Bedru Abdi | Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (original) (raw)

Papers by Bedru Abdi

This country-level impact study for Ethiopia combines ex-post and ex-ante estimation of research ... more This country-level impact study for Ethiopia combines ex-post and ex-ante estimation of research gains from improved sorghum varieties developed by the National Breeding Program of Ethiopia in collaboration with partners from international research institutions and universities. The methodological framework for the study is the standard economic surplus concept embedded in the DREAM model within a multiple domestic market configuration, price spill-overs, and separate impact parameters (adoption path and yield differentials) for each improved sorghum variety under consideration. Several model scenarios are developed and applied to test the robustness of impact parameters and portray components of ICRISAT’s development approach in the socioeconomic domain. One group of scenarios refers to ICRISAT’s traditional breeding and crop management activities. The other group captures elements of ICRISAT IMOD strategy (Inclusive Market Oriented Development) by defining various markets and trad...

This paper examines the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of hybrid maiz... more This paper examines the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of hybrid maize in drought prone Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. The analysis is based on data collected through a questionnaire survey of 277 randomly selected maize grower farm household heads. Binary response Logit model was employed in the data analysis. Hybrid maize adoption in the CRV was found to be influenced by age, years of formal education, farmland size, the proportion of farmland allocated to maize, frequency of extension visit, grain market distance and altitude. Extension visit was negatively associated with hybrid maize adoption contrary to the prevailing beliefs and earlier findings. Extension workers have been promoting open pollinated varieties (OPVs) maize since the OPVs have been more common in drought prone area though the farmers in the CRV also producing hybrids. Even though the prevailing maize hybrids have essentially been released for high potential areas, the production of these hybrids is currently expanding in the CRV where it is grown by 30% of the farmers. Likewise, hybrid maize adoption in this area offers better opportunity for private seed companies’ involvement in the seed provision of adapted hybrids. A paradigm shift in the maize breeding efforts and extension service on hybrid for drought prone areas is commendable in order to enhance the food security of smallholder farmers in the CRV.

This paper addresses farm household common bean seed access behavior and seed quality issues in l... more This paper addresses farm household common bean seed access behavior and seed quality issues in light of farm household socioeconomic characteristics. The notion that seed from informal source is poor quality and informal seed market (ISM) is the last resort for the poor household is closely examined. Data for this study were gathered in 2011 using structured questionnaire interview of randomly selected farm households. Seed samples were collected from the interviewed farmers, ISM and formal sources. On average, 93% of the farmers obtained seed from the informal sources while the remaining was accessed from the formal source. One-third of farm households consistently acquired seeds from ISM regardless of whether it is in normal or stress year. Higher proportion of women headed and the poor households tend to procure seed from informal sources (mainly ISM). However, the proportion of the well off farmers accessed seed from ISM was also significantly high (about 1/3) contrary to the commonly held belief that the well off farmers are seed self-sufficient and procuring seed from ISM is a sign of vulnerability. The informal seed source is more responsive and accessible to men and women headed households of all categories during the stress and normal years. Such an important entity of the informal seed source, ISM, deserves consideration as a positive force in the dissemination of new variety or seed hand in hand with strengthening farmer seed production. The formal seed sector has also a crucial role in new germplasm or quality seed introduction, recognition, and strengthening of the informal seed sector. Physical and germination quality of the seeds obtained from informal sources had met the standard despite minor defects. Even though seed from the informal seed sources is flexible, offers acceptable quality seed and serves all categories of farm households it has mixtures and insect pest infestation. Hence, improvement of seed storage, insect control, and basic information about varietal characteristics including variety names has to be addressed for enhanced quality seed distribution.

Yoshiaki Nishikawa (Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University) 〔 〕 138 ( ) ... more Yoshiaki Nishikawa (Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University) 〔 〕 138 ( ) OPVs can be recycled for an average of three years without considerable yield reduction thus, suitable for smallscale farmers. On the other hand, hybrids are high yielders, needing more stable moisture conditions and intensive management. Hybrids have uniform flowering dates and are highly affected by any window of drought particularly during flowering, therefore less stable in yield than OPVs.

Vegetable production is one of small-scale farmer transforming strategies from subsistence farmin... more Vegetable production is one of small-scale farmer transforming strategies from subsistence farming to a business enterprise in Ethiopia. Nonetheless, the focus of research and extension placed on boosting production without due consideration on the costs and returns. This paper takes a step forward in examining the cost and benefit of small-scale onion and tomato farming using data obtained from randomly sampled households. Net returns were employed to determine the cost-benefit of vegetable farming. Likewise, sensitivity analysis was introduced to account for any major fluctuations and risks envisaged. Small-scale vegetable farming was found a profitable enterprise and the local average yield is well above the national average yield. Returns from onion was more sensitive to yield variation and an average marginal yield increase by 5-10% would compensate for price fluctuations of up to 50% drop from a normal season price. Onion fetched more net income and the profit margins of both crops were high. Onion production is more labor intensive and this shows high potential for consistently supporting farm household and rural labor while tomato production tends to be chemical intensive. Research and extension services need to provide information on the cost-benefits hand in hand with the promotion of yield increase. The findings have a far-reaching implication that onion and tomato farming can be sustainably pursued with the available open pollinated varieties and improved management practices without hastily resorting to high yielding and imported inputs such as hybrid seeds.

