1. THE TCP/YEM/0065 PROJECT SITES
ANALYSIS OF AGRONOMIC PRACTICES AND PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGICAL PACKEGES UNDER IRRIGATION
FOR
THE TCP/YEM/0065 PROJECT SITES

2. INTRODUCTION This presentation will include the following:
An overview of the quick participatory diagnosis of agronomic practices for the major crops practiced in the project sites.
The constraints that are limiting the improvement of crop productivity and therefore are reducing water use efficiency.
The proposed solutions to address all these issues.
Recommendations for the expansion phase of the project.

3. Technique used
The participatory Agronomic Appraisal
(APA) techniques to determine farmers
needs and record farmers' perceptions

4. The main activities of this plan were:
Determination of the priorities and importance of economical crops in order to improve their production under the modern irrigation water system.
Specify the dominant problems and priorities for cultivated crops in project locations.
Analyze the main problems and recognize the factors causing them.
Suggest quick, effective, easy and possible applying solutions.
Training the beneficiaries on mechanism of production improvement

5. Introductory comments
The task of irrigation specialist is to make sure that water is brought from a well, reservoir, or any other source to fields with a minimum loss. There are several definitions of the Water Use Efficiency:
a technical definition which is the mass of agricultural produce per unit of water consumed.
an economic definition which means the value of product (s) produced per unit of water volume consumed .

6. Agronomists should therefore strive for the implementations of management techniques that will allow the farmer make a better use of irrigation water or rainfall, and consequently increase the water use efficiency (WUE).
WUE = yield/unit area
water used to produce yield

7. The project sites in Ibb Governorate
According to surveys, farmers at the three pilot sites, Dakhlat U Waydine, Assari, and Abwam, practice the following crops under irrigation by decreasing order :
Potatoes
Carrots
Maize
Wheat
Faba bean
Sorghum
Barley

8. Constraints that limit potatoes yields and therefore WUE :
Poor seed quality
Inadequate fertilization
Irrigation prior to emergence for potatoes
Inadequate disease and insect control

9. Constraints to better carrot yields and improved WUE :
. Costly and time-consuming hand weeding
. Seeding method and seeding rate for carrots
. Inadequate fertilization management for carrots
. Irrigation management for carrots
. Carrot protection against diseases

10. Constraints to better maize yields and improved WUE :
Maize varieties and seed quality
Seeding rate for maize
Fertilization management
Irrigation management for better water use efficiency in maize
Weed control for better WUE
Disease control
Insects damage

11. Constraints to better wheat and Barley yields and improved WUE :
Variety selection and good quality seeds
Fertilization management
Weed control
Diseases and insects

12. Constraints to better Legume yields and improved WUE :
Variety selection, good quality seeds and adequate seeding rates
Necessity for good fertilizers management
Diseases, insects and weed control

13. The project sites in Al Mahweet Governorate :
Appraisal and training on management techniques practiced for sorghum, maize, barley, lentils, faba bean, potato, and tomato. The following constraints were recorded:
Poor seed quality
Variety or population selection not always based on sound criteria
Mismanagement of fertilizers
Lack of experience in terms of diseases and insect control
Inadequate weed control
Higher seeding rates for some crops
Importance of farmers associations in access to knowledge and input and in product marketing

14. Crop Productivity (tons/h)
Crop Before After
Potato
Carrot
Wheat
Maize
Barley

15. General constraints:
Lack of marketing strategies and inefficient marketing channels to help farmer distributing his product at a reasonable price and to avoid loss of products during storage. Most of the market value (55-65%) goes to transportation costs and intermediaries.
High costs of inputs
Illegal import of non-certified seeds, and illegal pesticides.
Over exploitation of irrigation water.

16. General Recommendations
The farmer has the perfect right to practice any crop he thinks can allow him to make a living for his family.
The state should have a vision and a clear policy on the conservation of water resources and make sure that they are used for good purposes .
Research and extension authorities should be implicated during the expansion phase in any effort to increase crop production and water use efficiency in the project sites.

17. There is a need to conduct more training meetings, workshops and field days at all pilot sites.
Companies specializing in seed multiplication, production, and commercialization should be associated to the effort aiming food security in Yemen.
Outreach should play a major role during the expansion phase even with constraints facing extension agents

18. Introduction of some agricultural crops other than cereals, grain legumes and vegetables that can benefit from the expansion phase.
The development of alternative crops can contribute to food security while helping in the conservation of resources such as cactus, olive, mango and date palm.
The development of greenhouses as a way to improve WUE .

19. The urgent need to implement soil analysis at the pilot sites to increase the crops productivity and improve WUE.

20. Recommendations for the Expansion phase of the project TCP/YEM/0065 of the SPFS :
The expansion phase within the pilots sites themselves.
The expansion phase outside the pilot sites, but in their closest vicinity.
The generalization of the experience to other agricultural regions within the Republic of Yemen.

21. The expansion phase within the current pilot sites:
More efficient ways to transport water from a source to the field.
Improved irrigation techniques at field level for better use of water (sprinkler and drip irrigation) instead of flooded or furrow irrigation.
Alternative and more appropriate management techniques.

22. The expansion phase outside the pilot sites, but in their closest vicinity :
Priority should be given to villages situated in their current vicinity.
The adoption of a more comprehensive strategy aiming to work with farmers for the improvement of the management of their crops.

23. The generalization of the experience to other agricultural regions of the Republic of Yemen :
There is a need to capitalize on recent dam construction programs and follow it with the implementation of irrigation networks all around the country.
launch a real development plan to which all the national institutions and agencies should collaborate.
The necessity for a real mobilization at regional and national level to secure the success of the Water Control Component of the Special Program for Food Security.

24. Thank You