DEBRE BERHAN UNIVERSITY
COLLAGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCE
DEPARTEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
PRACTICAL ATTACHMENT ON PRODUCTION OF SORGHUM IN
WOREDA SHEY BENCH
Prepared by:-Teka Mustet ID No: - 1022/13
Advisor: -Adisu Berihun
February, 2020
Chiro, Ethiopia
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Acknowledgement
First of all, I would like to thank God for his miraculous time to accomplish everything and for
his help to go through every event successfully up to this minute. I convey my deepest thanks to
my advisor Mr. Gelana K. completion of this work may not have been possible without his
generous devotion from the early design of the practical attachment title and to the final write-up
of the report. Thus, I thank him for his genuine and energetic encouragement, suggestion; insight
and guidance to complete this attachment.
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Table of Contents
Contents Pages
Acknowledgement...........................................................................................................................ii
Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................iii
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................iv
1.1 objectives...............................................................................................................................2
1.1.1 General Objective............................................................................................................2
1.1.2 Specific Objective...........................................................................................................2
1.2 Mision....................................................................................................................................3
1.3 Vision.....................................................................................................................................3
3. Methodology...............................................................................................................................4
3.1 Discripition of the study area.................................................................................................4
3. 2. Inter Cultivation..................................................................................................................4
3.1. 2 Water use........................................................................................................................5
3.3 Method of data collection......................................................................................................5
4. Result and Discussion..................................................................................................................6
5. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
6. Recommendation.........................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8
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ABSTRACT
Sorghum plays an important role in food security in some of the poorest parts of the world. The
productivity of sorghum in Ethiopia is low when compared to other African country. Ethiopia
average productivity of sorghum is <1.35 tons ha -1, ranking it fifth in Africa. Generally,
improved agricultural inputs, population growth/economic development and climate change have
substantial influence on sorghum production. However, local dynamics likely go beyond these
broad trends and more exhaustive, locally-focused studies are needed for actionable planning
purposes.Sorghum is a warm short cycle annual, adapted to withstand higher average
temperatures than most other cereal crops . After germination, average temperatures between 24
◦C to 27 ◦C are ideal for best yields. Sorghum follows other crop readily in rotation but care
should be taken in the choice of crop to follow sorghum,as sorghum greatly impoverishes the
soil. the yield of a crop grown after sorghum is much lower. In my woreda sorghum is major
crop because of it's drought resistant .and so many challenges are occur in area such as shortage
of rainfall, luck of trained man power and luck of infrastructure because of these challenges and
activities that practiced in that area are traditional .for example cultivation methods are only by
animal power and sowing methods are broadcasting method.
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1. Introduction
Globally, sorghum is the most important cereal crops after Wheat, rice, maize and barley. The
crop is produced for its grain which is used for food, and stalks for fodder and building materials
in developing countries. In developed countries, primarily used as animal feed and in the sugar,
syrup, and molasses industry .The total production sorghum in the world in 1990 was 58 million
tonnes, a decrease from 60 million tonnes in the year 1989 and 62 million tones in 1988 (FAO,
2010). a decrease in yield from 1340 kg/ha in1989 to1312 kg/ha in 1990 was reported.while the
area remained around 44 million hectare in both years. The five largest producers of sorghum are
United States (25%),India (22%), China (9%),Nigeria (7%).Together these five countries
account 73%of total world production (FAO, 2013).).Sorghum is originated in northern Africa
and has spread to many tropical and subtropical regions of the world.In Africa sorghum is grown
in large belt that spreads from the Atlantic coast to Ethiopia and Somalia bordering the Sahara in
the north and equatorial forest in the south. This area extends through the drier part of eastern
and Southern Africa, where rainfall is too low for the successful of maize. Sorghum is tolerate
poor soils and thanks to some unique features of its anatomy,resist drought ( Adugna, 2007)..
Sorghum plants have very large root- to- leaf surface area,the leaves have waxy cuticle gor
protection and under water stress the leaf making roll up to reduce transpiration.plants will vo in
to dormancy if the stress is to great.This makes sorghum very important crop for millions of poor
farmer around the world.The largest area of sorghum production is India followed Nigeria, 53%
worlds production are located in sub Saharan Africa (FAO STAT 2010 for the 2008).Sorghum is
cultivated in all regions of Ethiopia in 14 to 18 major agro ecological between 400 and 2500mm
altitude (MOA,1998) mainly it is grown at lower altitude along the country western, south
western,north eastern,north and eastern peripheries.Oromia, Tigray ,Amara the three major
producers of sorghum covering 86% of the total area and 89% of the total production in the last 9
year (CSA,2005-2013).It produced mainly in four traditional agro ecological of dry low
land,humid low land,intermediate and highlands. Vernaculars named as kolla.ertib
kolla,wainadega and dega respectively.more than 65% of the sorghum growing areas fall in dry
low land agro ecology,and it is characterized by erratic rainfall, low soil fertility and fragile
ecosystem. The national average production of sorghum in Ethiopia is 2.3 tones/ha (CSA, 2018).