This country-level impact study for Ethiopia combines ex-post and ex-ante estimation of research ... more This country-level impact study for Ethiopia combines ex-post and ex-ante estimation of research gains from improved sorghum varieties developed by the National Breeding Program of Ethiopia in collaboration with partners from international research institutions and universities. The methodological framework for the study is the standard economic surplus concept embedded in the DREAM model within a multiple domestic market configuration, price spill-overs, and separate impact parameters (adoption path and yield differentials) for each improved sorghum variety under consideration. Several model scenarios are developed and applied to test the robustness of impact parameters and portray components of ICRISAT’s development approach in the socioeconomic domain. One group of scenarios refers to ICRISAT’s traditional breeding and crop management activities. The other group captures elements of ICRISAT IMOD strategy (Inclusive Market Oriented Development) by defining various markets and trad...

This paper examines the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of hybrid maiz... more This paper examines the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of hybrid maize in drought prone Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. The analysis is based on data collected through a questionnaire survey of 277 randomly selected maize grower farm household heads. Binary response Logit model was employed in the data analysis. Hybrid maize adoption in the CRV was found to be influenced by age, years of formal education, farmland size, the proportion of farmland allocated to maize, frequency of extension visit, grain market distance and altitude. Extension visit was negatively associated with hybrid maize adoption contrary to the prevailing beliefs and earlier findings. Extension workers have been promoting open pollinated varieties (OPVs) maize since the OPVs have been more common in drought prone area though the farmers in the CRV also producing hybrids. Even though the prevailing maize hybrids have essentially been released for high potential areas, the production of these hybrids is currently expanding in the CRV where it is grown by 30% of the farmers. Likewise, hybrid maize adoption in this area offers better opportunity for private seed companies’ involvement in the seed provision of adapted hybrids. A paradigm shift in the maize breeding efforts and extension service on hybrid for drought prone areas is commendable in order to enhance the food security of smallholder farmers in the CRV.

This paper addresses farm household common bean seed access behavior and seed quality issues in l... more This paper addresses farm household common bean seed access behavior and seed quality issues in light of farm household socioeconomic characteristics. The notion that seed from informal source is poor quality and informal seed market (ISM) is the last resort for the poor household is closely examined. Data for this study were gathered in 2011 using structured questionnaire interview of randomly selected farm households. Seed samples were collected from the interviewed farmers, ISM and formal sources. On average, 93% of the farmers obtained seed from the informal sources while the remaining was accessed from the formal source. One-third of farm households consistently acquired seeds from ISM regardless of whether it is in normal or stress year. Higher proportion of women headed and the poor households tend to procure seed from informal sources (mainly ISM). However, the proportion of the well off farmers accessed seed from ISM was also significantly high (about 1/3) contrary to the commonly held belief that the well off farmers are seed self-sufficient and procuring seed from ISM is a sign of vulnerability. The informal seed source is more responsive and accessible to men and women headed households of all categories during the stress and normal years. Such an important entity of the informal seed source, ISM, deserves consideration as a positive force in the dissemination of new variety or seed hand in hand with strengthening farmer seed production. The formal seed sector has also a crucial role in new germplasm or quality seed introduction, recognition, and strengthening of the informal seed sector. Physical and germination quality of the seeds obtained from informal sources had met the standard despite minor defects. Even though seed from the informal seed sources is flexible, offers acceptable quality seed and serves all categories of farm households it has mixtures and insect pest infestation. Hence, improvement of seed storage, insect control, and basic information about varietal characteristics including variety names has to be addressed for enhanced quality seed distribution.

Yoshiaki Nishikawa (Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University) 〔 〕 138 ( ) ... more Yoshiaki Nishikawa (Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University) 〔 〕 138 ( ) OPVs can be recycled for an average of three years without considerable yield reduction thus, suitable for smallscale farmers. On the other hand, hybrids are high yielders, needing more stable moisture conditions and intensive management. Hybrids have uniform flowering dates and are highly affected by any window of drought particularly during flowering, therefore less stable in yield than OPVs.

Vegetable production is one of small-scale farmer transforming strategies from subsistence farmin... more Vegetable production is one of small-scale farmer transforming strategies from subsistence farming to a business enterprise in Ethiopia. Nonetheless, the focus of research and extension placed on boosting production without due consideration on the costs and returns. This paper takes a step forward in examining the cost and benefit of small-scale onion and tomato farming using data obtained from randomly sampled households. Net returns were employed to determine the cost-benefit of vegetable farming. Likewise, sensitivity analysis was introduced to account for any major fluctuations and risks envisaged. Small-scale vegetable farming was found a profitable enterprise and the local average yield is well above the national average yield. Returns from onion was more sensitive to yield variation and an average marginal yield increase by 5-10% would compensate for price fluctuations of up to 50% drop from a normal season price. Onion fetched more net income and the profit margins of both crops were high. Onion production is more labor intensive and this shows high potential for consistently supporting farm household and rural labor while tomato production tends to be chemical intensive. Research and extension services need to provide information on the cost-benefits hand in hand with the promotion of yield increase. The findings have a far-reaching implication that onion and tomato farming can be sustainably pursued with the available open pollinated varieties and improved management practices without hastily resorting to high yielding and imported inputs such as hybrid seeds.