Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Farm Mechanization and Conservation

Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification

Evaluating and demonstrating 2WT-based

technologies to support Conservation

Agriculture systems – in Ethiopia

Girma M.(PI), Friew K., Bisrat G., Yared D.

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Outline

• Background

• Achievement against outputs/milestones

• Capacity Building

• Preliminary results

Preliminary results

• Summery

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Ethiopian agriculture

50% GDP and provide livelily hood to 80% the population

Low agricultural production

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Dominated by smallholder farmers

Farm power relies to an overwhelming extent on human

muscle and animal

approximately only 0.52 horsepower per hectare

traditional farming implements and practices

hand-tools and thousands-year old tillage implements

Human & animal power

36%

24%

30%

9%

1%<0.5 Ha

0.5-1 Ha

1-2 Ha

2-10 Ha

>10 Ha

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Achievements against outputs/milestones

Objective 1: To evaluate and demonstrate 2WT-based technologies to

support CA systems, using expertise and implements from Africa, South

Asia and Australia.

Output 1.1: Most promising 2WT-based technologies identified and acquired

Output 1.2: Best bet 2WT-based technologies evaluated on-station and on-station

Output 1.3: Best bet 2WT-based technologies evaluated on-farm and continuously

refined

Output 1.4: Exploration of short term incentives and long-term impact of 2WT-

based

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Achievements against outputs/milestones

Inception and launching workshop

to ingurgitation the project and introduce the

concept and principles of Mechanization based CA to

wider community. Leaf lets, banner and different

materials were prepared

Site characterization

Two study sites were selected

type of crop, topography, presence of commercially

oriented agriculture, availability of labour, availability

of infrastructure like maintenance service, electricity,

fuel station etc.

Biophysical and socio-economics characterization of

the two selected site(Hawassa zuria woreda and Tiyo

woredas) done using secondary data which were

collected mainly from respective zonal and werda

agricultural offices

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Focus group discussions (FGD)

(five in Awassa Zuria an two in Tiyo) - conducted on five kebeles at both study sites to understand the current knowledge and skills on 2WT.

Farm survey

with focus on farm power and drudgery, disaggregated by gender was carried out.

A total of 200 interviews were undertaken in Ethiopia (100 interviews per site: Hawassa and Assela).

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Inventory of 2WT with ancillary equipments

Inventory and characterization of 2WT available in the country were conducted

focusing on areas where most dealers are found i.e Addis Ababa and Adama.

National custom authority also visited to get information on type and number of

agricultural Machinery imported in Country.

Protocol development

Test protocol for on-station and field evaluation was prepared.

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

• Best bet 2WT-based technologies evaluated on-farm

Six different direct multi-crop planters were imported from China, Brazil,

Bangladesh, USA

National Agro

Danyang 2BFG-100

JEM CA seeder

Fitarelli single row

Fitarelli two row

VMP

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Methodology

Design: RCBD

Crop: Wheat and maize

Plot: 3.5X40

Data collected: fuel consumption, field capacity and agronomic parameters

such as plant population at emergence, planting depth and soil paramters

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Calibration and modifications

Fabrication of key from the VMP metering mechanism form leaf spring steel.

Modification of the metering wheel for National Agro zero till planter.

Modification of the weight balancing of Fitarelli single row planter(counter

weight).

Modification of the fertilizer metering plate for Fitarelli two row zero till planter.

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Pictures from on station trail

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Fitralli single row National agro VMP

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Cont…

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Preliminary results Technology inventory

Kaleb private company

Agricultural Machineries and Technical Service

Ries engineering

Gedeb engineering private limited company

AMIO engineering

Hagbes

MOENCO

Metal and engineering corporation (METEC)

has experience with importation of Walking and medium-heavy duty types of tractors with their accessories.

3000 walking tractors have been imported from China (8 and 15hp) and Turkey (12hp) and 800 of them have been sold to Southern region, Jima and Benshangul areas. 8, 12 and 15hp tractors are sold for 30539 to 40927 birr/unit with basic attachments

5989 tractors with hp range of 18 to 180 have been imported. Out of these about 4900 tractors were imported in 2013. There is a plan for importing 2500 tractors/year.

