Vol. 10(1), pp. 9-41, March 2022
https://doi.org/10.14662/arjasr2022075
Copyright 2022
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-7874
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/ARJASR/Index.htm
 

Research paper

Assessment of Farmers’ Perception on Potato Farming Systems in North Western Ethiopia

 

Momina Aragaw1*, Tesfaye Abebe2, Wallelign Worku3, and Tadele Amare4

 

1*Corresponding Author,Debre Tabor University, Department of Horticulture, Ethiopia, Email:- kirkime@gmail.com "Arial","sans-serif""> 

2 Holetta Agricultural Research Center, Potato Breeder, Ethiopia, Email:-destaadera@gmail.com "Arial","sans-serif""> 

3Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, Ethiopia, Email:- walelignworku@yahoo.co.uk; and "Arial","sans-serif""> 

4Adet Agricultural research Center, Soil researcher, Ethiopia, Email:-tadele17b@yahoo.com

 

Accepted 28 February 2022

Abstract

This study was proposed to investigate the overall perception of farmers’ on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming systems in north western Ethiopia where the largest production of potato in Ethiopia undertakes. From West Gojjam, East Gojjam, South Gondar and Awi Zones two Woredas and Kebeles were purposively selected during 2018/2019 growing season. Secondary and primary sources of data were collected. Smallholder farmers produced potato for food, seed, cash and to keep the soil fertility in all the districts. Only 9.8% of the surveyed farmers went through off farm activities as income source. They had an average potato production experience, livestock number and farm size of 36.81 years, 5.17 and 1.63ha, respectively. Such farmers used on average 0.47 ha (28.83%) of their land for potato production. The dominant potato growing season was the main season (65.1%) from June to September followed by irrigation system (25.7%) from February to May; the remaining (9.2%) was with residual moisture. From the totally produced potato (2.29 tones), 16.6% used as seed, 48.55% consumed and 25.73% sold in the near bye market with very low price (2.17 Birr/kg) that discouraged farmers from production. On average there were two commonly grown varieties per farmer. Some local varieties which had their quality had lost from their farming activities. On average farmers ploughed their land 3.34 times before planting potato and used 2.13 t/ha potato seeds at planting as seed rate. 14.4% used their own seeds, 73.5% purchased from the surrounding market, 10.2% from their neighbors and 1.9% from the agricultural offices including research centers as seed source. More than half of the surveyed farmers (91.1%) did not use separate plots for potato seed production. The cost and not on time availability made fertilizers unavailable, though most farmers (63.0%) used fertilization as traditional technique of soil fertility management. The farmers used crop rotation mainly with potato (35.1%) as a traditional technique of soil fertility management. Besides potato, faba bean, peas, lupine, wheat and barley were crops that best fit in crop rotation in the area. 1.9% of the surveyed farmers used terracing technique as a traditional means of keeping their soil fertility. Animal dungs were not used as a composting source as there was lack of animal dung. Lack of improved potato seeds (38.8%), diseases and insect pests (32.5%), lack of fertilizer (10.8%), land shortage (5.9%), lack of market access (4.7%), drought (4.1%), high cost of storage (0.6%), frost (0.3%) and lack of credit (2.3%) were the major constraints challenging potato production.

 

Key words: Potato, farming systems, soil fertility, crop rotation, potato seeds, constraints.

 

How to cite this article (APA Style): Momina, A., Tesfaye, A., Wallelign, W, Tadele, A. (2022). Assessment of Farmers’ Perception on Potato Farming Systems in North Western Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 10(1): 9-41