Potato-Barley Double Cropping in Bimodal Rainfall Areas of Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, barley and potato are the most important food security crop. Despite their  importance, the production and productivity of these crop are low due to several reasons. Potatoes and barley are growing alternatively in the study area year after year, and the area has the potential for bimodal rainfall distribution both in the short and main seasons. The short-season rain is suitable for potatoes, and the main season is for barley production. An evaluation of double cropping was tested to grow those crops in a double cropping system in Belge and in the main season in 2014. Based on the result of the evaluation and farmers' interest in the activities, the pre-scaling up of the barley-potato double cropping system was done in 2015, and 6-tone potato and 0.75-tone malt barely seed were used on three hectares of farmers land. Sample data were taken from both double and comparable farmer's fields of single cropping systems to show the yield advantage of double cropping compared with a single production system. An average of 46.4 t/ha of potato and 3.6 t/ha of malt barley yield from double cropping and 3.2t/ha of malt barely from single cropping were obtained during the main season. The net benefits of double cropping in monetary value were found to be 197,244.36 Ethiopian Birr. To sustain and strengthen the seed production and marketing of potato and barely double cropping technologies, training, experience sharing, and supply of early-generation seed for cooperatives are recommended as intervention options for sustainable production.