In all of the companies 2WT have not been given prime focus in the business as they did not sell quickly (or the demand is undeveloped) and where they did the feedback was that the tractors face complaints of producing vibration, greater energy requirement, lack of experienced operators, limited awareness about the benefits of the tractors and farmers’ lack of financial sources or appropriate credit facility to buy the tractors. None of them engage in CA equipment

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Focus group discussions (FGD)

Findings

show lowest mechanisation among women-dominated tasks.

imbalances among women and men

Level of women labour drudgery was often directly dependent on how well men performed their tasks. For instance, if tillage was efficiently done, there would be less weeding, if transport was organised well by men women travelled less to fetch water, if construction was decently done then grain storage was adequate. However, chores mainly done by women were often routine and more frequent.

Ethiopian farmers also pooled i.e. teamed up oxen and labour esp. when individual homesteads did not own full sets for draught.

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

On station trialsPlant population

National A

gro

Danyang 2BFG-1

00

JEM C

A seeder

Fitare

lli sin

gle row

Fita

relli

two ro

wVMP

Conentional

Y D

ata

0

2e+4

4e+4

6e+4

8e+4

1e+5

Planting depth

National A

gro

Danyang 2BFG-1

00

JEM C

A seeder

Fitare

lli sin

gle row

Fita

relli

two ro

wVMP

Conentional

Y D

ata

0

5

10

15

20

25

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Total time(hr/ha)

National A

gro

Danyang 2BFG-1

00

JEM C

A seeder

Fitare

lli sin

gle row

Fita

relli

two ro

wVMP

Conentional

Y D

ata

0

20

40

60

80

100

Fuel Cons.(lt/ha)

X Data

National A

gro

Danyang 2BFG-1

00

JEM C

A seeder

Fitare

lli sin

gle row

Fita

relli

two ro

wVMP

Conentional

Y D

ata

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

CAPACITY-BUILDING

TRAINING-CUM-TOUR to India

Impart skills for hands on use of agricultural mechanization and conservation agriculture tools and machinery

Identify practical opportunities for establishment of strong formal linkages with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research in line with ICARs expected capacity building (in-country trainings by Indian researchers; enrolment of African PhD students in Indian Universities) of the national research programs in the six target countries

Link local African manufacturers and importers to the Indian private sector.

Network the African and Indian farm mechanization and conservation agriculture stakeholders

Study to Bangladesh

To attend a conference on “CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE FOR SMALLHOLDERS IN ASIA AND AFRICA”

To make study tour to different parts of Bangladesh to broaden knowledge on 2WT-based technologies and conservation agriculture (CA).

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Training of researchers

Training of researcher teams in the calibration, operation, repair and

maintenance of 2WT and ancillary equipment) was conducted though it

delayed due to the postponing of the trainers.

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Summary

No

.

Activities Unit of

meas.

Annual

Plan

Budget year

achievement

% Reasons

for the

difference

1 Farm Survey with

focus on farm power

& drudgery,

disaggregated by

gender

No. of

sites02 02 100 -

2 Training of

researcher teams in

the calibration,

operation,repair,and

maintenance of 2WT

& ancillary

equipments.

No. 01 01 100 -

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

N

o.

Activities Unit of

meas.

Annual

Plan

Budget year

achievemen

t

% Reasons

for the

differen

ce

3

Identification of at

least 5 farm sites per

innovation platforms

for participatory

evaluation of 2WT

based technologies

No. 10 10 100 -

4

Researcher managed

field evaluation of

most- promising 2WT

–based technologies in

Kulumsa & Hawassa

research stations

% 100 95 95 -

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

No

.

Activities Unit of

meas.

Annual

Plan

Budget

year

achievem

ent

% Reasons

for the

difference

5

Country level literature

review, complemented by

a quick appraisal using

key informants, of the

following markets

2WT,ancillary equipment,

two-wheelers, three

wheelers and spare parts

% 100 100 100 -

6

Interview of national and

local market actors(local

importers,

manufacturers, financial

organizations, mechanics

and workshops) including

movement institutions

% 100 50 100 -

Agricultural

Mechanization

Research

Thank you