Adoption, Farmers’ Perceptions, and Constraints to Sustainable Improved Forage Technology Integration in Smallholder Agroforestry Systems in Dire Enchini District

Improved forage production is important for increasing livestock productivity and supporting sustainable mixed crop–livestock systems. This study assessed the sustainability of innovative forage technologies within agroforestry practices Dire Enchini District by assessing local community perceptions, identifying determinants of adoption, and examining community-driven forage resource conservation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 142 randomly selected households from four kebeles: Nanno Jedue, Bilo Abayi, Arfinjo Daga, and Waldo Hene. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the survey data. Nine major improved forage species were identified, with Desho grass (19.0%), Rhodes grass (16.7%), and Napier grass (14.3%) being the most frequently reported. Tree Lucerne (Tagasaste) and Oat–Vetch mixtures each accounted for 7.1%. The major constraints to improved forage adoption were limited access to improved planting materials (31.0%), inadequate institutional support, limited technical knowledge, poor soil fertility (14.3%), and land shortage (7.1%). Male farmers accounted for 85.7% of reported adopters, compared with 14.3% for female farmers. Most respondents (65%) reported a moderate level of experience with improved forage technologies, while only 10% reported a high level of experience. The findings indicate that improved forage production in the study area is constrained primarily by limited access to planting materials, technical knowledge, and institutional support. Strengthening farmer training, extension services, and local forage seed and planting-material multiplication through farmer training centers could support wider adoption and sustainable production of improved forage species suited to local agroecological conditions.