Deploying and Evaluating Scaling Pathways for Maize– Legume Forage Intercropping in Sidama Region, Ethiopia December 2025 Report Contents | Page 1 of 21 CGIAR Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 1.1 Characteristics of the Maize-Based Mixed Farming System 4 1.2 Problem Statement and Rationale for Intervention 5 1.3 Overview of Sidama Region 7 2 The Innovation: Maize–Legume Forage Intercropping 8 3. Scaling Approaches and Large-scale Dissemination 9 3.1 Capacity Building and Farmer Training 9 3.2 Demonstration Plots and Field Days 10 3.3 Behavioural Change Communication 11 4. Evaluation of Scaling Pathways 12 4.1 Achievements 12 4.1.1 On the core innovation 12 4.1.2 On complementary innovations 16 5. Amplifying Scaling 16 Seed system development 16 6. Conclusion 19 References 20 CGIAR Contents | Page 2 of 21 Authors: Millon Gebreyes1, Kindu Mekonnen1, Melkamu Bezabih1, Abera Adie1, Haimanot Seifu1, Hailemariam Mesfin2, Amare Argaw3, Zerihun Yemataw3, Genene Tsegaye3, Meseret Tsegaye3 and Sunkurta Degisa3 1. International Livestock Research Institute 2. Independent consultant 3. Sidama Region Agricultural Research Institute Suggested citation: Gebreyes, M., Mekonnen, K., Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Seifu, H., Mesfin, H., Argaw, A., Yemataw, Z., Tsegaye, G., Tsegaye, M. and Degisa, S. 2025. Deploying and Evaluating Scaling Pathways for Maize–Legume Forage Intercropping in Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI Cover photo: ILRI Copyright: © 2025. ILRI. This publication is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. Disclaimers: This publication has been prepared as an output of the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program. Any views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily representative of or endorsed by the CGIAR System Organization. Acknowledgements: This work was conducted as part of the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program with support from the Scaling for Impact Science Program. CGIAR research is supported by contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. CGIAR is a global research partnership. We extend our sincere appreciation to our partners, stakeholders, and collaborators whose expertise, insights, and commitment have contributed significantly to shaping this work. Their contributions have been instrumental in advancing CGIAR’s ambition to scale proven innovations across food, land, and water systems, fostering impact that is inclusive, sustainable, and transformative. We also recognize the continued support and collaboration of national and regional partners, whose engagement ensures that the solutions developed are responsive to local needs, strengthen innovation systems, and contribute to building more resilient agrifood systems. Contents | Page 3 of 21 CGIAR Executive Summary This report documents the deployment and evaluation of scaling pathways for bundles of proven climate-smart agronomic innovations—specifically, maize–legume forage intercropping and relay cropping—within the maize-based mixed farming systems of Sidama Region. Context and Rationale: Sidama’s smallholders operate in one of Ethiopia’s most densely populated regions, where land scarcity, chronic dry season feed shortages, declining soil fertility, and climate variability severely constrain maize and livestock productivity. Livestock depends heavily on poor-quality maize stover, leading to low milk yields and weakened household resilience. Farmers cannot allocate additional land for forage, making integrated, land-efficient solutions essential. The Innovation Bundle: The core innovation maize legume forage intercropping using cowpea and lablab was introduced as a climate smart practice that: • Produces high quality forage without requiring extra land, • Improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, • Enhances maize grain and stover yields, • Increases livestock productivity via improved feed quality • Reduce vulnerability of smallholders to shocks. In 2025, relay cropping was added as a complementary option for moisture-stressed areas. Innovation bundles also included feeding troughs, forage choppers, improved storage (hay/silage), and seed saving practices. Scaling Pathways and Approaches: A living lab, codesign approach guided deployment across Hawassa Zuria, Boricha, Loka Abaya, and Bilate Zuria woredas. Scaling actions included: • Capacity building for farmers, Development Agents (DAs), woreda staff, and media, • Mother–baby trials and demonstration plots across agroecologies, • Field days with multi-stakeholder participation, • Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) through radio (Shashemene Fana FM), mobile voice messaging, and trained journalists. Key Achievements • Rapid adoption growth: from 99 farmers in 2024 to 312 farmers across four woredas in 2025—much of it driven by organic diffusion. CGIAR Contents | Page 4 of 21 • Agronomic gains: Intercrops and relay crops consistently outperformed sole maize in overall land productivity, more biomass and fertility