Current Status of Parthenium Weed in Oromia Regional States.

Back Ground Information

☤ Oromia is one of the largest State in the federal State of Ethiopia, and has a total area of 363,136 square kilometers.

☤. The topography of the region varies from place to place with

the significant differences in altitude and four agro –ecology zones.

Population ☤. Based on the 2007 G.C Census conducted by the Central

Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, the total population of the region is estimated at 27,061,955.

☤. Almost 87% of total regional population is living in the rural areas with economic engagement in agriculture as their main

means of livelihoods.

☤. Agricultural being the main stay of the regional economy it has

accounted for 65% of the Regional Gross Domestic Product /GDP/.

Economy .

☤ .Adverse Weather Condition / Frequent Drought/. ☤ . Small land Size. ☤ . Declining Soil Fertility. ☤ . Poor land Management. ☤. Limited Development of irrigation ☤. Land Degradation☤. Low farm input ☤. Unfavorable markets ☤ . Limited capacity etc☤. High Population Pressure☤ .Crop Pests

Some reasons for food insecurity

In Ethiopia the yield loss due to various pests on crops is one of the factors contributing to the low level of agricultural

production and productivity.

☤ .The crop yield loss due to various types of crop pests including disease, post harvest handling ,weed is estimated to be as high as 30%. Weed damage is very significant in the region and Parthenium weed is considered as the most easily disseminating weeds in the region if it goes in the rate it goes the damaged causes will be beyond control.

Crop Pests

☤. In Oromia Parthenium weed invades a large area of agricultural crop lands and Pasture lands and affects the productive capacity of the land.

☤. In Ethiopia ,the yield of sorghum bicolor grain was reduced from 40-97% when P.hysterophorus was left uncontrolled throughout

the season.

☤ .In Oromia Region , Crop yield loss of sorghum and Teff have been recorded as 49 and 90 % respectively in in East Hararghe and East showa Zones at Babile and Boset districts respectively (Tamado 2001)

Current Statues of Parthenium weed in the Region.

☤ .The field surveys held by the zonal Agriculture offices of Oromia showed that Parthenium weed to be the most widely spread and abundant invasive alien species in the region .

☤ .The weed has reached all most all the zones in the region and most likely infested >175 districts (woredas ),in 17 zones.

☤ .Severely invaded zones are East and West Hararghe, East Showa ,

Arsi, Bale and Brorana zones.

☤. The result of field survey in the region showed the colonizing power of the weed mainly pasture /grazing lands/ in Bale, West Hararghe, Arsi, East Showa, Borana, East Hararghe Zones.

Parthenium weed distribution in the region.

☤. South West Showa, East Wollega , Jimma, West Showa and the rest zones are moderately infested including pocket area invasion.

☤ Also denser stands of the weed are found along road sides, urban areas, rural villages, commercial farms like Matahara ,Wojnji ,Nuraera, Tibla and other farms.

Parthenium weed progress in the past 2 years.

Key = shows Parthenium weed distribution presented to this workshop in 2012.

key, Shows Parthenium weed distribution in

the past 2years, 2014

No Zones Total Wereda.

Infested Weredas

% T.Area Infested/he/

Pasture land

Crop Field

Road side and others

1 E/ Harrarge

19 15 78 27488 7,992 14,793 4703

2 W/ Hararge

14 1114

78 165,076 52,911 59,140 53,025

3 E/ Shoa 10 10 100 80,710

262500

25,260,

136500

27,450

70750

28,000

55250

Parthenium Weed distribution.

No Zones Total Wereda

Infested Weredas ..

% T.Area Infested/he/

Pasture land

Crop Field

Road side and others

4 Bale 18 14 66 1687642857

5,77532780

3,2778242

7,824

5 Arsi 24 11 46 1213929593

763015438

444612320

631835

6 W/ Shoa

18 615

33 2652 1000 48 1,604

7 S/W/Shoa

11, 79

64 3,400 1000 400 2000,

Sr.no

Zones Total Woredas

Infested Weredas .

