Asian Journal of Research and Review in Agriculture

Understanding the crop production potential of a given area and identifying its constraints is important to provide the best research solutions on a timely basis. It is also important to conduct research on the specific needs of farmers and focus on crops that are actually grown and needed. Therefore, a quick survey was conducted from November 29 to December 3, 2021, in Wera woreda, Halaba zone, to assess the crop production potentials and identify key constraints that hinder crop productivity and recommend research interventions. To achieve the objectives, checklists were prepared, three representative kebeles were selected from the woreda, namely Andegna Ashoka, Laygnaw Bedene, and Andegna Makala, and one Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held, and key informants were purposively selected and interviewed, and discussions were also held. In addition, secondary data were collected from the woreda, and three kebeles were selected. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Based on the result, in the woreda, crops are dominantly produced, with a larger share of crop production than livestock. The major crops grown in the woreda were maize, teff, finger millet, sorghum, common bean, and pepper. Among others, maize and pepper were extensively grown cash crops in the area. The data indicated that the trend of production for maize, finger millet, common bean, pepper, and sorghum was decreasing. The main reason for the decreasing trend was due to biotic, abiotic and socio-economic constraints. Among the crops cultivated in the study area, maize, pepper, and teff experienced the most significant impact from both biotic and abiotic constraints. The major biotic constraints identified include vertebrate pests, storage pests, and diseases, which pose major challenges to crop production. In addition, soil erosion, soil fertility, and erratic rainfall were categorized as the major abiotic constraints that challenge crop production in the area. The socio-economic constraints were also prioritized based on their importance. Accordingly, lack of improved variety, lack of quality seed, lagging of input delivery, lack of credit, knowledge gap, marketing problems, inflated input price, and post-harvest loss were ranked from the most serious to the least serious constraint, respectively. Therefore, the research intervention should follow the prioritized crop production constraints to address the most pressing challenges in the study area.