POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF HERBICIDAL WEED-CONTROL FOR BREAD WHEAT PRODUCTION IN THE PEASANT FARMING SYSTEMS OF SOUTH-EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Peasant farmers in Ethiopia rely on labour-intensive cultural practice s for weed control in wheat, limiting both cropped area and grain yiel ds. Herbicides available for wheat production in the peasant sector de creased over the past decade as their impact on smallholders' grain yi elds had not been demonstrated. On-farm trials were therefore conducte d during 1988 and 1989 to assess the effects of two post-emergence her bicides on weed-infested wheat fields in two regions of southeastern E thiopia. Brittox(R) and Illoxan(R) reduced annual broadleaf and grass weed stands by 80 and 81%, respectively. Grain yield increased by 78% relative to the current farmers' practice of selective and partial han d weeding. Under high weed competition, herbicides were economically s uperior to hand weeding even at triple the current official herbicide prices. Thus, increased usage of herbicides by peasant farmers has the potential to raise grain yields, decrease labour requirements, and in crease profitability.