% T.Area Infested/he/

Pasture land /he/

Crop Field/he/

Road side and others /he/

8 Jimma 17 8

15

47 81 47 2 32

9 I/A/B 22 6

18

27 45 20 2 23

10 E/ Wollagga

17 8

15

47

88

288

3262

0

2150

65

856

223 256

Sr.no

Zones Total Wereda

Infested Weredas .

%

T.Area Infested/he/

Pasture land

Crop Field

Road side and others

11 Borana 13 3

12

23 15,000 7000

130338

3,000

3014

5,000

12 W/Arsi 12 3

4

25 10002 5000 2 5,000

13 Kelem Wolagga

10 6 60 32.75 5 2.75 25

14 West Wollegga

19 10 53 111.5 46 6.5 58.75

No Zones Total Weredas

Infested Weredas .

%

T.Area Infested/he/

Pasture land

Crop Field

Road side and others

15 Horo Gudduru

9 3 33 393 202 52 139

16 Guji 13 4 30 2790 1270 1315 205

17 Especial Zone Round Finfine

6 6 100 816 163 38 615

Total 252 125175

49.678

337900696144

115321388219

114039.25170945.25

108539.75136979.75

Sr no Infested, area Year %

2012 20141 Pasture land 115321 388219 300

2 Crop Field 114039.25 170945.25 150

3 Road side and others 108539.75 136979.75 127

3 T.Area Infested/he 337900 696144 206

4 Infested Wereda. 125 175 140

Conclusion

losses assessed and Recorded In Oromia in 2012 the total infested area was 337900 ha of land

but according to the assessment made in 2014 by zonal agriculture offices the infestation reached 696144 ha.

No of the infested Weredas in the year 2012, were 125 districts ( Woredas ) but the no of infested Woredas reached 175,in 2014.

Pasture land infestation in East Showa, Arsi, West and East Hararghe, Bale and Borana Zones shows significant increase.

The weed has become serious problem in urban areas too. As compared to 2012 Parthenium infestation has increased very

significantly.

Losses assessed and Recorded

A wide range of socio-economic problems has experienced. Invading a large area of Agriculture Land. Reducing productivity. Reduce pasture carrying which creates grazing Shortage and

great danger to livestock production in the future. Health hazard to human And Animal Biodiversity loss. Causes deterioration quality of crops and live stock products. Affects taste of milk and honey . Reduce lactation period of cow.

Problems related to Parthenium infestation

Parthenium weed is an exotic alien species which is naturalized now. This being the case why regular management is needed, Oromia

Agriculture bureau has practiced a different cultural methods to mitigate the problems, even though some promising results obtained, Parthenium weed is still a serious problem to the region.

Controlling Partenium weeds using only a cultural methods are not sufficient and our past experiences proves this.

To solve/reduce/ this problem an integrated and long term and continues Parthenium management strategy should be applied for the sustainable control. That is why an integrated Partenium control project proposed was appreciated and well accepted by the Oromia Bureau Of Agriculture from the beginning.

Parthenium Project and the Role of OBA .

☤ .As a partner of the Project Oromia Bureau Of Agriculture has taken different responsibilities to do as counter part of the project

Accordingly the following activities were done in the collaboration. ☤. Multiplication and Raring site was selected and reserved for the

project purpose at Wolenchiti. ☤.Awareness creation. Regarding Awareness Creation,

Extension workers, development Agents and Farmers surrounding Wolinchiti were briefed about the problem.

☤. Multiplication site has already secured.

Finally the Oromia bureau of Agriculture promises to do all what to be done in the control of parthienum in the with project and all stakeholders

Joint effort of different stake holders are paramount. Further Awareness creation is necessary. Periodical training of extension workers and farmers is area of

focus. Consistent effort should be practiced until complete seed bank

is exhausted. Biological control of Parthenium management should be

followed by other control methods. Designing a similar project that will help the dissemination of

the reared bio-agent to farmers field.

The Way forward .

Thank you

Samuel Assefa/Dr/

Oromia Bureau of Agriculture. 2014