Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted at Alduba to determine the effects of moisture conservation practices, inter and intra row spacing on yield and yield components of pearl millet (Penisetum glaucum L.) under rain fed conditions in 2012-2013. The experiment was conducted with two levels of moisture conservation practices (farmers practice and tied ridge), three levels of inter row spacing (40, 60 and 80 cm) and three levels of intra row spacing (15, 25, and 35 cm).

A field experiment was undertaken at Jinka Agricultural Research Center to determine the effect of inter row spacing and seed rate on productivity of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.], at Jinka. The experiment was conducted with four levels of inter row spacing (30, 45, 60 and 75 cm) and three levels of seed rate (5, 10 and 15 kg ha-1). The treatments were arranged factorially and laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Phenological and growth parameters such as yield and yield components, total biomass and harvest index were studied.

A field experiment was conducted at Alduba, Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of moisture conservation practices and varieties on yield and yield components of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) under rain fed condition in 2013. The experiment was conducted with two levels of moisture conservation practices (farmers practice and tied ridge), eight cowpea varieties (Black-eye bean, Bole, Maze-1, Asrat, Bekur, Assebot, IT-99k-1122 and White-wonder-trail).

Rhizopus soft rot, caused primarily by Rhizopus stolonifer, is one of the most common postharvest diseases of sweetpotato and is often considered the most devastating. Traditionally, Rhizopus soft rot has been effectively controlled using postharvest dips in dicloran fungicides; however, due to changes in market preferences, use of these fungicides is now limited. This, along with the lack of labeled and effective fungicides for control of Rhizopus soft rot in sweetpotato, creates the need for integrated strategies to control the disease.

This Population Action International video shows how women are being affected by climate change, particularly with respect to the extra workloads, the changing weather patterns, and the growing crop failure that they may face. The focus of the video shows that contraception can lighten women's burdens in the face of climate change, as she will have less work and fewer children to feed in the face of growing uncertainty. Nevertheless, it provides compelling stories noting that climate change is occurring and explaining how it deeply affects women farmers.

O'Sullivan et al. focus on the gender gap in productivity, providing more information on gender-based constraints to production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on information from survey data, they identify ten priority areas that will help to decrease the gender gap. These include: 1. strengthening women's land rights, 2. improving women's access to hired labor, 3. enhancing women's use of tools and equipment to reduce labor, 4. providing community-based child care centers, 5. encouraging women farmers to use more high-quality fertilizer, 6. increasing women's use of improved seeds, 7.

This report overviews a number of gender and agriculture programs, intended to inform Sida programming on gender integration. The report studies agricultural programs in Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Kenya. Main findings from the overview suggest that extension services need to be more integrated in a majority of the countries surveyed. Furthermore, interventions should focus on providing an asset base for women that combines different assets and services. Asset provision must be tailored to women's specific needs.

Women small-scale farmers face a number of gender-based constraints, including restricted access to land and credit. Collective action is a mechanism that can increase women's engagement in markets; however, Baden notes that it is unclear how women are precisely benefiting from membership in groups. Key findings suggest that women group members are usually older, married, and from wealthier households. There are significant economic benefits for women who join collective action groups.