This study was presented during the conference “Production and Carbon Dynamics in Sustainable Agricultural and Forest Systems in Africa” held in September, 2010.

1. Farmer led re-introduction of Vicia faba beans in Ethiopian
highland farming systems: scaling up a participatory intervention
Erik Karltun, Mulugeta Lemenih, Motuma Tolera, Linley Chiwona Karltun
ABSTRACT: The majority of the studies on soil fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have looked at various soil management
methods or on the effects of changes in the biophysical conditions or macro-economic policies on soil fertility. What is less
well understood are the challenges that farmers face at the household and community level that prevents them from
practicing sustainable soil fertility management. In our studies we have attempted to clarify how crop theft, especially the
theft of legume crops in Beseku, Ethiopia affect soil fertility, nutrition and community relations. Theft of crops in rural areas
seems to be largely related to food insecurity, and population growth and distressed socio- cultural relations. The cultivation
of beans, important for soil fertility amelioration, diet quality and household economy has been completely abandoned due
to extensive crop thievery in large areas of the district. In this project we planned to re-introduce and scale up bean cropping
into the farming system of three selected areas referred to as Peasant Associations. The re-introduction of beans was carried
out in a 5 step procedure and based on several focus-group discussions with each village. This included (1) identification and
selection of the local institution to structure the re-introduction, (2) a communication process within the community to curb
theft of beans, (3) purchase and multiplication of bean seed, (4) identification of farmers to participate in the re-
introduction activity and (5) monitoring and evaluation of the intervention. The participating villages differed in the choice
of institutional management of the bean re-introduction. Results revealed group differences among the villages in the
preferred choice of the identified institution based on the degree of inclusiveness. Formulation of by-laws penalizing bean
theft led to significant reduction in the thievery of beans. Limited availability of bean seed was augmented by the
establishment of a community revolving bean seed production and multiplication system that ensured fairness in seed
distribution. Farmers not able to acquire seed during the first year were reassured by the enforcement of the by-laws to the
point that they purchased bean seed from the market. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study reports that part of
the problem of soil fertility management is due to broken “trust” amongst communities and that local institutions have a
vital role in mediating, restoring trust and soil fertility.
DISCUSSION AFTER PRESENTATION: In the following discussion questions concerned the role of local institutions, the
importance of local governance, potential exclusion mechanisms, as well as differences between men’s and women’s
priorities within a farming community.

2. Farmer led re-introduction of Vicia faba
beans in Ethiopian highland farming systems:
scaling up a participatory intervention
Erik Karltun, Mulugeta Lemenih,
Motuma Tolera, Linley Chiwona Karltun,
Supported by FAO

3. • Beseku, 250 km south of Addis Ababa
• Eastern escarpment, Rift Valley
• Mean annual rainfall 1200 mm
• Mollic Andosols, Humic Haplustands
• 2100 m asl
• Evergreen dry afromontane forests

4. 1967 1986

5. ”The soil could grow anything but salt”
Cultivation period (years)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
TotalN(gkg-1
)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
y = 4 + 4.89e-0.18x
r = 0.98**
δ15
N
δ
15
N(‰)
Total N
Cultivation since deforestation
vs. total N content of the soil

6. Why are the farmers not adopting
better nutrient management
techniques?
Can farmers and researchers
interact to improve the nutrient
management?
Participatory nutrient management

7. Methods
• Interview with key informants
• Survey semi-structured questionnaire 100 households
• In-depth interviews with key informants
• Group & Focus group discussions

8. “Over the years the soil
turns redder and redder
and becomes unhealthy”
Wami Bati, 79
Farmers were well aware of
soil fertility decline but…

9. • Fallowing is currently impossible because of
population increase and shortage of land..
• Manuring: Due to decreased number of livestock it is
difficult to use manure for field crops.
• Crop residue: Farmers use crop residues for animal
feed due to shortage of grazing land and therefore it
is not contributing much to soil fertility
• Fertilisers: Expensive, only a few farmers can afford
them and difficult to access

10. • Crop rotation has shown a change in crop
composition in recent years, whereby only few and
all non-legume crops are involved.
• Beans, the only nitrogen-fixing crop, used to be
component of the crop rotation in the area, are no
more grown due to thievery

11. ”You can not pass by a bean field or a beautiful
woman without stopping by and enjoy for a
moment”
Local proverb

12. Farmers in Beseku stopped growing beans to
avoid conflicts, and to preserve human
security and community integrity
Bean theft
(i) Impact on household nutrition and health;
(ii) Impact on household economy;
(iii) Conflict in households (wives vs husbands);
(iv) Impact on soil fertility
Consequences

13. Focus Group Discussions
- We need beans to feed our children
- The men complain - no shuro
- Beans are expensive
- Talk to the men
- The conflicts are serious
- We understand the problem
- Beans are expensive
- If we all agree we can do something
about it
- Idirs should discuss
- PA support
- Explain in school
Women
Men
Men & Women

14. Idirs formulated by-laws against bean theft
“dir biabre anbessa yasir”,
if threads unite they can be strong enough to tie a lion

17. • Can the local mobilization of local institutions can
be replicated to other nearby villages?
• Is the intervention sustainable, i.e. that bean
cultivation spreads spontaneously and that beans
remains a part of the crop rotation even the years
after re-introduction?
• Will re-introduction of beans enhance nutritional
status in house-holds and increase income for
farmers?
Research questions

18. • The abandonment of bean cultivation was evident in the
villages surrounding Beseku
• Three out of four approached villages initiated a process
to curb bean theft – the drop out village lacked respected
leadership
• Only Beseku used Iddir as the local institution – the
other villages chose to use the peasant association
• The reason for choosing another institution was based on
inclusiveness
Preliminary results

19. • Bean cultivation is increasing in Beseku for the third
year after re-introduction – no subsidies involved
• Formulation of by-laws against bean theft led to a
significant reduction in the thievery of beans
• Revolving seed production has been organized to
solve the seed production
Preliminary results, continued
Ongoing
• MSc on reasons for non-adoption
• MSc on effects on household economy
• PhD on long-term N effects