http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1675 2026-08-27T20:12:05Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16980 Adoption of Combine Harvester Custom Hiring and Its Impact on Crop Productivity and Farm Income: The Case of Smallholder Farmers in Northwestern Ethiopia. Gete, Tewodros Small holder farmers in Ethiopia can’t increase their productivity and income due to lack of agricultural mechanization, even though agricultural mechanization has crucial socioeconomic benefits. The traditional method of harvesting makes it difficult to perform various farm operations in a timely manner, resulting in worsening loss of crops on farms during harvesting and threshing. The adoption and impact of agricultural mechanization on smallholder farmers' crop productivity and income have not been adequately studied. The major objective of this study was to assess the impact of combine harvester custom hiring on households' crop productivity and farm income. As well, the study examined the smallholder farmer's decision to hire a combine harvester and its financial profitability. Multi-stage sampling was used to gather data from 450 households in seven sample kebeles from Gozamin, Baso Liben, and Debre Elias districts in northwestern Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, binary logit model, truncated Poisson model, and an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model were used to analyze the data. The logistic result shows that the educational status of the household head, immediate access of the combiner, average field distance to the main road, fear of unseasonal rain, extension contact, and mobile phone possession had a significant positive effect on the hiring decision of combine harvester. On the other hand, the male household head and the active family labor force impacted the hiring decision of a mechanical harvester negatively. In the truncated regression, active family labor force, oxen, immediate access, type of combiner leaser, and straw waste suspicion were significant determinants of the intensity of custom hiring on the farmer's wheat plots. According to the ESR model results, adopters' crop productivity and farm income increased by 5.60 quintals per hectare and 12764.34 birrs as a result of hiring combine harvesters. Non-adopters would also gain 6.10 quintals per hectare and 8051.82 birrs if they had been hired. The hiring of combine harvester technology has an indispensable contribution to the improvement of smallholder productivity and income and it is financially profitable. The government, private stakeholders, and other concerned parties should facilitate the custom hiring of existing machinery; besides importing or manufacturing agricultural machinery that is well suited to the Ethiopian agricultural system perspective so as to separate farmers from oxen and change traditional agriculture practices. 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16954 Effects of Gibberellic Acid (Ga) Concentration and Soaking Duration on Seed Physiological Quality and Agronomic 3 Attributes of Maize Inbred Line (Zea Mays L.) Under Irrigation Condition in Bahir Dar, North Western Ethiopia Yemataw Chanie The seed yield of hybrid maize varieties relies on the traits of their parental inbred lines. However, inbred lines are susceptible to environmental factors due to inbreeding challenges in field establishment, stand uniformity, and yield. To address these challenges, the laboratory experiment was conducted at Adet, and the field experiment was conducted at Bahirdar under irrigation conditions to evaluate the effects of GA concentrations and soaking durations on seed physiological quality and agronomic attributes of maize inbred line. Treatments comprised a factorial combination of four GA 3 3 concentrations (0 ppm, 75 ppm, 150 ppm, and 225 ppm) and three soaking durations (12, 18, and 24 hours). The laboratory experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with four replications, while the field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that the main effect of GA concentrations and soaking durations significantly influenced seed physiological quality, yield, and yield components; however, their interaction was non significant. The highest germination (95.25%, 94.31%), seedling vigor index (2842.30, 2499.63), and seed yield (4.22 t/ha, 3.44 t/ha) were achieved with 225 ppm GA₃ and 24-hour soaking, respectively, while reducing 50% maturity time (132.33, 134.83 days). The combined effect of 225 ppm GA₃ + 24 hours gave the highest emergence index (3.71) and shortest mean emergence time (6.12 days). The partial budget analysis confirmed the feasibility of treating seeds with 225 ppm GA₃, yielding a net benefit of 510,293.16 ETB/ha and a marginal rate of return of 1,420.06%. Similarly, a 24-hour soaking duration resulted in the highest net benefit (427,705.44 ETB/ha) and marginal rate of return (11,524.76%). In conclusion, 225 ppm GA 3 3 concentration and 24-hour soaking duration enhanced seed quality, field emergence, yield, and yield components. These findings recommend adopting these treatments for sustainable inbred line seed production; however, further research is needed to confirm consistency and applicability by repeating field experiments across multiple years and locations. 