Transcript Current Status of Parthenium Weed in oromiya Regional States

Oromia is one of the
Ethiopia,
and
has
a
kilometers.
☤
largest State in the federal State of
total
area
of
363,136
square
☤. The topography of the region varies from place to place with the
significant differences in altitude and four agro –ecology
zones.
Population
☤. Based on the 2007 G.C Census conducted by the Central
Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, the total population of the region is
estimated at 27,061,955.
☤. Almost 87% of total regional population is living in the rural
areas with economic engagement in agriculture as their main
means of livelihoods.
☤. Agricultural being the main stay of the regional economy it has
accounted for 65% of the Regional Gross Domestic Product /GDP/.
☤ .Adverse Weather Condition / Frequent Drought/.
☤ . Small land Size.
☤ . Declining Soil Fertility.
☤ . Poor land Management.
☤. Limited Development of irrigation
☤. Land Degradation
☤. Low farm input
☤. Unfavorable markets
☤ . Limited capacity etc
☤. High Population Pressure
☤ .Crop Pests
In Ethiopia the yield loss due to various pests on crops is one of
the factors contributing to the low level of agricultural production
and productivity.
☤ .The crop yield loss due to various types of crop pests including
disease, post harvest handling ,weed is estimated to be as high as
30%. Weed damage is very significant in the region and Parthenium
weed is considered as the most easily disseminating weeds in the
region if it goes in the rate it goes the damaged causes will be
beyond control.
☤.
In Oromia Parthenium weed invades a large area of agricultural
crop lands and Pasture lands and affects the productive capacity of
the land.
☤. In Ethiopia ,the yield of sorghum bicolor grain was reduced from
40-97% when P.hysterophorus was left uncontrolled throughout
the season.
☤ .In Oromia Region , Crop yield loss of sorghum and Teff have been
recorded as 49 and 90 % respectively in in East Hararghe and East
showa Zones at Babile and Boset districts respectively (Tamado 2001)
☤ .The field surveys held by the zonal Agriculture offices of Oromia
showed that Parthenium weed to be the most widely spread and
abundant invasive alien species in the region .
☤ .The weed has reached all most all the zones in the region and most
likely infested >175 districts (woredas ),in 17 zones.
☤ .Severely invaded zones are East and West Hararghe, East Showa ,
Arsi, Bale and Brorana zones.
☤. The result of field survey in the region showed the colonizing power
of the weed mainly pasture /grazing lands/ in Bale, West Hararghe,
Arsi, East Showa, Borana, East Hararghe Zones.
☤. South West Showa, East Wollega , Jimma, West Showa and the
rest zones are moderately infested including pocket area invasion.
☤ Also denser stands of the weed are found along road sides,
urban areas, rural villages, commercial farms like Matahara ,Wojnji
,Nuraera, Tibla and other farms.
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
Parthenium weed progress in the past 2 years.
Key = shows Parthenium weed distribution
presented to this workshop in 2012.
key, Shows Parthenium weed distribution in the
past 2years, 2014
No
Zones
Total
Were
da.
Infested
Wereda
s
1
E/
Harrarge
19
15
2
W/
Hararge
14
3
E/ Shoa
10
%
T.Area
Infested/
he/
Pasture
land
Crop
Field
Road
side
and others
78
27488
7,992
14,793
4703
11
14
78
165,076
52,911
59,140
53,025
10
100
80,710
25,260,
27,450
28,000
262500
136500
70750
55250
No
Zones
Total
Wered
a
Infested
Wereda
s.
.
4
Bale
18
14
5
Arsi
24
6
W/
Shoa
7
S/W/Sh
oa
%
T.Area
Infested/h
e/
Pasture
land
Crop
Field
Road
side and
others
66
16876
42857
5,775
32780
3,277
8242
7,824
11
46
12139
29593
7630
15438
4446
12320
63
1835
18
6
15
33
2652
1000
48
1,604
11,
7
9
64
3,400
1000
400
2000,
Sr.n
o
Zones
Total
Woredas
Infested
Weredas .
8
Jimma
17
8
%
T.Area
Pasture
Infested land
/he/
/he/
Crop
Road side
Field/h and
e/
others
/he/
47
81
47
2
32
27
45
20
2
23
47
288
0
65
223
15
9
I/A/B
22
6
18
10
E/
17
Wollagg
a
8
15
88
3262
2150
856
256
Sr.n
o
Zones
Total
Wered
a
Infested
Wereda
s.
11
Borana
13
3
%
23
T.Area
Infested/
he/
15,000
12
12
W/Arsi
12
3
Pasture
land
Crop
Field
Road side
and
others
7000
3,000
5,000
130338
3014
25
10002
5000
2
5,000
4
13
Kelem
Wolagga
10
6
60
32.75
5
2.75
25
14
West
Wollegga
19
10
53
111.5
46
6.5
58.75
No
Zones
Total
Wered
as
Infes
ted
Were
das .
15
Horo
Gudduru
9
3
16
Guji
13
17
Especial
Zone
Round
Finfine
Total
%
T.Area
Infested/
he/
Pasture
land
Crop Field
Road side
and others
33
393
202
52
139
4
30
2790
1270
1315
205
6
6
100
816
163
38
615
252
125
175
49.6
78
337900
696144
115321
388219
114039.25
170945.25
108539.75
136979.75
Sr no
Infested, area
Year
%
2012
2014
1
Pasture land
115321
388219
300
2
Crop Field
114039.25
170945.25
150
3
Road side and others
108539.75
136979.75
127
3
T.Area Infested/he
337900
696144
206
4
Infested Wereda.
125
175
140
losses assessed and Recorded
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In Oromia in 2012 the total infested area was 337900 ha of land
but according to the assessment made in 2014 by zonal
agriculture offices the infestation reached 696144 ha.
No of the infested Weredas in the year 2012, were 125 districts
( Woredas ) but the no of infested Woredas reached 175,in
2014.
Pasture land infestation in East Showa, Arsi, West and East
Hararghe, Bale and Borana Zones shows significant increase.
The weed has become serious problem in urban areas too.
As compared to 2012 Parthenium infestation has increased very
significantly.

