Farmer Innovation: An Approach for Narrowing the Gap Between Research, Extension and Farmers in Ethiopia

Abstract

One hunarea ana mnety farmers of three aistrlcts In Elhiopifl wert' ime/viewed aboul their
.urlIlegies of using maigenol/.f innol'(uioru- for the sun'ival of Iheir farms. Two workshop.f
were also cOnt/rlcled 10 make tire main {IClorl' pari of Ihe sUltly, 10 communicale the findings
/0 farme,.s, extension agems. dislricls leaders, researchers and traders. and get their
feedbacks. The major fi nrlings were Ihat fal7ners find II difficull 10 (Iccess modern
technologle!i suggested by tire eXlension agents. As a reslllt. farmer.f use more of their
indigenoU5 knowledge and innovations to keep lhe COS IS of inputs dmlln and find
compromised soJUliorr.\· when they ure confromed wilh a clash of faclors influencing lire
farming sit/lOtions. This has been in spile of the fact that the aClual effects of indigenous
knowledge and innovalions are nol prQ\'en by formal research studies. Despite a/l
challenges, IIariOIlS local innovations have been iaentified in agriculture and na/uml
resource management. The mosl conspicuous farmer inno\'{ltions maintained for
generalions are the "Broadbed and F'lrrow" and "Open Ridge anti FllrrQW" thal are in
use 10 druin exceu waler from Ihe fa nnlands. Farmers have also been applying
envirollmellially sufI.' practices 10 control aamage on crops caused by rats. Thus, there is a
lIeed /0 build good reciproc(11 partnership between researchers and filrmer innovators for
joint experimentation based on agenda set by fanners. This would also help researchers 10
cammUl/icale with fanners wilh aue recognition as equally innOI'alors. ana to listen 10 and
learn from f armers 10 improve Ihe linkage between research, ext en.~ion alldfarmers