Linking farmers' tree species priority with planting niche accelerates scaling up of homestead agroforestry in semi- arid Ethiopia

Agroforestry improves food security and smallholder livelihoods through provision of multiple products from limited land while ensuring sustainable land use system. Locally adaptable agroforestry practices and technologies identified by farmer- led approaches are key for wide spread adoption of agroforestry as a sustainable land use at a landscape level. Studies disclosed that farmers in the rift valley regions of Ethiopia require far more tree diversity on their lands than they already have. This is an indication that there is a need for systematic testing through participatory homestead trials, of a wide range of tree species preferred by farmers across a range of contexts to promote tree diversity and bring large scale impacts in adoption of agroforestry technologies. This paper presents the study findings on management, survival, and growth of farmer managed fruit tree seedlings at homesteads. Participatory trials were established at farmers' homesteads with fruit trees that were prioritized by farmers in the semi-arid Ethiopia. The trial sites were farmers’ homesteads in East shoa zone (Adamitulu woreda -Ziway, Dugda bora woreda-Meki and Lome woreda- Mojo). Higher survival of improved Papaya - Carica papaya seedlings was found at Lome as compared- to that of Dugda and Adamitulu at seven months after planting. The survival of Avocado- Persea americana was the highest at Lome site. Beating up was carried out at the end of first year and analysis of data two years later revealed significant differences (a=0.05) in survivals of fruit trees across study sites. Height growth and crown width of farmer managed fruit trees also revealed significant differences (a=0.05) across study sites at two years. Watering frequencies of seedlings were found to vary greatly across study sites. On average farmers in different sites watered their seedlings bi-weekly. At Dugda site 77% of participant farmers watered their seedlings daily and provided a comparatively better care to seedlings resulting in a remarkable performance of Avocado. Though factors constraining seedling growth and survival at homesteads in the semi arid are diverse, it is highly recommended to link species priority and local knowledge with planting niches to win the willingness of farmers to plant trees and contribute to the success of homestead agroforestry.