Community Level Project Planning (CLPP) Assessment Report, Natural Resource Research Directorate, Worabe, Southern Ethiopia

Ethiopian economy is supported by its agricultural sector which is fundamental instrument for poverty alleviation, food security, and economic growth. One of the constraints in agricultural research is weak participatory project planning to alleviate agricultural problems. Any research activities carried out without baseline information were not targeted on root problems of the research area. Most of research activities carried out in the field was not considered constraints and opportunity of the study area. In other words, in agricultural research, poor problems identifications before field demonstration/experimentation may lead to reaching in to false finding. Therefore, this community level based project planning/CLPP/ assessment was aimed to identify agricultural constraints and opportunities of targeted Woredas of Silte, Gurage Zones and Yem Special woreda in 2008 E.C. The assessment was done from Silte Zone in (Alicho Weroro, Misrak Azernet Berbere and Mierab Azernet Berbere districts), from Gurage Zone (Geta, Enemor Ener, Gummer, Endigagn and Cheha Woredas) and Yem special woreda. Therefore, this paper highlights the CLPP (community level project planning) assessment was reported in tabular and listed. The aim of this assessment was to provide information to those who develop demand driven research activities. The assessment report mainly focused on Natural resource research constraint and opportunities of Worabe agricultural research center AGP-II thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles from each Woreda in the project zones. All the collected constraints and opportunities of natural resource research directorate were listed down in tabular form and short bulleted discussion from each woredas’ were written in precisely. In addition to this, major problems of the area were attempted to narrate below in the table shortly. The study shows there were different research constraint almost all in assessed woredas’ which needs intervention of natural resource research work in different disciplines.


Introduction
Ethiopia is the second most popular country in Africa next to Nigeria. Most of peoples' were living in high land areas with 85% of its population were in rural and dependent on agriculture [1]. Its economy is supported by its agricultural sector which is fundamental instrument for poverty alleviation, food security, and economic growth. The Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation stated in [2] reported that agriculture contributes highly in terms of export, employment, and subsistence to the Ethiopian economy. It contributes 50 percent of GDP, 85 percent of employment (the rural population of Ethiopia), 90 percent of earnings from export, and 70 percent of raw material requirements for large and medium industries that are agroprocessing [2]. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ethiopian economy, accounts for 90% of the total foreign exchange earning, 50% of the GDP, and provides employment for over 85% of the country's labour force. While this makes it the most important sector in the country, it has been characterized by poor and relatively declining performance since the late 1960s and early 1970s. The result of this has been progressively increasing grain imports and food aid. For instance, cereal production has been negative since 1972 with the exception of a few years [3].
Natural resource management (NRM) is becoming a relatively new and expanding thrust in policy research on African agriculture [4][5][6][7][8]. Many of these studies have concluded that if natural resources are to be protected against the risk of destruction, it is essential that governments devise a range of policy instruments that can influence behavior for the adoption of technology innovations and institutions that promote sustainable management of natural resources to alleviate poverty.
A number of factors may explain the low technology adoption rate in the face of significant efforts to promote sustainable land management (SLM) practices; Such as: poor extension service system, blanket promotion of technology to very diverse environments, top-down approach to technology promotion, late delivery of inputs, low return on investments, escalation of fertilizer prices, lack of access to seasonal credit, and production and consumption risks [9][10][11].
Available evidence shows that yields of major crops under farmers' management are still far lower than what can be obtained under research managed plots [12,13]. Attaining sustainable agricultural development and potential, which can be able to feed steadily growing population and support emerging industrial development and overall transformation, is possible through, identifying agricultural production gap, promoting technology transfer and adoption, boosting demand driven commercial production, deepening agricultural markets, and improving infrastructure and setting agricultural policies and strategies. Agricultural extension services have indispensable role through provision of applicable information, knowledge and skills along with dissemination of demanded agricultural technologies [14,15].
To develop a rational land use policy, to choose between alternative land uses or to direct investment where it will yield the greatest benefit, decision-makers need timely information about natural resources and the capability to make use of this information [16].
Problems based on natural resource have been influenced on agricultural productivity in specifically, and livelihood of the people in general. In addition to this the quality of environmental total ecosystem has been declining from time to time. However, different research activities and development intervention efforts have been made in different areas to alleviate ever increasing land related constraints, integrated work will be needed to solve emerging and existing natural resource management based problems in situation that variety of soil, water, forests, climatic and management system.
One of the constraints in agricultural research is weak participatory project planning to alleviate agricultural problems. Any research activities carried out by lack of baseline information about study area were not targeted on root problems of the research area. Most of research activities carried out in the field were not considered background information of the study area. In other words, in agricultural research, poor problems identifications before field demonstration/experimentation may lead to reaching in to false finding. Therefore, this community level based project planning/CLPP/ assessment was aimed to identify agricultural constraints and opportunities of the Worabe Agricultural Research center all AGP-2 thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles' from each Woreda in the project zones.
The CLPP (community level project planning) assessment discussed in this paper was to serve as a basic information to develop demand driven research activities preparing by AGP-II funding. The assessment report mainly focused on Natural resource research constraint and opportunities of Worabe agricultural research center AGP-II thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles from each Woreda in the project area. All the collected data/constraints and opportunities/ of all natural resource research directorate were listed down in tabular form and short bulleted discussion from each woredas' were written in precisely. In addition to this, major problems of the area were attempted to narrate below in the table shortly.
The aim of this study is to assess the community level based project planning /CLPP/ to identify agricultural constraints and opportunities of targeted Woredas of Silte, Gurage Zones and Yem Special woreda. The assessment report mainly focused on Natural resource research constraint and opportunities of Worabe agricultural research center AGP-II thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles from each Woreda in the project zones.

