Agricultural knowledge management: The case of cattle feed quality improvement in Bure district west Gojjam, Ethiopia

Abstract

The government of Ethiopia gives great attention to livestock development for the country's economy development. Having quality of animal feed is one of the pertinent components of livestock development. To improve the quality and quantity of animal feed in certain locality, farmers should be able to access and use appropriate knowledge for the particular problem at the right time and place. This research was conducted to assess agricultural knowledge management system in relation to improving the quality of animal feed in Bure district. To do so, the data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Multi stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. SPSS software (version 15) was also used to analysis the data. As survey result shows, crop residue (92.2%), attela (91.1%), natural pasture (65.6%), hay (62.2%) and birnt (30%) were the major feed sources for dairy producers in Bure district. To improve the quality of feed for their dairy cows, dairy producers had used supplementing non-conventional feeds (like attela and birnt) after grazing (92.1%), green hay making (65.2%), supplement concentrate after grazing (41.6%) and developing improved forage (20.2%) as the major mechanism. Agricultural officers (60.2%) and farmers' own experiences (52.3%) were the major sources of knowledge for dairy producers in order to improve the quality of cattle feed. Informal discussion (56.8%), experience sharing sessions (36.4%) and on-walk observation (26.1%) were also the major means to access such knowledge. On the other hand, dairy producers had transferred this knowledge into their neighbors (95.1%), friends (91.4%) and relative (63.0%). This study clearly shows that in the study area the mechanisms that were used for improving the quality of cattle feed, did not properly improved the quality of the feed as the dairy cow need. Therefore, efforts should be done to introduce improved and more productive fodder types. Improved mechanisms (like urea treatment, urea molasses block, micro effective) should also be introduced to improve the palatability of available crop residue. In addition, to enhance the adoption rate of all these technologies, all concerned bodies should understand the communities' knowledge system and approach them through their common knowledge sources and strengthen their means of knowledge accessing and sharing strategies.

Key Information Sources and their Utility for Upliftment of Members of Tribal Farmer Producer Groups

“…Extension information is generally obtained from extension workers, the mass media (particularly radio and television), printed publications (e.g., newspapers, bulletins, magazines, newsletters, journals, flyers, handbills), and other human groups (i.e., fellow farmers, village heads and traders). Habtemariam et al (2015) stated that rural farmers communicate on their expertise to their neighbours, friends, relatives, and children mostly through informal talk, sharing of experiences, and encouraging other farmers to visit their fields.…”

Agricultural information sharing for climatic risk adaptation by smallholder livestock farmers in Eastern Amhara Region, Ethiopia

“…Previous studies in Ethiopia shown that farmers received different agricultural information from different sources using various information pathways. For example, farmers sourced information on improved agricultural technologies from their neighbor in southern Ethiopia (Tewodros and Tesfaye, 2018), extension workers, family members and farmer groups in Tigray region (Gebru et al, 2017) and Agricultural and Rural development office and own experience in Western Amhara region (Habtemariam et al, 2015). Other studies tried to address type of agricultural knowledge and sources that the extension personnel used (Beliyu, 2018).…”

Sources of information and information seeking behavior of smallholder farmers of Tanqa Abergelle Wereda, central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

“…Equally, vibrant communication on new ideas and technological innovations for the improvement of agricultural production and productivity is crucial as well. Habtemariam et al (2015) reported that rural farmers transfer their knowledge to their neighbors, friends, relative and children mainly through informal discussion, experience sharing and inviting other farmers to visit their own farms. Sources of agricultural information in the study area can be categorized as organizations and individuals.…”