Review on Agricultural Extension Systems in Ethiopia: A Cluster Farming Approaches

Ethiopia implemented several extensions approach to the agricultural sector since mid-1960s. This paper reviews the literatures on agricultural extension systems in Ethiopia and provides an overview of recent evidence on agricultural extension systems and explore the conceptual suggestion in technology dissemination and popularization. Farmer production clusters is a group of farmers who work together on shared interests and towards a common goal and these groups of farmers are required to adopt the latest full-package farm recommendations. The agricultural commercialization cluster initiative in Ethiopia across the four major agricultural regions of the country in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and SNNPR is implemented with the aim of improving livelihoods, food quality and affordability, import substitution, export and agro-processing and creation of job opportunities. The observed data from ATA and CSA, 2019/20 in major crops on wheat, maize, barley, tef and sesame production in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and SNNPR regions revealed that only 5.19% of farmers are part of farmers production cluster and 7.21% areas of land is cultivated through cluster farming. Hence, both governmental and non-governmental organization should focus on increasing the number participant farmers and areas to be allocated under cluster farming. In addition, emphasis should be given to the provisions of effective and efficient extension services with the full production package and on creating market linkages to improve farmers livelihoods through operation of cluster farming. Keywords: Agricultural extension, agricultural technology, livelihoods, and cluster farming DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-14-01 Publication date:July 31st 202