Farming systems research on tef: smallholders' production practices
2001
Kenea Yadeta | Gezahegn Ayele (EARO, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia)) | Workneh Negatu
Several tef cultivars with varying characteristics are being grown. Tef production activity mostly takes place once in a year. The production-actibity calender varies in different agro-ecologies. Plowing is performed using the traditional "maresha". Tef fields are ploughed more frequently than any other cereal or pulse crop. Operational activities are mostly influenced by farmers' resource endowment and the specific agro-ecological conditions. For instance, the more the number of oxen a farmer owns the more will be the ploughing frequency. Tef is primarily grown as a single crop. There is no difinite rotation practice exercised in the different farming systems; however, tef is not usually grown for more than two consecutive years in the same field. Farmers seeding rates are usually higher than those given by research recommendations. On the other hand, the actual amount of fertilizer application on tef is below the blanket recommendation. The use of herbicides for weed control on tef is limited. The labour requirements of tef production are vaiable depending upon the specific activity and the conditions of the farming system. In other words, tef production is not always the most labor intensive when compared to other cerals. The marketing margin for tef in absolute terms is relatively higher than for other cereals indicating that individuals involved in tef trading receive a higher net margin than those who trade other cereals. The relatively low seasonal price variability also makes it the most attractive in the marketing business.
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