Water for a food-secure world Teklu Erkossa (PhD) Researcher, Land and Water Resources International Water Management Institute, Regional office for East Africa and Nile Basin Some Lessons from Previous Activities in Diga District and Suggested Interventions

Introduction Diga Farming systems: Mixed rainfed agriculture Maize based single cropping is dominates (Erkossa et al., 2009)  Major crops: Maize, Sorghum, Tef, Finger millet, Niger seed and Sesame  Livestock: Cattle, Sheep, Equine, Poultry

Crop management practices Intercropping- commonly practiced  Maize + Haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Maize +pumpkin (Cucurbite maxima),  Maize+ Cabbage (Birassica oleracea),  Maize + Dinnicha Oromoo (Coleus edulis) Crop Rotation: often between cereals  Legumes discouraged by wild animals? Shifting cultivation is still practiced

Major Livelihood and Challenges across Landscape Landsca pe position Altitude range (m a.s.l) Mean annual rainfall (mm) Major cropsMajor Challenges Upper Higher than ,376 to 2,037 tef, finger millet, niger seed,sorghum Demographic pressure, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, soil fertility depletion, termites, water and land scarcity, inefficient irrigation scheme, lack of water storage systems High rate of deforestation Soil acidity Middle maize, sorghum, sesame, finger millet LowerLess than 1450 maize, sorghum, sesame, finger millet

Agricultural land and water productivity is low Crop yield is often less than 2 tons ha -1 Livestock feed shortage Livestock disease Widespread soil acidity Termite infestation and land degradation have become a severe constraint

Crop type and Management Effect

Soil Erosion Effect Sediment loss during the season Financial cost to the farmers

Objectives  Increase productivity through systems intensification  Conserve/regenerate natural resource base Slightly differing focuses based on altitude:  Middle (Badadaree)  Lower (Gammoojjii) Guddisaa + Arjo for this year? Proposed interventions 2014

A. Upper (Guddisa) 1. Flat areas:  Enhance productivity of the maize based system  Suggested improvements  Maize -Legume- intercropping +Improved Variety and Management

Proposed interventions 2014  Improved Variety (Maize, Legume)  Row planting  Rational use of Fertilizers (DAP, Urea, compost, FYM)  Legume: Haricot bean or field pea 2. Slopping areas: Same as above + Soil and Water Conservation Practices (bunds) + fodder trees on bunds

Proposed interventions for 2014 B. Lower (Arjo) 1. Crop land  Improved variety maize +Legume  Soil and Water Conservation + improved crop management as above + fodder trees on bunds 2. Grazing land  Soil bund/infiltration trench + Improved pasture  Stabilize bund with vegetative method  Improved pasture: Gramineae (eg. Rodes) + Leguminosae (eg. Trifolium) + fodder trees

Implementation strategy Select voluntary men and women farmers from both locations Sloping plots should be under bunds or owners should be willing to construct new ones soon  Plot size can be flexible: but ha is ideal IP makes inputs available and guides the implementation of trials  Group of farmers (FRG) and researchers assess performance independently  Regularly review findings (progress)

Implementation strategy On the slopes: Identify men and women farmers plots with bund or those willing to construct new Modify the bunds to improve efficiency Avail planting materials for bund stabilization Crop land:  Avail improved crop variety + Management practices and inputs Grazing land: Avail improved grass + Legume species and seedlings of permanent crops Permanent crops? In-situ and ex-situ water harvesting