Methodology
The assessment report mainly focused on Natural resource research constraint and opportunities of Worabe agricultural research center AGP-II thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles from each Woreda in the project area. The study was conducted using qualitative survey methods by participatory research approach/PRA/ tools including (farmers, youth association, different genders groups, kebele key informant, DAs, focus group discussion/FRD/. Other primary information was collected from zone staff, woreda agricultural office. The data was collected by collaboration of different field of professional specialization teams. All the collected data / information about all natural resource management constraints and opportunities were listed down in tabular form and short bulleted discussion from each woredas' were written in precisely. In addition to this, major problems of the area were attempted to narrate below in the table shortly.

Description of Study Areas 1) Siltie Zone Location, area, and administrative division
Silte zone is one of the 14 zones that forms SNNPRS (southern nation nationality and people regional state) covering an area of 3047.83 square kilometer. It was established soon after referendum that had been taken by Silte nationality in 1993 E.C. It has 8 woredas namely Dalocha, Silte, Lanforo, Alicho, Sankura, West Azernet, East Azernet Berbere, Hulbarag and one reform town, Worabe. Worabe, the Zone's capital town is located on the main road from Addis Ababa to Hossana just 172 km apart from Addis Ababa.
Siltie is one of the central zones of the region with large plain land, mountainous area, plateaus. Concerning the climate of the zone it has three different agro-climatic conditions, high and mid-land and consisting 37% and 63% respectively. The average temperature range from 12 to 26°C and the average annual rainfall ranges from 780 to 1818 mm. 95.5% of the population engaged in agriculture.
Climate Climate is a long period average weather condition of a defined geographical area. It is determined by altitude, latitude, prevailing winds, cloud cover, pressure and wind belts. Altitude is by far determinant factor for the spatial variation of weather and climate. Among the elements of Weather and Climate, temperature and rainfall are important elements in determining the pattern Of population settlement, the range of crops and vegetation that can be grown, soil formation Processes and biodiversity and agro ecology of a given area.

