This study investigates integrated striga management (ISM) technologies for enhancement of sorghum productivity and reduction of striga infestation using demonstration conducted in 2016/2017 production season in Tanqua-Abergele district in one of the striga prone areas at ‘Imba-Rufeal’ kebele. The results implied that there was a highly significant difference among application of ISM technologies and conventional practices for grain and straw yield. The mean sorghum grain yields obtained from ISM technologies and conventional practice were 32.86±2.96 and 25.08±5.49 qt ha-1, respectively. Conversely, the mean sorghum straw yields obtained from ISM technologies and conventional practice were 123.29±11.22 and 138.20±16.46 qt ha-1, respectively. Partial budget analysis indicated that maximum net benefit (11,468.33 ETB ha-1) with the highest marginal rate of return (136.01%) was generated from sorghum grown fields treated with ISM technologies compared to cultivation of local cultivar through conventional practices (9,207.83 ETB ha-1). That means for every 1 ETB invested on sorghum production using ISM technologies, the return was 1.36 ETB. Farmers’ perceptions also indicated that ISM technologies are quite good at solving the recurrent striga infestation, yield increment and drought escaping mechanism of improved variety (Gobiye). Unlike straw yield, the improved variety grown using the ISM technologies proved better in grain yield, earliness, striga resistance and economically feasible compared to conventional practices. Therefore, farmers should implement ISM technologies with its full packages to enhance yield and reduce scourge of striga. Moreover, further popularization and scaling out of ISM technologies to locations prone to striga infestation should be implemented by the research center and stakeholders.

 

Key words: Cultivar, demonstration, farmers’ perception, net benefit, partial budget analysis.