Project News

Followed by the monitoring visit to Hawassa, we conducted monitoring visit on participatory research activities to the research centers and universities in Amhara Region from September 20th to 22nd. FRGII is supporting FRG based research activities by Adet ARC, Bahir Dar AMFSRC, Bahir Dar Univ.

Adet ARC is conducting FRG based research activities at Fogera plains (30,000ha of rice field) on rice such as variety trial, transplanting, and weeding frequencies, Bahir Dar AMFSRC is conducting FRG based research on teff compactor (soil compactor to be applied after seed sowing), and Bahir Dar University is conducting FRG based research on seeding rate of wheat at 2,300masl condition.

Several participatory research activities are conducted at Gonder ARC, and as a part of monitoring for the training participants, we visited their research site of "establishment of model home garden targeting women households and HIV positive members in peri-urban areas" near Gonder.

At each site, we discussed on how to involve (especially female) farmers in the research activities, how to differentiate participatory research activities from extension activities, how to empower farmers instead of creating dependency through the collaborative research activities.

Variety trial on rice at Fogera Plains conducted by Adet ARC

Compaction roller. This equipment is to be pulled by 2 oxen after sowing seeds. Traditionally, the field after seed sowing was compacted by let livestock animals trampling.

Teff soil compactor experiment conducted by Bahir Dar AMFSRC. Discussing on the progress with the FRG farmers

Wheat seeding rate experiment conducted by Bahir Dar Univ.. The FRG farmers is explaining his observation on the plot.

Home garden trial conducted by Gonder ARC