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


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A wide range of socio-economic problems has experienced.
Invading a large area of Agriculture Land.
Reducing productivity.
Reduce pasture carrying which creates grazing Shortage and great
danger to livestock production in the future.
Health hazard to human And Animal
Biodiversity loss.
Causes deterioration quality of crops and live stock products.
Affects taste of milk and honey
. Reduce lactation period of cow.
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Parthenium weed is an exotic alien species which is naturalized
now.
This being the case why regular management is needed, Oromia
Agriculture bureau has practiced a different cultural methods to
mitigate the problems, even though some promising results
obtained, Parthenium weed is still a serious problem to the
region.
Controlling Partenium weeds using only a cultural methods are
not sufficient and our past experiences proves this.
To solve/reduce/ this problem an integrated and long term and
continues Parthenium management strategy should be applied for
the sustainable control. That is why an integrated Partenium
control project proposed was appreciated and well accepted by
the Oromia Bureau Of Agriculture from the beginning.
☤ .As a partner of the Project Oromia Bureau Of Agriculture has
taken different responsibilities to do as counter part of the project
Accordingly the following activities were done in the collaboration.
☤. Multiplication and Raring site was selected and reserved for the
project purpose at Wolenchiti.
☤.Awareness creation. Regarding Awareness Creation, Extension
workers, development Agents and Farmers surrounding Wolinchiti
were briefed about the problem.
☤. Multiplication site has already secured.
Finally the Oromia bureau of Agriculture promises to do all what to
be done in the control of parthienum in the with project and all
stakeholders
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Joint effort of different stake holders are paramount.
Further Awareness creation is necessary.
Periodical training of extension workers and farmers is area of
focus.
Consistent effort should be practiced until complete seed bank is
exhausted.
Biological control of Parthenium management should be followed
by other control methods.
Designing a similar project that will help the dissemination of
the reared bio-agent to farmers field.
Thank you
Samuel Assefa/Dr/
Oromia Bureau of Agriculture.
2014