Final Report: Narrowing the yield gaps of barley-faba bean based cropping systems through knowledge-based pest management practices for improved food systems of smallholder farmers in the Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Smallholder agriculture is the most important sector of Ethiopia’s economy where more than 80% of the population reside in rural areas, and their main source of income is agriculture. Barley (food and malt) and faba bean are important crops for food and nutritional security and income generation for the rural and urban poor. This project has targeted North Shoa and North Gondar Zones of the Amhara Regional State, where the two crops are integral components in barley/faba bean/sheep farming system. The project has an overall goal of improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in barley-faba bean-based farming systems of the Ethiopian Highlands. To achieve this goal, the project aimed to increase the productivity of barley and faba bean by narrowing yield, knowledge/information and skill gaps.