Rainfall
The amount, duration and intensity of rainfall in this zone decreases from west and northwest to south-eastwards. The main dry season is shorter in southern Ethiopia and the main rain season is larger in south west and in south. The past three decades rainfall data show that the lowest annual rainfall is 801mm and highest Annual rainfall is 1200mm. Relying on the reliability of rainfall for crop Production and duration of growing periods, the three seasonal patterns of rainfall in this zone experienced Bega (Dec., Jan. Feb.) Provide rain for limited part of the region, Belg (little rain season), (March, April) the amount of rainfall received is relatively lower than the summer rainfall that occurred in June, July, August. However, in each of the seasons the rain may Begin earlier/later and lasts before the usual time. This has impact on growing period and reliability of rainfall.
Temperature Temperature is the quantity that tells us how hot or cold something is relative to some set standard moisture content and the humidity of the atmosphere. The mean annual temperature of this zone is 10.1°C. However, temperatures are generally high with little variations among seasons. The meteorological data of 2007 G. C indicate that the mean annual maximum temperature of this zone 22.5°C & 11°C in the highlands of Siltie zone.

Agro-ecology
Siltie zone has a diverse agro ecological conditions ranging from hot arid and semi-arid climate (high land & mid land type) in the southern most parts such as (high land and partially cold) type in the high lands of the North and Northwest. Intermediate between these extremes the climate is defined to be Tropical sub humid type (high land) 34% of the region that is moderately suitable for settlement and crop production. Most part of the zone, about 79.5% lies under mid land type of agro-ecology while high land and high cold conditions constitute 8.6% of the region. The varied agro climatic conditions made these zones be endowed with the production of different commercial and food crops. Agriculture Sector of the Silte Zone at a glimpse Agricultural sector is the predominant economic activity there by making the largest contribution of Silte Zone Gross Domestic Product, and main livelihood for about 90% of population which are engaged in mixed farming system. However, due to extreme dependence on rain fed agricultural, the production is still at subsistence. Silte Zone Agricultural land holding is very small and highly fragmented. This fragmented and small holding per household is mainly attributed to high population density in the region. Silte Zone has different agro-ecological namely, Dega, 20.5% and Woina Dega, 79.5% which are found between 1500 up to 3700 masl. These and others factors have highly influenced and contributed to the existing varieties of fauna and floras. Barly, maize, sorghum, Enset & vegetables are the major crops grown in the zone. Livestocks reared are cattle, sheep, goat, poultry and equines.
The sector is being geared by the large number of extension workers who have been trained at diploma level and above to provide technical support to the farming communities, agricultural input and extension services for farmers to adapt a modern technology.
2) Gurage Zone Gurage zone has a land size of about 5932 square kilometers and consists 15 woredas. Namely, Abeshegae, Qebena, Ezia, Kokir-Gedebano, Sodo, Meskan, Mareko, Gumer, Cheha, Enemore and Enere, Muhur-Aklile and Endegagn. Topographically the zone lies within an elevation ranging from 1000 to 3600 meters above sea level. The zone has three agro-ecological zones high land (35%) mid land (62%) and low land (3%). The annual average temperature of the zone ranges from 130 to 30°C and the mean annual rainfall rages from 600-1600 mm. Considering the land utilization, 52% of the total area is a cultivated land, 13.4% is a grazing land, 9.9% is a natural and man-made forest land, 7.3% unproductive land and the remaining 17.6% is covered by others. The zone has resource potential exploitable for the development of agriculture, such as floriculture, high land fruits and for establishing agro based industries, such as chip wood and fiber processing factories from 'Enset'. In view of the fact that the high land dwellers of the zone are acquainted with the growing of Enset crops that could be a potential raw material source for fiber processing factory. Wolkite town is the administrative and trading center of the zone. The town is located at a distance of 158 km south -west of Addis Ababa.
The annual average temperature of the town is 32°C and favors high land climatic condition. The Gurage zone live a sedentary life based on agriculture, involving a complex system of crop rotation and transplanting. Ensete is the main staple food, but other cash crops are grown, which include coffee and Khat, both traditional stimulants. Animal husbandry is practiced, but mainly for milk supply and dung. Other foods consumed include green cabbage, cheese, butter, and roasted grains, with meat consumption being very limited (also used in rituals or ceremonies).
The principal crop of the Gurage is Enset (also Enset, "false banana plant"). This has a massive stem that grows underground and is involved in every aspect of Gurage life. It has a place in everyday interactions among community members as well as specific roles in rituals. Enset is also exchanged as part of a variety of social interactions, and used as a recompense for services rendered. Ensete is totally involved in every aspect of the daily social and ritual life of the Gurage, who, with several others tribes in Southwest Ethiopia, form what has been termed the Enset Culture Complex area. the life of the Gurage is enmeshed with various uses of Enset, not the least of which is nutritional.
Enset can be prepared in a variety of ways. A normal Gurage diet consists primarily of kocho; thick bread made from Enset, and is supplemented by cabbage, cheese, butter and grains. Meat is not consumed on a regular basis, but usually eaten when an animal is sacrificed during a ritual or ceremonial event. The Gurage pound the root of the Enset to extract the edible substance, and then place it in deep pits between the rows of Enset plants in the field. It ferments in the pit, which makes it more palatable. It can be stored for up to several years in this fashion, and the Gurage typically retain large surpluses of Enset as a protection against famine. In addition to Enset, a few cash crops are maintained (notably coffee and khat) and livestock is raised (mainly for milk and fertilizer). Some Gurage also plant Teff and eat Injera (which the Gurage also call Injera). Different species of Enset are also eaten to alleviate illness. It is considered polite to leave at least some Ensete bread even after a very small portion is passed around. Mixed farming (crop production and the rearing of livestock) is widely practiced. Crops grown include cereals (Teff, wheat, maize and barley), horticultural crops (Enset, Irish potato) and pulses (Faba bean, field pea). The main biophysical constraints facing the zone are declining soil fertility, deforestation, and low yielding varieties that are also prone to disease. However, there are examples of soil and water conservation measures aimed at addressing these problems include Agro forestry and composting.