which is far below the global range of 3.2 tones/ha (FAO ,2005).This is because of number of
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biological and socioeconomic factors. Several production constraints where identified as
hindrance for sorghum production and productivity enhancement.The major constraints are
include drought, striga weed,insect pest(stalk borer,midge and shootfly),disease(grain
mold,anthracnose and smut,birds, soil fertility decline etc...factors are reduced the production of
sorghum.In my woreda factors that influence sorghum production are divided in to two .these are
climatic factor and biotic factor. Climatic factors are rainfall, wind, temperature and biotic
factors are insect pest such as STEM-BORERS (Bussela fusca,sesamia calamistis), Armyworms
and cut worm and weeds like parasitic stiriga spp.these factors are serious problem to production
of sorghum in my woreda.management methods such as cultural ,chemical method are
implemented in these area.Being an indigenous crop, tremendous amount of variability exists in
the country. As a result, a large number of accessions have been collected by the joint efforts of
the Ethiopian Sorghum Improvement Project (ESIP), and the Institute of Biodiversity
Conservation (IBC). Many of these accessions have been evaluated in the country and some
were released as commercial cultivar for the highlands. Still others have been used in
supplementing the germplasm base of the international and national agricultural systems around
the globe. Gebrekidan(2004) elucidated the importance of the Ethiopian sorghum germplasm in
the world collection.
1.1 objectives
1.1.1 General Objective
To know how to produce of sorghum and to know factor affecting of sorghum.
1.1.2 Specific Objective
To know methods of controlling and managing factor affecting of sorghum.
To evaluate and give recommendation about sorghum to farmers in area
To know growth requirement of sorghum crop.
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1.2 Mision
The mission of the organization (woreda) is to maximizing production, to encourage sustainable
development by expanding agricultural extension, to conserve natural resources, to reduce
poverty and to create comfortable woreda for investment.
1.3 Vision
The vision of organization (woreda)is to ensure the extension continuous or long lasting modern
way of agricultural development , maintain environment and disappear poverty from the area
completely.
1.4 Value of Organization
Hard working and being competent. Information exchange habit to the office. Responsibility and
accountability.
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3. Methodology
3.1 Discripition of the study area
Woreda Raya Azebo agricultural office is found in Tigray region 75 km far from Mekelle town
and 635 km far from Addis Abeba.This woreda is should have 25 kebelle .out of these kebelles i
was practiced in kebelle genete ,that found 4 km far from my woreda .The agro climatic
condition of the kebele can be categorized into two parts. These are High land about 35% and
lowland about 65%. The annual means of temperature ranges from 15 to 22c◦ and the mean
annual rainfall ranges from 500 to 900mm. According to the Keble office, the total population of
the study area is 3560 Out of the total population, 1878 (52.16%) are male and 1682. (47.84%)
are females. The total house hold of the kebele is 555, out of the total house hold 444 are male
and 111 are female. In the area, almost all population depends on agricultural practicing. The
major crops grown in the areas are sorghum, barley, wheat, teff, and maize but, sorghum is the
main choice crop in this area. The soil types of the kebele are similar to that the District, which
includes chromic. And, pellicvertisols with texture ranging from black clay to loamy clay. The
black clay soil constitutes 80%, red clay soil 15% and loamy clay 5% of the total area of the
kebelle. The agricultural land area of kebelle is 915 hectare which is used for sorghum
production. When i was started to training ,that the sorghum is grown and stand about 30 cm
above the ground. such activity's are i was observed such as weeding, inter cultivation, water
application etc...and some information i was obtained from farmers about the early
operations.such operations are include land preparation and sowing.
3. 2. Inter Cultivation
Inter cultivation is the operation or practice or cultivation system between standing crop, means
after the crop is grow.the main important of this system is to reduce competitions of plants
(because plants are sown by broadcasting method in this area),to holding water for long period
and reduce runoff in the field , to reduce weeds and to vigorous plant and so on.farmers are
always used this system and it ia very necessary to an area.
3.1. 2 Water use
Of all the climatic factors, which influence the pattern and productivity of rain fed agriculture,
the availability of water to crops is by far the most important. Although sorghum is tolerant to
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drought because of its ability to remain dormant during a drought Period and the grow fast again
afterwards; it has been found responsive to good water supply. Under ideal soil condition
sorghum has an extensive and deep fibrous root system. The deep root system is tremendous
advantage in extracting water from deep in the soil. As these roots are not yet developed or
established at seedling stage of growth, it is important to maintain adequate surface moisture at
this time .In addition to the seedling stage ,the pre-flower in , flowering and grain formation
stage have been found critical for water demand .In kebelle genete water utilization is only from
rainfall .If rainfall is does not found crops are not grown.because other methods such as
irrigation are not found in this area. Peoples are their life is depend on rainfall .so the major crop
of this area is sorghum because of its drought resistant.
