Assessment of feed Resources and Mulberry (Morus spp.) plant use and production status in Coffee Ensete(Enset ventricosum) Based Production System of Selected Districts of Sidama and Gedeo Zones, Southern Ethiopia

E.Tsegaye, Tegene Negesse and Ajebu Nurfeta

 

Full Length Research Paper  I Published February,2018

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 4 (1), pp.9-17

 

ABSTRACT

Study conducted in seven districts of Sidama and Gedeo zones of southern Ethiopia. From each district 20HH who own Mulberry plant were selected purposively and interviewed.   Size and age of HH was 5.7 + 1.56 and 51.5 + 8.8 years respectively;  land holding is 0.92 + 0.4ha/HH, of which 0.9 + 0.04ha is cultivated, 0.39 + 0.21ha covered with coffee and 0.31 + 0.15ha with enset. Land and feed shortage are major constraints, tethering, indoor and road side grazing are used. Enset leaf, maize leaf and stalk, sugarcane leaf and tops, banana leaf and pseudo-stem, chat (Chata edulis) and browses used in the dry period to mitigate feed shortage. Maize stover, crop aftermath and weeds available after harvesting seeds. Sugarcane leaf and tops, Enset leaf, banana leaf and pseudo-stem are available throughout the year. Number and age of plant was 1.45 + 0.63/HH and 10.45 + 3.39 years respectively. Highest number (4plants/HH) from Wondogenet district. Mulberry planted along a fence (60%), homestead (19.3%) and inter-crop (20.7%) with Coffee, Enset, Maize, Chat and used it for shade, feed and firewood. 90.7% of respondents lack information and planting material. Creating awareness, evaluating bio-mass yield, chemical composition, and animal performance is recommended.

Key Words: Availability, constraints, feed, Mulberry, residue, shortage.

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