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Evaluation of new farming technologies in Ethiopia using the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS)

Author

Listed:
  • Clarke, Neville
  • Bizimana, Jean-Claude
  • Dile, Yihun
  • Worqlul, Abeyou
  • Osorio, Javier
  • Herbst, Brian
  • Richardson, James W.
  • Srinivasan, Raghavan
  • Gerik, Thomas J.
  • Williams, Jimmy
  • Jones, Charles A.
  • Jeong, Jaehak

Abstract

This study investigates multi-dimensional impacts of adopting new technology in agriculture at the farm/village and watershed scale in sub-Saharan Africa using the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS). Application of IDSS as an integrated modeling tool helps solve complex issues in agricultural systems by simultaneously assessing production, environmental, economic, and nutritional consequences of adopting agricultural technologies for sustainable increases in food production and use of scarce natural resources. The IDSS approach was applied to the Amhara region of Ethiopia, where the scarcity of resources and agro-environmental consequences are critical to agricultural productivity of small farm, to analyze the impacts of alternative agricultural technology interventions. Results show significant improvements in family income and nutrition, achieved through the adoption of irrigation technologies, proper use of fertilizer, and improved seed varieties while preserving environmental indicators in terms of soil erosion and sediment loadings. These pilot studies demonstrate the usefulness of the IDSS approach as a tool that can be used to predict and evaluate the economic and environmental consequences of adopting new agricultural technologies that aim to improve the livelihoods of subsistence farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Clarke, Neville & Bizimana, Jean-Claude & Dile, Yihun & Worqlul, Abeyou & Osorio, Javier & Herbst, Brian & Richardson, James W. & Srinivasan, Raghavan & Gerik, Thomas J. & Williams, Jimmy & Jones, Cha, 2017. "Evaluation of new farming technologies in Ethiopia using the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 180(PB), pages 267-279.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:180:y:2017:i:pb:p:267-279
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.07.023
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    2. Luisa Bettili & Eva Pek & Maher Salman, 2019. "A Decision Support System for Water Resources Management: The Case Study of Mubuku Irrigation Scheme, Uganda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Deolu-Ajayi, Ayodeji O. & Aranguiz, Adolfo Alvarez & Alho, Carlos Francisco Brazão Vieira & Siegmund-Schultze, Marianna & Ndambi, Asaah & Selassie, Yihenew G. & Abebe, Yenesew & Groot, Jeroen C.J. & H, 2023. "Integrated analysis of opportunities and trade-offs for mixed crop-livestock farm types in Amhara, Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    4. Abeyou W. Worqlul & Yihun T. Dile & Jean-Claude Bizimana & Jaehak Jeong & Thomas J. Gerik & Raghavan Srinivasan & James W. Richardson & Neville Clarke, 2018. "Multi-Dimensional Evaluation of Simulated Small-Scale Irrigation Intervention: A Case Study in Dimbasinia Watershed, Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Talebizadeh, Mansour & Moriasi, Daniel & Gowda, Prasanna & Steiner, Jean L. & Tadesse, Haile K. & Nelson, Amanda M. & Starks, Patrick, 2018. "Simultaneous calibration of evapotranspiration and crop yield in agronomic system modeling using the APEX model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 299-306.
    6. Andrew, Rogers & Makindara, Jeremia & Mbaga, Said H. & Alphonce, Roselyne, 2019. "Economic viability of newly introduced chicken strains at village level in Tanzania: FARMSIM model simulation approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    7. Worqlul, Abeyou W. & Dile, Yihun T. & Schmitter, Petra & Bezabih, Melkamu & Adie, Aberra & Bizimana, Jean-Claude & Srinivasan, R. & Lefore, Nicole & Clarke, Neville, 2021. "Constraints of small-scale irrigated fodder production and nutrition assessment for livestock feed, a case study in Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    8. Zenebe, Mara Getachew & Fleskens, Luuk & Ritsema, Coen & Steenbergen, Frank, 2022. "Basin-wide productivity and livelihood analysis of flood-based agricultural systems in African drylands: A case study in the Fogera floodplain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    9. Tewodros Assefa & Manoj Jha & Manuel Reyes & Abeyou W. Worqlul, 2018. "Modeling the Impacts of Conservation Agriculture with a Drip Irrigation System on the Hydrology and Water Management in Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.

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