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Kassie, M.

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Kassie
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M.
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Kassie, M.
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0000-0002-5898-3877

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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Saving labor and animal draft power: impacts of crop management innovation packages in Ethiopia
    (CIMMYT, [2017?]) Jaleta, M.; Kassie, M.; Tesfaye, K.; Tilaye Teklewold; Jena, P.; Erenstein, O.
    In 1990s Sasakawa Global 2000 introduced conservation agriculture practices in maize based systems of South Achefer District, in Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia. The specific technologies introduced were one-pass tillage for maize crop establishment, use of herbicides for weed control, and residue retention for soil fertility management. Though the last practice was not that adopted due to multi-purpose use of maize residue mainly for feed and firewood, the adoption of minimum tillage and herbicide use was considerable in the district. Thus, this study was interested in assessing the level of adoption of minimum tillage and herbicide use by smallholder farmers and evaluate the consequent impacts on maize productivity and level of draft power and labor saved in maize production due to adoption.
    Publication
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    Household-level determinants of soil and water conservation adoption phases: evidence from North-Western Ethiopian Highlands
    (Springer Verlag, 2016) Addis Teshome Kebede; Graaff, J.; Kassie, M.
    Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been promoted in the highlands of Ethiopia during the last four decades. However, the level of adoption of SWC practices varies greatly. This paper examines the drivers of different stages of adoption of SWC technologies in the north-western highlands of Ethiopia. This study is based on a detailed farm survey among 298 households in three watersheds. Simple descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the stages of adoption. An ordered probit model was used to analyze the drivers of different stages of adoption of SWC. This model is used to analyze more than two outcomes of an ordinal dependent variable. The results indicate that sampled households are found in different phases of adoption, i.e., dis-adoption/non-adoption (18.5 %), initial adoption (30.5 %), actual adoption (20.1 %), and final adoption (30.9 %). The results of the ordered probit model show that some socio-economic and institutional factors affect the adoption phases of SWC differently. Farm labor, parcel size, ownership of tools, training in SWC, presence of SWC program, social capital (e.g., cooperation with adjacent farm owners), labor sharing scheme, and perception of erosion problem have a significant positive influence on actual and final adoption phases of SWC. In addition, the final adoption phase of SWC is positively associated with tenure security, cultivated land sizes, parcel slope, and perception on SWC profitability. Policy makers should take into consideration factors affecting (continued) adoption of SWC such as profitability, tenure security, social capital, technical support, and resource endowments (e.g., tools and labor) when designing and implementing SWC policies and programs.
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    Factors that transformed maize productivity in Ethiopia
    (Springer Verlag, 2015) Abate, T.; Shiferaw, B.; Menkir, A.; Dagne Wegary Gissa; Kebede, Y.; Tesfaye, K.; Kassie, M.; Bogale, G.; Tadesse, B.; Keno, T.
    Maize became increasingly important in the food security of Ethiopia following the major drought and famine that occurred in 1984. More than 9 million smallholder households, more than for any other crop in the country, grow maize in Ethiopia at present. Ethiopia has doubled its maize productivity and production in less than two decades. The yield, currently estimated at >3 metric tons/ha, is the second highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, after South Africa; yield gains for Ethiopia grew at an annual rate of 68 kg/ha between 1990 and 2013, only second to South Africa and greater than Mexico, China, or India. The maize area covered by improved varieties in Ethiopia grew from 14%in 2004 to 40%in 2013, and the application rate of mineral fertilizers from 16 to 34 kg/ha during the same period. Ethiopia’s extension worker to farmer ratio is 1:476, compared to 1:1000 for Kenya, 1:1603 for Malawi and 1:2500 for Tanzania. Increased use of improved maize varieties and mineral fertilizers, coupled with increased extension services and the absence of devastating droughts are the key factors promoting the accelerated growth in maize productivity in Ethiopia. Ethiopia took a homegrown solutions approach to the research and development of its maize and other commodities. The lesson from Ethiopia’s experience with maize is that sustained investment in agricultural research and development and policy support by the national government are crucial for continued growth of agriculture.
    Publication