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 managementmethods or on the effects of changes in the biophysical conditions or macro-economic policies on soil fertility. What is lesswell understood are the challenges that farmers face at the household and community level that prevents them frompracticing sustainable soil fertility management. In our studies we have attempted to clarify how crop theft, especially thetheft of legume crops in Beseku, Ethiopia affect soil fertility, nutrition and community relations. Theft of crops in rural areasseems to be largely related to food insecurity, and population growth and distressed socio- cultural relations. The cultivationof beans, important for soil fertility amelioration, diet quality and household economy has been completely abandoned dueto extensive crop thievery in large areas of the district. In this project we planned to re-introduce and scale up bean croppinginto the farming system of three selected areas referred to as Peasant Associations. The re-introduction of beans was carriedout in a 5 step procedure and based on several focus-group discussions with each village. This included (1) identification andselection of the local institution to structure the re-introduction, (2) a communication process within the community to curbtheft 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 choiceof institutional management of the bean re-introduction. Results revealed group differences among the villages in thepreferred choice of the identified institution based on the degree of inclusiveness. Formulation of by-laws penalizing beantheft led to significant reduction in the thievery of beans. Limited availability of bean seed was augmented by theestablishment of a community revolving bean seed production and multiplication system that ensured fairness in seeddistribution. Farmers not able to acquire seed during the first year were reassured by the enforcement of the by-laws to thepoint that they purchased bean seed from the market. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study reports that part ofthe problem of soil fertility management is due to broken “trust” amongst communities and that local institutions have avital role in mediating, restoring trust and soil fertility.

DISCUSSION AFTER PRESENTATION: In the following discussion questions concerned the role of local institutions, theimportance of local governance, potential exclusion mechanisms, as well as differences between men’s and women’spriorities within a farming community.

Farmer led re-introduction of Vicia fababeans in Ethiopian highland farming systems:

scaling up a participatory interventionErik Karltun, Mulugeta Lemenih,

Motuma Tolera, Linley Chiwona Karltun, Supported by FAO

• 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

1967 1986

”The soil could grow anything but salt”

Cultivation period (years)0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Tota

l N (g

kg-1

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

y = 4 + 4.89e-0.18x

r = 0.98**

δ15N

δ15N

(‰)

Total N

Cultivation since deforestation vs. total N content of the soil

Why are the farmers not adopting better nutrient management

techniques?

Can farmers and researchers interact to improve the nutrient

management?

Participatory nutrient management

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

“Over the years the soil turns redder and redder and becomes unhealthy”

Wami Bati, 79

Farmers were well aware of soil fertility decline but…

• 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

• 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

”You can not pass by a bean field or a beautiful woman without stopping by and enjoy for a

moment” Local proverb

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

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

Idirs formulated by-laws against bean theft

“dir biabre anbessa yasir”,if threads unite they can be strong enough to tie a lion

• 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

• 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

• 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