3.3 Method of data collection
Both primary and secondary data collection was used. Primary data was collected by using: (I)
Questionnaire; was used for collecting data from household in relation to the study conducted.
such information gain by this method are about the early practice such as land cultivation
method and sowing method of sorghum in that area.as the farmers said me the land is cultivated
firstly after the first crop is harvested and cultivation system in this area is only by animal
power.so the land is prepared by continuous cultivation for sowing .sowing method of sorghum
is only by broadcasting method. (II) Observation; I was gained some information by
observation ,such as weeding method and inter cultivation systems.weeds are controlled by hand
pulling or cutting and by application of herbicide.herbicide is used for control broad leaves
weeds and the grass weeds are controlled by hand and by cutting method.
(2) Secondary data; was used among these literatures review and unpublished documents reports
from raya Azebo wereda are the main source of information.so by these sources i was gained
many information.such data about number of peoples that live in this area and number of house
hold etc.and climatological condition of the area such as distribution of rainfall,average
temperature of an area and topography of an area such as soil type .and i was gain detail
information about factors that require for sorghum production and why the sorghum is adapted to
this area and why sorghum is major crop to this area .so in kebelle, sorghum is very widely
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adapted and as major crop and peoples are their life cycle depend on the sorghum.because
sorghum is produced in higher quantity.the environment of area is favorable for production of
sorghum because the environment is seems to arid conditions.so,sorghum is adapted to arid and
semi arid condition and require average rain fall is less than 700 mm and more than 300mm.
4. Result and Discussion
Sorghum is a warm short cycle annual, adapted to withstand higher average temperatures than
most other cereal crops. After germination, average temperatures between 24 ◦C to 27 ◦C are
ideal for best yields. Low temperatures can be limiting to sorghum growth. and most plants will
die when exposed to below freezing temperatures. Sorghum is often grown in regions that get
between 350700 mm of precipitation annually. As a predominantly rain-fed crop, its yield
depends largely on its drought resistance. The ideal soil moisture during germination ranges
between 25% and 50% of field capacity and the sorghum plant can survive flooding events as it
is more tolerant of wet soils. Sorghum is often grown in shallow to medium deep or light to
medium-textured soils and/or medium to deep soils of high-water capacity after the rainy reason
In kebelle genete sorghum is the main choice crop because of its shortage of rainfall. And
sorghum is adapted to wide range of ecological conditions and can be grown under conditions
that are unfavorable for most of the cereals.so the great merit is its drought resistance.
The drought resistance of sorghum is due to the following morphological and physiological
properties: The leaves and stems are covered by waxy materials that reduce water losses. Loss of
water from transpiration is also reduced because of the relatively small leaf surface. The plants
are able to remain dormant during hot, dry periods and then grow again when conditions are
favorable.
Sorghum is grown successfully on many types of soils, except for rough, stony or gravelly soils.
In the wet season the highest yields are obtained on heavy soils, but in the dry season it does best
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on sandy soils. It can be grown with wide range of soil pH from 5.0 to 8.5 and tolerate salinity
better than maize. It can be grown on soils too poor for many other crops.
5. Conclusion
Sorghum follows other crop readily in rotation but care should be taken in the choice of crop to
follow sorghum, as sorghum greatly impoverishes the soil. Generally the yield of a crop grown
after sorghum is much lower. The depressing effect of sorghum is least noticeable in legumes
and most pronounced with cereals. Sorghum injury to subsequent crops under irrigation, where
the soil moisture is ample, has been attributed to the high sugar content of sorghum roots and
stubble. These sugars furnish the energy for soil microorganisms which multiply and compete
with the crop plant for the available nitrogen in the soil and thus retard crop growth.
Challenges at field attachment
Luck of skill man power.
shortage of rainfall
Luck of infrastructure such as electric power, road etc..
Luck of irrigation system, farmers are only depend on rainfall
6. Recommendation
Therefore, in order to alleviate the challenges, it may better to take the following measures:
Service the government should Expanding modernized agricultural practices and
appropriate land use to increase yield per unit area.
The local community should have a habit of planting various sorghum varieties on
sustainable way.
The government should create job opportunities for the communities
The organization should be to trained farmer's to have experience about agriculture.
The government should be expanded irrigation system to area to solve farmer’s
dependency only on rainfall.
The government should be expansion infrastructure service such as road, electric power
and other to area
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References
Adugna, A. (2007). The role of introduced sorghum in Ethiopian agriculture. Retrieved from
http://test1.icrisat.org/Journal/mpii/v3i1/news/Therole of introduced sorghum.pdf.
CSA, 2018.Agricultural Sample Survey.Central StatisticalAuthority. Report on Area and
production of major Crops.statistical bulletin 586, Volume VI. Addis Ababa
CSA,(2005 - 2013) reported the three major production of sorghum in Ethiopia account.,
(2014)national production of sorghum in Ethiopia.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2010.Production year book.
Rome, Italy.
Gebrekidan B. (2004)The importance of the Ethiopian sorghum germplasm in the world
sorghum collection.