gain without affecting grain yield. Relay cropping produced the highest total biomass (11–12 DMT/ha). • Feed quality improvements: Cowpea and lablab contained 21–22% crude protein, triple that of maize stover (6.9%). • Livestock benefits: Farmers reported increased milk yields, improved body condition, and higher stover palatability when mixed with legumes. • Institutional strengthening: ILRI–SIRARI partnerships with woreda offices, Farmers Training Centers (FTCs), CGIAR centers, NGOs, and media outlets deepened coordination for scaling. • Growing seed demand and market signals: Strong farmers' demand for cowpea and lablab seed is stimulating interest in local seed multiplication and forage markets. Recommendations for Amplified Scaling • Strengthen forage seed systems through early generation seed production, cooperative seed enterprises, quality control, and local seed markets. • Expand geographically to additional maize belt woredas (Shebedino, Dale, Bensa, Aleta Chuko, Wonsho, Bona Zuria). • Deepen capacity building for farmers and DAs; institutionalize refresher training and strengthen FTC learning hubs. • Refine bundled innovation packages integrating intercropping, relay cropping, improved feeding and storage practices. • Scale behavioral change communication platforms by expanding radio partnerships and mobile advisory services. • Develop forage markets and governance structures through cooperative support, business training, and formalized multi-stakeholder coordination. Conclusion: Maize–legume forage intercropping, tested and refined through participatory living lab processes, has demonstrated strong technical viability, farmer demand, climate resilience, and institutional alignment. With strengthened seed systems, coordinated scaling, and continued investment in capacity and communication, the innovation can substantially transform feed availability, maize productivity, and livelihood resilience across Sidama’s maize- based farming systems. Introduction 1.1 Characteristics of the Maize-Based Mixed Farming System The maize-based mixed crop–livestock system dominates agricultural production in Sidama and across the Central Rift Valley and Hawassa Lake Basin. In this system, maize serves as both the backbone of household food supply and the primary source of livestock feed, especially through its stover. Farmers cultivate maize during both the Belg and Meher seasons, although increasingly erratic and delayed rainfall has disrupted planting calendars. Maize Contents | Page 5 of 21 CGIAR monocropping accounts for more than two-thirds of cropping practices in many areas, driven largely by land scarcity and the need to secure staple food. Because maize stover contributes more than 80 percent of cattle feed, households depend heavily on it despite its low nutritional quality, particularly during the dry months when it becomes coarse and unpalatable (Leta 2024). Crop and livestock production are tightly interlinked, with livestock providing manure, traction, transport, and a vital safety net during crises, while crops supply residues that sustain animals during the long dry season. However, manure is often insufficient or diverted for household energy needs, limiting its contribution to soil fertility. Income from crops and livestock is used interchangeably, reflecting the integrated nature of the system. Despite this interconnectedness, declining soil fertility, limited manure availability, and continuous cropping without fallowing have undermined system sustainability (Leta 2024). Land scarcity is a defining constraint in Sidama, where population density exceeds 622 persons per square kilometer and the average landholding is just 0.294 hectares. Such small plots prevent farmers from allocating land for forage production, and communal grazing areas have largely disappeared. As a result, livestock feeding is restricted to homesteads, small boundary strips, purchased feed, and minimal forage patches. This structural limitation exacerbates the long-standing seasonal feed gap: while pastures regenerate during June– October, the dry season from November to May forces farmers to rely almost entirely on maize stover. Recurrent drought, shrinking grazing land, and high feed prices intensify this seasonal vulnerability, leaving many households dependent on low-quality feed alternatives such as sugarcane, chopped enset, wheat bran, or rejected vegetables (Leta 2024). 