be attributed causally to the intervention. Field-day participants (n=102) provided positive feedback on the variety’s germination, yield potential, and seed uniformity. We recommend that the technology be further evaluated through replicated on-farm trials before wide-scale dissemination. Thus, we recommend that the technology be further disseminated on a wide scale to address wide areas of the community through Agricultural extension systems, with its full package including agronomic practices.
References
[1] FAO. FAOStat [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Oct 20]. Available from: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data
[2] Tadesse W, Bishaw Z, Assefa S. Wheat production and breeding in sub-Saharan Africa climate change. Int J Clim Chang Strateg Manag. 2019;11:696-715.
[3] CSA (Central Statistical Agency). Area and production of major crops. Addis Ababa: CSA; 2016/17.
[4] Minot N, Warner J, Lemma S, Kasa L, Gashaw A, Rashid S. The wheat supply chain in Ethiopia: Patterns, trends, and policy options. Gates Open Res. 2019;3(174):174.
[5] Mussema R, Kassa B, Alemu D, Shahidur R. Determinants of crop diversification in Ethiopia: Evidence from Oromia region. Ethiop J Agric Sci. 2015;25(2):65-76.
[6] Mengistu M. Review on the determinants of the market supply of wheat in Ethiopia. Int J Bus Econ Res. 2021;10(3):94–98.
[7] Abeyo B, Gebre D, Fitta T, Badebo A. Seed multiplication and delivery of high yielding rust resistant bread and durum wheat varieties to Ethiopian farmers: Lessons from the wheat seed scaling project. Addis Ababa: CIMMYT; 2020.
[8] Bishaw Z, Louwaars N. Evolution of seed policy and strategies and implications for Ethiopian seed systems development. In: T.W., editor. Defining moments in Ethiopian seed system. Wageningen: Wageningen University; 2012.
[9] FAO. Food balance sheets [Internet]. Rome: FAO; 2014 [cited 2025 Oct 15]. Available from:
http://faostat3.fao.org/download/FB/FBS/E
[10] Kassa T, Merkine M. Assessment of improved crop seed utilization status in selected districts of southwestern Ethiopia. Cogent Food Agric. 2020;6(1):1816252.
[11] Tsegaye, Bekele. Impacts of adoption of improved wheat technologies on households’ food consumption in southeastern Ethiopia [conference paper]. In: International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) Triennial Conference; 2012 Aug 18-24; Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
[12] Tadesse M. Review on participatory small-scale irrigation schemes and small-scale rainwater harvesting technology development and its contribution to household food security in Ethiopia. Int J Water Resour Environ Eng. 2017 Mar.
[13] Getachew D. Cluster-based demonstration of improved wheat varieties in central Ethiopia. Trends Agric Sci. 2026.
doi:10.17311/tas.2025.332.340.
[14] Lakamo L, Tadele H. Cluster based large scale demonstration and popularization of improved bread wheat technologies at Yem-Special District, southern Ethiopia. Res Rev J Crop Sci Technol. 2023;12(1):19-23.
How to cite this paper
Cluster-based Large-scale Demonstration of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Technology at Melokoza District, Gofa Zone of South Ethiopia
How to cite this paper: Lakamo Liben, Melese Ejamo, Abebaw Bergena, Anteneh Bulke. (2026) Cluster-based Large-scale Demonstration of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Technology at Melokoza District, Gofa Zone of South Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 10(3), 231-239.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.09.004