Assessment of Constraints and Farmers’ Perception in Production and Marketing of Improved Forages in the Central Ethiopia Region

One of the primary causes of Ethiopia's poor livestock production performance is an inadequate supply of feed. Besides, its productivity is poor due to low adoption and utilization of improved forages and forage seed production. The objective of this study was to assess constraints and farmers’ perceptions in the production and marketing of improved forage production in the Gummer and Silti districts, Central Ethiopia Region. To collect the data, primary and secondary data sources were used. In addition, 133 sample households were used to collect the data using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the collected data. The study results revealed that about 3.4% of the cropland in the study region was used by the households to grow fodder crops. The two primary enhanced forage crops cultivated in the research region were desho and elephant grass, and they have contributed 60.2% and 33.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the results showed that land shortage (56.5%), water scarcity (28.2%), seed scarcity (8.4%), irregular extension service (5.4%), and high cost of forage seed (1.5%) were the main constraints for access to and utilization of forage technology in the study area. Farmers’ perception toward improved production score results indicated that 87.2% of participants were not interested in producing improved forage in full engagement, 56.3% felt improved forage production would compete with crop production, 42.9% decreased soil fertility, and 0.8% of local breeds refused to eat leguminous improved forage species. It needs to improve the land use policy and implementation practices, addressing training, access to forage seed, and extension services. Additionally, working together between agricultural extension and the agricultural research system should help to increase the technology's acceptance and reduce the gap between the government and technology users/farmers.