ఆగ్రోటెక్నాలజీ

నైరూప్య

Use of Artificial Fertilizer’s on Major Crops: The Case of Farta and Fogera Districts, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

Melesse Dejen Mitku*

The agriculture sector in Ethiopia is the most important sector for sustaining growth and reducing poverty. However, lack of adequate nutrient supply, depletion of soil organic matter, and soil erosion are major obstacles to sustained agricultural crop production. This study was conducted in Farta and Fogera districts of Amhara National Regional State with the objective of assessing fertilizer uses of farmers on their major crops. Six kebeles (three kebeles from Fogera and three kebeles from Farta) were first selected purposively. Formal survey was carried out using questionnaires on a total of 120 households’ selected using stratified random sampling techniques proportional to the population. Descriptive and inferential statisticswere used to analyze the collected data. Tukey test was used to know the mean difference between the three wealth categories. The major income of household in the study areas were crop selling and selling of animals in both districts, while the annual expenditure of households was for household consumption (purchased of food items. Wealth status was the main factor for the amount of fertilizer use as there was a significant mean difference between the different wealth status categories on the rate of fertilizer. Generally farmers apply lower rates of fertilizer as compared to rates by the extension system although richer farmers apply more fertilizer amounts than the medium and poor. The broadcasting method of fertilizer application was practice in both districts and the timing of fertilizer did not used during the crop needs due to accessibility of fertilizer on time. The yield of major crops was declining due to soil erosion problems in Farta and poor crop rotation and weed problems in Fogera plains. Major constraints for development, management and utilization of fertilizer were low extension service, high cost of fertilizer lack of credit, lack of technical knowledge and not available on time. Wealth status has its own contribution for ample amount application on crop field of households’ fertilizer application rate, timing and method was traditionally system. Therefore, this should be improved by adding value and transformed into modern production system in relation to the research recommendations.