Abebe Chindi
Participatory on-farm seed production has been carried out the year 2004 to 2006 at Jeldu, Dendi, Wolmera and Degem districts of central Ethiopia. The on-station seed production was under taken at Holetta and Jeldu experimental sites. To produce quality potato seed various rapid multiplication techniques (RMTs) were used. Thus, potato technologies were demonstrated and popularized using different methodologies such as the farmers’ field schools (FFS), the farmers research group (FRG) and filed days. To supply clean tubers about 30,719 high quality mini-tubers of improved varieties of Menagesha, Awash and Tolcha were produced. Moreover, a total of 257.08 tons of seed tubers of 15 released potato varieties were produced and disseminated in different parts of the country for research and demonstration. The participant farmers produce 204.6 tons of relatively clean seed tubers and sold to different parts of the country. During, this activity positive selection technique was demonstrated and participant farmers applied the techniques that helped them to improve the yield and quality of seed potato. Farmers obtained a 40% yield increase and a 33% vigor improvement when positive selection techniques were applied. Trainings on improved potato production and postharvest handling technologies and selection of vigorous healthy looking potato plants have also been given to farmers, development agents, agricultural experts and home agents in Oromia, regional states. A total of 1712 farmers from Oromia were trained. Training of farmers on the use of healthy seed tubers and other aspects of integrated disease management was found to be crucial in sustaining the availability of healthy seed tubers. Therefore, decentralized the production of quality potato seed improves the wealth of the producer and the producer farmers got an opportunity to be engaged in potato seed business and create creates awareness on various management techniques for disease and insect pests. Moreover, it reduces the movement of dangerous diseases like bacterial wilt and viruses from invading areas with high potential for seed production due to purchase of seed only from within one’s same region..
PDF
