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Seed selection is one of the most important aspects for improving productivity of crops. “In doing that, we must consider local climate, topography, soil conditions and farming rules,” said Liu, adding that it is critical to breed high-yield and rust disease-resistant wheat varieties suitable for local conditions, especially since yellow rust, leaf rust and stem rust have been on the rise in Ethiopia in the past few years.

Liu also suggested that crop rotation, which means the successive planting of different crops in a specified order on the same pieces of field, should be promoted in the traditionally wheat dominated farming system in Ethiopia. This would improve soil fertility and reduce weed density, according to him.

Soil nutrients are another source of concern. “The local soil is deficient in several nutrients such as sulfur, boron, zinc and, in some areas, potassium. They are essential for increasing crop productivity and production,” he explained.

As the fertilizers widely used in Ethiopia contain only nitrogen and phosphorus and lack other nutrients, Liu suggested that applying basal fertilizers containing those needed elements be the important measure to solve the problem.

Liu also found that outdated traditional methods are the reasons for the low level of agricultural mechanization. Agricultural machinery is mainly used in the large and medium-sized farms, while the traditional plough-sowing method is widely used by local farmers.

Apart from regions like Arsi, Bale and Robe, the Ethiopian terrain is not suitable for using combine harvesters. “It’s necessary to promote the use of mini wheat planters and mini threshers,” said Liu. Comments to liujian@chinafrica.cn