3) Yem Special Woreda
Yem special woreda is one of the eight special woredas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regional States (SNNPRS). Yem Scpecial Woreda is situated in the north western apex of the region and is located between 7° 57´ N to 8° 02´ N latitude and 37° 40´ E to 37° 61´ E longitude. It is bordered by Hadiya and Gurage Administrative Zones of SNNPR to the east and south, and by Jima zone (in Oromiya Region) to the north and west. The Gibe River marks the border between Yem and Hadiya. It has a total area of 724.5 square kilometers, which accounts for around 0.65% of the total area of the SNNPRS. The landscape varies considerably from one part of the woreda to another, but is mostly hilly. The topography of the Special Woreda is characterized by rolling mountains, long gorgeous land, steeply sloppy areas and flat to undulating plateaus. The highest peak within the special woreda is mount Bora (2940 m). The area is divided into three agro ecological zones, namely, "Dega" (highlands with altitude of 2300-2500 masl) which is central parts, "mid land" (moist warm land with an altitude of 1500-2300 masl) covers the central apex and western part, and "Kolla" (with altitude less than 1500 masl) and found in eastern zone of the woreda. The area coverage in terms of agro ecological zone shows that the Dega covers 49.3% while the mid land and low land part shares 26.9 and 23.8 percent, respectively. Temperature is inversely related with altitude, with mean annual temperature between 20-30°C in the lowlands (kolla), 16°C -20°C in the mid land and 12°C -16°C in the highlands (dega) areas of the woreda. The rainfall in the woreda is basically bimodal with short rainy season or "Belg" and long rainy season or "Meher". The short rainy season usually appears during the months of Mid of February/April while the long rainy season is in the months of June/September. The rainfall pattern can also sometimes be considered as one and overlapping long rainy season with rainfall duration of 7-8 months per annum with a short dray period. The area in general receives adequate precipitation of mean monthly maximum and minimum rainfall of 2200 mm and 800 mm respectively. Moisture related with agro ecological zone is depicted as the high land zone estimated to receive rainfall ranging between 1200-2200 mm while the mid land and low land zones estimated to receive 900-1200 mm and less than 900 mm, respectively.

