Towards up scaling integrated faba bean gall disease management in South Gondar Zone, Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a major staple food and an important pulse crop in terms of area coverage and volume of annual production in Ethiopia. However, its productivity is declining due to the newly emerged faba bean gall disease. The disease also occurs under smallholder farmers' conditions in the Amhara region, although the information regarding its status and management practices is limited. Therefore, this pre-scaling up activity was conducted in 2020 and 2021 in South Gonder Zone of the Amhara Region with the objectives promoting improved management of faba bean gall disease, creating and strengthening linkage among stakeholders involved in faba bean production, and enhancing the availability of Wolki and Hachalu improved faba bean varieties with other components of the package. Host farmers were selected in collaboration with development agents and experts of the woreda (district) based on their interest in engaging with diligence and vigor. Training was provided to host farmers, development agents, and agricultural experts. A partial budget analysis was used to compare the benefit of integrated faba bean gall disease management with that of the local variety with local practices. The result shows that the Marginal Rate of Return (MRR) of Wolki was 464% in Ebenat and 435% in Libokemkem, while Hachalu variety has given a MRR of 560 in Farta and 386% in Libokemkem. As the result of the intervention, demand for faba bean gall disease management technology package was created, and linkage among the main actors was established and farmers acquired some amounts of improved seeds for future use. Therefore, as the MRR for the package in the study area is above 100%, it is worthwhile to upscale the packages to ensure the income, food, and nutrition security of rural households in the Amhara region and beyond where the crop is important.