Research Article
Pre-Extension Demonstration and Popularization of Improved Sorghum Technologies in Selected Districts of Assosa Zone, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia
Habtamu Alemu, Fekadu Begna, Woldegebriel Tesfa Mariam
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 19-26.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2023.v03i02.002
The activity was carried out in Assosa, Homosha and Bambasi districts of Assosa zone of Benishangul Gumuz regional state as Large-scale demonstration activity in 2019/2020 cropping season. The demonstration was done in eight kebeles by involving 158 male headed and7 Female headed households. The average age of participant farmers in sorghum technology large-scale production and promotion was 30to 45 years with mean farming experience 30- 40 years, which show that they are active age for agricultural production, enabling them to understand new technologies. All participant farmers share between 0.125 and 1 hectares of land to establish cluster form. Totally, 126 hectares of land established for cluster based large-scale demonstration purpose. Then training were given for 165 farmers, 24 Regional, Woreda experts, and DA’s involve on all agronomic practice like ploughing, sowing, fertilizer application, weeding, harvesting, threshing and storing were given in an interdisciplinary team from agricultural extension, communication and sorghum breeder. The selected farmers were supported with 61 quintals of urea and 12.6 quintals of improved seed. Thus, field day organized at physiological maturity stage of the crop. Totally, 713 (farmers 630, DA, experts and other stakeholders 83,) were participated on the field day events. Mean grain yield of improved Assosa-1 sorghum variety at demonstrated areas were 26.8 qt.ha-1at Assosa, 29qtha-1at Bambasi, and32qt.ha-1at Homosha(Table 7) respectively. The technological gap in the study area ranges from 6 to 11.2 qt.ha-1, with an average technological yield gap of 8.73qtha-1. The highest technological yield gap 11.2 q.ha-1 was observed in Assosa district and the lowest technological gap 6 q.ha-1 was observed in Homosha district. Similarly, the extension yield gaps were ranged from 12.8 to 20qt.ha-1 with an average yield of 15.6qtha-1. The result further showed that the highest extension gap of 20 q.ha-1was observed at Homosha district and the lowest extension gap was observed at Assosa districts with 12.8qt.ha-1.
Research Article
Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Infectious Laryngotrachitis in Small Scale Chicken Production in Nekemte Town and Selectted Districts of East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
Teshome Kidane Balcha, Begna Bulcha, Monenus Etefa
Middle East Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science; 27-35.
DOI: 10.36348/merjafs.2023.v03i02.003
Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a disease of high economic consequence to the poultry sector. Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), under the genus Iltovirus, and the family Herpesviridae, is the agent responsible for the disease. The aims of current study were, therefore, to estimate the seroprevalence of ILTV in chickens and identifying associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to October 2022 in East Wollega zone specifically in Nekemte town and three surrounding districts (Diga, Guto Gida and Leka Dulecha). The districts were selected by purposive sampling, however, cluster-sampling technique was used to select the smallest administrative units (villages) and farms/households, and the study element (chickens) was selected by simple random sampling method. Logistic regression analysis was utilized in order to analyse the collated data. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from Nekemte town and the three selected districts of east Wollega zone. Indirect ELISA was used to assay for the existence of anti-ILTV antibodies in the serum. A questionnaire survey was used to identify the potential risk factors. Out of the 384 samples, 15.36% (95% CI: 12.1–19.3) tested positive for anti-ILTV antibodies, with 21.88%, 14.44%, 11.11% and 10.53% prevalence obtained from Nekemte town, Guto Gida, Diga and Leka Dulecha respectively. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that the chicken source and Sasso breed were found to be significantly associated with ILT seropositivity. Chickens obtained from day old chicks distributers was 2.22 (COR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.23-4.00) times more likely seropositive than those bought from market. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors revealed that exotic Sasso breeds of chicken were found 9.68 (AOR: 9.68, 95% CI: 1.96-47.78) more likely to be seropositive than local breed. It was concluded that the seroprevalence obtained in this study indicated the circulation of this economically important poultry disease in the study sites and, hence warrants prevention and control.
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