Crop related interventions at the Kabe
Watershed Pilot Project in Ethiopia, 2011-
2013
Awol Mohammed and Agegnehu Mekonnen (Sirinka
Agricultural Research Center, ARARI)
Workshop on the lessons and success stories from a
pilot project on climate change adaptation
interventions in Kabe watershed, south Wollo,
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 11-12 February 2013

1. Background
• Major crop production constraints in Kabe watershed are lack of early
maturing varieties(escape environmental hazard condition), high high yielding
and diseases resistance varieties.
• Most farmers in the watershed use local varieties that provide low crop and
biomass yield.
• Introduction of released crop varieties was made to alleviate low crop
productivity.
2. Materials and Methods
• About 68 farmers were selected and trained on crop production systems.
•Wheat, barley, field pea and faba bean varieties used for pre-scaling and
demonstration purposes
• A total of 1.41 ton seed used for pre scaling up and demonstration activities.

3. Results
 The wheat variety (Dinkinesh) was high yielding, early maturing and yellow rust
resistant in other similar agro-ecologies of the north-eastern parts of the country.
This variety also provided better yield at Kabe watershed as compared to other
wheat varieties.

Table 1. Grain and biomass yield comparison of the local and improved crop
varieties at Kabe watershed.
Duration from
Type of sowing to Grain yield Straw
Type of crops
varieties harvesting (t/ha) yield (t/ha)
(months)
Field pea Adi 3.2 3.5 7.6
Tegegnech 3.5 2.8 6.2
Local 3.5 1.2 5.8
Faba bean Dagim 3.6 4.6 2.5
Lalo 3.6 4.5 3.2
Local 3.5 4.8 0.9
Bread wheat Dinkinesh 4.3 3.6 5.4
Local 4.8 1.8 2.7
Food barley Estayish 4.0 4.8 7
local 4.1 1.8 6

 From the barley varieties, Estayish
(218963-4) performed better in
terms of grain and biomass yield as
well as preference by the local
farmers. This variety had a grain and
biomass yield gain of 3 and 3.8 t ha-1
over the grain and biomass yield of
the local barley variety (Table 1).
 Biomass/straw from the improved crop varieties can support and minimize
free grazing which is the major cause of land degradation.

Conclusion and recommendations
The three crop varieties such as Adi and Tegegnech (field pea), Dinkinesh
(wheat) and Estayish (barley) are better than the local varieties in terms of
yield and other characteristics. Therefore, there is a need to control the
seeds exchange system and disseminate them to interested farmers. On
the other hand, latest faba bean varieties that resist diseases, and provide
better yield should be re-demonstrated and re-evaluated.

Conclusion and recommendations
The three crop varieties such as Adi and Tegegnech (field pea), Dinkinesh
(wheat) and Estayish (barley) are better than the local varieties in terms of
yield and other characteristics. Therefore, there is a need to control the
seeds exchange system and disseminate them to interested farmers. On
the other hand, latest faba bean varieties that resist diseases, and provide
better yield should be re-demonstrated and re-evaluated.