1. The production of Eragrostis teff in Ethiopia From seed to market
Hannah Arpke
MSc Overseas Rural Development

2. Country statistics: Inhabitants: 65 million, 2.7% increase / year
Total Area: 1.12 million sq km
Agricultural Area: 13% cultivated, 40% pasture
Employment: 45% agriculture, 12% industry, 43% services
Wealth status: Ranked 171st out of 174
Main exports: Coffee, live animals, hides, gold, oilseed, pulses and qat
CIA World Fact Book
Source: National Geographic

3. Main crops grown in Ethiopia
Total production: Mt Source: FAO
Total production: Mt

5. Introduction to Eragrostis teff (Zucc.)Trotter
Taxonomy:
Family: Poaceae, Genus: Eragrostis (“Love-grass”), many fodder species in drier areas such as South Africa, Australia and India
-34 different cultivars found in Ethiopia
-also known as Poa abyssinica, Eragrostis abyssinica

6. Introduction to Eragrostis teff
History:
Ethiopia centre of origin and diversification
Ethiopia only country to grow Teff as food for human consumption
>66% of population relies on Teff for nutrient supply
25% of agricultural production (1.9 mill. ha/yr)
South Africa, Yemen, India know it as a fodder genus/species

7. Introduction to Eragrostis teff
Physiology:
Annual tufted grass
Loose or compacted panicle flowers
Grains 1-1.5mm, seeds/kg
C4 pathway, tetraploid
Shallow, fibrous root system
Tolerant to: drought, water-logging, frost, acid/toxic soils, vertisols

8. Introduction to Eragrostis teff
Uses:
Injera, bread, porrige, gruel, beer, flat bread, high protein, mineral and vitamin content (more than Maize, Sorghum and Wheat)
High quality straw and hay due to higher protein content, digestibility (65%) and palatability; low dry matter content
Fast growing ground cover against erosion
Catch-crop, nurse-crop, fallow crop
Back-up crop in case of failure of Wheat and Barley

10. Agronomy 300-2500mm precipitation/year 1500-3000m a.s.l
Matures in 2-4 months
kg/ha, average 910kg/ha depending on practice
Similar yield to wheat although unimproved-great potential
Performs best on heavy, well drained soil

11. Agronomy Cultivation and sowing Occurs mainly March to June
4-8 cultivations with ox-drawn wooden plough to obtain fine till as seeds small
Seeds broadcast at 10-12kg/ha
Covered lightly with brush harrow to obtain good seed-soil contact
Quick germination yet slow growth until roots established

12. Agronomy Management Early manual weeding at 7-10 days after sowing
Can outcompete weeds if rain adequate for fast growth
Relatively resistant to most pests and diseases
Low maintenance during growth
Eg. Farmers in Yemen simply scatter some seed on dry soil and return to harvest a good fodder crop after 45 days

13. Agronomy Harvest and processing
6-10 dry days prior to harvest ideal to avoid lodging, fungal attack and shattering
End of main rainy season, September-October
Sickle harvest, very labour intensive
Small seed size requires gentle handling against shattering
Threshed using cattle, who also feed on the straw
Can be stored well for 3 years for seed, 5 years for food

15. Marketing Three distinct colour classifications determine price:
White, red and brown
White most expensive (£20-35/100kg)
Red and brown (£15-20/100kg)
High price around festive season, especially for white Teff
Sold unprocessed, whole grain
Households process further by taking grain to mills

16. Advantages vs Disadvantages
Highly nutritious
Great agronomic potential
Can grow in a wide ecological range
Tolerant to drought, water-logging etc
Soil conservation and rehabilitation
Fast maturing, backup in cases of disaster
High market value
Disadvantages:
Small seed
Shatters
Easily “lost”
Labour intensive
Need for improvement of genetic, technical and labour aspects

17. References:
Board on Science and Technology for International Development (1996). Lost Crops of Africa - Vol.1-Grains. National Academy Press
Gibbon, D., Pain, A. (1985). Crops of the drier regions of the tropics. Longman
Purseglove, J.W. (1972). Tropical crops-Monocotyledons Vol. 1. Longman
Rowland, J.R.J. (1993). Dryland farming in Africa. Macmillan Press, Ltd.
Stallkecht, G.F., Gilbertson, K.M., Eckhoff, J.L.(1993). Teff: Food crop for humans and animals. Wiley.
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