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16953 Seed System and Quality Analysis of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) in Libo Kemkem Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia Asnka Tarekegn Rice crop is considered as a food security crop which is expected to contribute ensuring food security in Ethiopia. Despite its importance, research on its seed systems is limited, emphasizing the need to improve productivity and food security. This study assesses the existing seed system and analyze seed quality attributes among existed seed source in Libo Kemkem District of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The survey data were gathered from 120 farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Rice seed samples were obtained from both formal (20 samples) and informal (25 samples) seed sources for laboratory testing. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for survey data and independent t-test for laboratory data with SPSS V27.0 Moreover, laboratory experiments were carried out at ANRS Agriculture and safety Authority Bahir Dar Branch. The study identified the presence of formal and informal seed systems to access rice seed by farmers. The survey results revealed that most of the farmers (74.1%) accessed seed through the informal seed system; the local market (30.8%), their stock (21.7%), exchanges with neighbors or relatives (13.3%), and revolving seed (8.3%). 25.9% of served households accessed seed from formal channels. Farmers’ reasons for using improved rice varieties were high-yielding potential, seed color, marketability, drought resistance, early maturity, shattering resistance, and disease resistance. Farmers’ seed management practices enable to maintain and improve rice seed quality in the study area. Household perceptions of seed quality attributes were generally positive. Laboratory results revealed that most of the seed quality parameters (physical, physiological, thousand seed weight, and moisture content) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the formal and informal seed systems. The present of pure seed collected from the formal seed systems (98.8%) met the national seed quality standard set for breeder, p/basic and basic seeds (98%). The highest germination percentage (86.6%) and (80.04) was recorded in the formal and informal seed system respectively. Both seed systems met the national seed quality standard set for breeder, p/basic and basic seeds (80%). Moisture content (11.16%) and (11.29 %) was recorded for formal and informal systems respectively; both systems fulfilled the standards better (13%).Seed access from formal seed systems was significantly higher (P=0.000) in all tested vigor variables. High-vigor seeds can improve seed germination and seedling emergence, increase crop yield and reduce the cost of agriculture production 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16952 Effects of Priming and ing and Coating on Seed Germination Field Establishment, Yield, and Yield-Related Traits of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench) in Northwestern Ethiopia Sintayehu Asmare Sorghum is the fourth most widely produced cereal in Ethiopia. Despite its coverage and importance, the productivity remains low due to several constraints, notably the use of poor-quality seed, limited availability of improved seed, and low adoption of pre-sowing seed treatment technologies, which results poor field establishment, low stand uniformity, and ultimately low yield, particularly in the lowland areas of Gondar. To address these challenges, an experiment was conducted at Gondar City in the GARC seed laboratory, and the field experiment at Metema and West Armachiho districts in the 2023 main cropping season to evaluate the effects of priming and coating on seed germination and yield of sorghum. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four priming materials (control, Tap water, MLE, and cow urine) and four coating materials (Control, Thiram, Apron Star, and Dynamic). The laboratory and field experiments were laid out in a CRD and RCBD design with four and three replications, respectively. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.4.2. Combined ANOVA revealed significant (p < 0.05) interaction effects of priming and coating on germination %, speed of germination, shoot and root length, VI₁ and VI₂, head length, width and weight, dry biomass, Stover yield, grain yield, and HI. In contrast, seedling dry weight, days to emergence, heading and maturity, plant height, and TSW were significantly (p < 0.05) affected only by the main effects of priming and coating. The highest germination (94.25%) and grain yield (4,364.92 kg ha⁻¹) were obtained from seeds primed with MLE and coated with Apron Star, followed by MLE-primed seeds coated with Thiram. The PBA also indicated that seeds primed with MLE and coated with Apron Star had the highest NB (146,999.7 Birr ha -1 ) with an acceptable level of MRR (116,792.1%) as compared to other treatments. Therefore, treatment combinations of seeds primed by MLE with coated by Apron Star, as well as seeds primed by MLE with coated by Thiram, are recommended for sorghum growers in lowland areas of Gondar and other similar agro-ecologies. However, these results are from a single year; extending the study across multiple seasons would help account for seasonal variability and strengthen the final recommendation. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z