ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ON STRIGA MANAGEMENT IN SORGHUM: THE CASE OF FADIS DISTRICT, EAST HARARGE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is one of the most important cereal crops grown in Ethiopia and it is mainly used for human consumption, stalk for animal forage, fuel and construction purposes. Most of the producers are small and subsistence farmers. Hence, sorghum plays greater role in shortening the increasing demand for grain food due to alarming population increase and repeated drought in Ethiopia. However, the existing production and productivity level is too low despite its immense potential. The problems of various invasive and devastating weeds, striga are the major constraints especially in Africa, and Ethiopia. Specially, Farmers in some woredas of Hararghe (for example Specifically Fedis district,) are among those who are suffering from the problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was focused to assess farmer’s indigenous knowledge and its effect on Striga management and to identify factor that affect it in Fedis District of the Oromia national Regional States. To conduct this study, mult- sample stage was used to select 120 respondents from four kebele. At first stage, out of 19 kebele, four kebele were selected purposively based on their degree of striga infestation. At next stage, total 120 interviewed respondents were selected by using SSP. For this study, Primary and secondary data were collected using the survey questionnaire developed for this purpose. In line to types of data, both qualitative and qualitative were collected from respondents, and FGD and key informants, respectively. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (SPSS 20) while qualitative data were analyzed using narration of farmer’s perceptions and opinions. Therefore, study result revealed that, Striga is one of the major problems affecting the production and productivity of sorghum in the study area. To alleviate the problem, farmers were using various types of indigenous knowledge such as: early planting, intercropping, and cultural moisture harvesting (sunken seed bed, mulching practices), apply organic ashes and different kinds of soil fertility management practices (manuring and burning the soils). The result from the study also shows that there are two groups of farmers in the study area, those who use and do not use indigenous knowledge in striga management. Those farmers who use indigenous knowledge in striga management have gained 36.2 % yield advantage as compared with those farmers who are not using the indigenous knowledge. Based on the results from the study, it can be concluded that use of indigenous knowledge is primarily affected by a various factor such as; socio-economic characteristics, demographic factor institutional and management factors. Similarly, those of indigenous knowledge is significantly influenced by variables such as; sex of the household head, family size, levels of education, farming experiences, contact with extension agents and exposure to informal training. This implies the need for extension service providers to consider age difference, education level, farmer’s experiences and family size in general and extension service provision and Striga management in particular. Taking the effect of striga on sorghum production into account, mobilizing and harnessing concerted efforts among potential stakeholder is essential. This can be done through organizing dialogue and awareness creation on the effect of striga in sorghum production. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate IK in to the research system for farther refinement and embedding of this IK in to the national extension system and services. To further investigate the complementary effect of both scientific knowledge and farmer’s indigenous knowledge in Striga management, further research work is recommended.