The 4th ‘ Research Field Day’ hosted by Research Directorate at College of Agricultural Sciences, Kulfo Campus, was interestingly participatory in nature for as good as eight students narrated the progress of their ongoing research field trials in the college precinct on different crops along few staff members.Click here to see the pictures
Students and staff members share details of research field trials underway on chickpea (Cicer arietinum), Terminalia Brownii, black pepper (Piper nigrum), Ficus benjamina, Sesame (Sesamum indicum), Corn (Zea mays), Cassava (Manihot esculenta), lentil (Lens culinaris), Haricot Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Cordia Africana, Moringa Stenopetala, Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and carrot (Daucus carota subsp. Sativu); innovative fruit storing chambers, feed trial on lowland goats and heifers were salient feature of the day.
Research and Community Service Vice President, Dr Simon Shibru, expressing satisfaction, said, field day has been a perfect merger of classroom lecture with field research; herein theory met practice. And moreover, when students are leading by examples, it will help them in creating business concept and ultimately make them self-reliant. Therefore, it’s significant in promoting self-employment among them.
Stressing his point, he said, AMU has comparative advantage as we are member of Ethiopian Agricultural Research Council, and when we launched such events people had great expectation from us so we have big responsibility; hence, we should research issues concerning community and work hard so that the livelihood of community gets traction; thereby contributing to nation’s Gross Domestic Product index.
Favoring involvement of community, he adds, it is key for such forums and we had been involving farmers in previous field days held in Gircha, Kamba and Sawla; and I am sure with involvement of stakeholders, media and others we can propagate such concept in a stronger manner, he quipped.
The program begun with Research Directorate Director, Dr Teshome Yirgu, apprising gathering about the objectives of field day, said, AMU is committed to evolve better technologies and techniques for growers and agricultural professionals that will transform agricultural practices in South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region in particular and across Ethiopia in general.
College Dean, Dr Yishak Kechero, said, here most of the researches are completed; some collected their data while some are ongoing. We have over 20 researches in Horticulture, 3 in Forestry and research on cattle is underway. The research findings will be used for publications, academic promotion and for policy briefs. Since our researches are problem-solving, we will recommend regional government to include them in extension system. And I am sure our college will work hard to enhance AMU’s reputation by releasing different varieties and recommendations as government expects lot from us.
College instructor, Mr Amare Girma, said, in sesame we are evaluating the effect of intra-row spacing and administration of fertilizer to identify which spacing and fertilizer rate is apt. Similarly, in chickpea, we are experimenting on sowing depth, in Maize, weeding time and in haricot bean, we are trying to identify best fertilizer rates.
We have applied fertilizers in local and hybrid maize to know correct amount to be recommended to the farmers; they have been using it but didn’t know the prescribed amount. Moreover, soil of this region is nitrogen-deficient; therefore, we are using nitrogen-laced compost that will improve the yield.
He adds, I am researching on legumes’ inter-cropping with maize, for fertilizer is expensive and when you intercrop, it gives good yield and fixes biological nitrogen. Inter-cropping is cost-effective and it enhances yield, but in monoculture it doesn’t happen. Legumes contain protein and cereal has carbohydrates, so when we inter-crop them their nutritional content remain intact, he added.
Admasu Yirgalem, said, our graduating students are engaged in around 23 researches; especially my students are investigating Ficus benjamina and two types of sweet potato (Hawassa 09, 83 & belete); we are using different planting methods, angles and response to fertilizer and mulching, etc.
On 8 sugarcane varieties, Prof. A Q Khan, said, four local varieties such as Habesha, Nech-Habesha, Shelle Habesha and Wonji, are grown for chewing of which Wonji is high-yielding and remaining are low-yielding but chewable. While PR 1007, Co 1001, B 49/224 & B 49 yield high cane and sugar per hectare are commercially used and also good for chewing purpose, he added.
Students, Esayas Alemayehu, Yekte Temaneh, Tamiru Ferede, Meseret Behonegn, Tsehaye Negash, Belachew Bezabeh, Elsa Awoke and Yodit Tilahun shared their ongoing research with the gathering.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)