Major Finding from Siltie Zone Woreda's
Major Problems Identified in Mierab Azernet Woreda on Soil Fertility research problems were:-Lack of new agricultural technologies/No biogas, Researches on soil fertility management were not done so far, late gain of fertilizer from extension, For high acidic soil management. There were no supplying lime, potassium fertilizer access is low and DAP and urea Use practice is not in specified amount/rate. On SWC and watershed management based problems:-Watershed community participation gap/all community were no responsibility, watershed management mass movement of the community participation low/GAP, Lack of Soil bund stabilization technologies, Knowledge gap on Knowhow about Soil and water conservation techniques. On Agro Forestry and Plantation based constraints:-Different species of nursery and grass supplying gap. On Irrigation Water Use based issues: -No regular or perennial rivers and No ground water, Rain water harvesting techniques gap and Spring rehabilitation technology gaps.
Major Problems Identified in Alicho Woreda on Soil Fertility research based issues: -Low acidic soil management practices, integrated soil fertility management gaps (combination of organic and in organic fertilizer) and Low lime supply and rate of application. On SWC and Water Shed Management based constraints: -Lack of Soil bund stabilization. On Agro-Forestry and Plantation issues:-Multipurpose tree planting for Soil and water conservation gaps and Different species of nursery and grass s supplying gaps. On Irrigation Water Management based problems: Technology model showing gaps for water harvesting.
Major problems Assessed in Misrak Azernet Berbere woreda On Soil Fertility Management based problems:-Low acidic soil management, Integrated soil fertility management gap (combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer), No further research on soil fertility management and others and Late gain of fertilizer from extension. On SWC and water shed management based constraints: -Multipurpose tree planting for Soil and water conservation, in watershed community participation gap, Lack of Soil bund stabilization and Integrated soil fertility management gags. On Agro forestry and plantation problems: -Different species of nursery and grass s supplying gaps. On irrigation water management problems: -Rain water harvesting techniques gap, Irrigation practice gap, and new technology adopting gaps and Modeling gaps in FTC.

Major Finding in Yem Special Woreda
On Soil Fertility research based problems were:-Low acidic soil management practices, Lack of Soil bund stabilization practices, integrated soil fertility management gaps, shortage of inorganic fertilizers sources such as potassium chloride to acidic soil management, No research on soil fertility management and Late gain of fertilizer from extension/fertilizer was given on time. On Agro-Forestry based issues: -Multipurpose tree planting for Soil and water conservation. On SWC and Water Shed Management practice problems: -In watershed community participation gap, Lack of lime to amend acidic soil, Cracking & compactness of the soil, no access to bio-fertilizers, Low awareness creation to farmers in terms of how to use fertilizer (DAP and Urea), High water leakage in to subsurface soil (below plant root zone) and Intense cultivation & poor soil management. On Irrigation Water Management practice issues:-Rain water harvesting technology gap, Low Irrigation practice gap, new technology adoption gaps and Market chain or linkage gap.

Conclusions
In this CLPP (community level project planning) assessment reported, major constraints for each area were discussed in detail for all natural resource research disciplines. The constraints were listed table deeply and narrated in precisely. The aim of assessment was to provide information from different stockholders to those who develop demand driven research activities in the future. The assessment report mainly focused on Natural resource research constraint and opportunities of worabe agricultural research center and supported by AGP-II (agricultural growth program two) project. The Assesment was conducted on AGP-II thematic Woredas by selected representative kebeles from each Woreda in the project zones'. The study shows that there were different research constraints almost all in assessed woredas' which needs research intervention of natural resource research work considering different disciplines (Soil fertility, Soil and water conservation, Irrigation and Agroforestry) issues.