Enhancing onion production and productivity through introduction of seed production techniques in central zone of Tigray region, Ethiopia

Enhancing onion production and productivity through introduction of seed production techniques in central zone of Tigray region, Ethiopia

2016

E13153

The main reason of low production and productivity is restricted use of inputs, notably improved seeds and fertilizers. Different vegetable seeds are imported which results in different problems like disease outbreak, timely unavailability and costly etc. The demand of vegetable seed is increasing from time to time. Though vegetable seed production is difficult, there are attempts and efforts to produce them at local level. Strengthening of community based seed multiplication is a means to develop the vegetable seed production techniques and business. In order to bring this to practical, demonstration and scaling up activities was conducted since 2009 to 2014. Farmers Research Group (FRG) approach was used to implement the research. In 2013, an average yield of 7 q/ha of onion seed was recorded while the maximum was 10 q/ha, while in 2014, a maximum yield 16 q/ha was recorded at farmer's field. The yield increment might be due to skill development by the farmers. Farmers could get gross income of 24, 000 thousand from a parcel of 300 m2 land. Thus, local seed production practice is technically possible and economically feasible and should be encouraged and promoted by all stakeholders so as to enhance the income and livelihood of farmers.

4(4):188-192, ACADEMIA JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

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