1.2 Problem Statement and Rationale for Intervention Smallholder farmers in Sidama face a set of deep, interconnected challenges that undermine both crop and livestock productivity. The most persistent constraint is the chronic shortage of livestock feed, particularly during the long dry season when farmers rely almost entirely on maize stover. Although maize stover accounts for more than 80 percent of cattle feed, it is low in nutritional value, dries quickly, and contributes little to maintaining animal health. As a result, milk yields decline, animals lose condition, and fattening becomes difficult. Feed scarcity also threatens household food security, as livestock are essential for milk, traction, manure, income, and resilience during years when crops fail (Mekonnen, 2025). CGIAR Contents | Page 6 of 21 Photo: Maize stover collected for animal feed (Photo credit: Haimanot Seifu) These feed constraints are rooted in structural land scarcity. Sidama has one of the highest population densities in Ethiopia, and the average landholding is only 0.294 hectares. With such limited land, farmers prioritize maize for household food needs, leaving almost no space for dedicated forage plots. Communal grazing areas have largely disappeared, forcing livestock to depend on small homestead patches, crop residues, and purchased feed. Continuous cropping without fallowing further depletes soil fertility and limits biomass regeneration. Climate variability has intensified these pressures. Recurrent droughts delayed and erratic rainfall, and increased pest outbreaks—particularly fall armyworm and stalk borer—have disrupted maize production and reduced yields. Farmers face significant yield losses in bad years, with poorer households losing more than 50 percent of their maize harvest. In some kebeles, flooding has damaged fields and infrastructure, further reducing farm resilience. These climatic shocks worsen feed shortages and leave livestock—and the households that depend on them—highly vulnerable. The limited availability of improved forages is compounded by a weak forage seed system. Although cowpea, lablab, desho, alfalfa, and other improved forages are known in the region, their adoption remains very low because farmers lack access to quality seed, and extension services often do not prioritize forage production. Without a reliable seed supply and market incentives, most farmers grow only small patches of forages along homestead boundaries, insufficient for bridging seasonal feed gaps. Behavioural constraints also play a role. Many farmers lack awareness of the benefits of improved forage species and are hesitant to interplant legumes in their maize fields due to fears of competition. Some do not recognize the nutritional difference between improved forages and local grasses, while extension agents themselves often have limited practical Contents | Page 7 of 21 CGIAR experience with forage production and feeding. These knowledge gaps reduce the uptake of available solutions and reinforce reliance on low-quality feed resources. Given these challenges, an intervention is needed that fits within land-constrained, risk-prone farming systems and offers immediate, visible benefits to farmers. Maize–legume forage intercropping directly addresses these constraints by producing high-quality livestock feed without requiring additional land, improving soil fertility through nitrogen-fixing legumes, and enhancing maize productivity by improving soil moisture retention. Relay cropping provides an additional climate-smart option for drought-prone areas. The positive livestock responses, such as increased milk yield and improved body condition, provide quick incentives for adoption. Because the innovation aligns with farmer priorities, it works under smallholder conditions, and fits the extension system’s mandate, it offers a strong and scalable pathway for improving both crop and livestock productivity in Sidama. This report is situated within a CGIAR Research-for-Development (R4D) and Scaling for Impact framework, emphasizing iterative learning, co-development, and evidence generation in real-world implementation settings. The findings presented draw on systematic field observations, feedback from farmers and stakeholders during field days, and expert perspectives collected through key informant interviews with researchers, extension staff, and local practitioners. Rather than resulting from a formally designed experimental or survey- based study, the analysis reflects triangulation across multiple qualitative and practice-based evidence sources generated through ongoing engagement in the system. Interpretation of findings relied heavily on collective sense-making and consensus building within a multidisciplinary research and implementation team, consistent with CGIAR living-lab and learning-by-doing approaches. The results should therefore be understood as indicative insights that inform problem framing, theory of change refinement, and the identification of scalable pathways, rather than as statistically validated or causal claims. Acknowledging this positioning, the report provides an evidence-informed basis to guide adaptive design, stakeholder dialogue, and prioritization of subsequent research and scaling actions. The findings will be further examined and validated through structured multi-stakeholder workshops and targeted follow up studies as part of the next phase of research and scaling for impact. 1.3 Overview of Sidama Region Sidama National Regional State is one of Ethiopia’s twelve regions, located in the southern part of the country, northeast of Lake Abaya and southeast of Lake Hawassa. It lies between 6°05’54’’ and 7°18’10’’ North latitude and 38°20’05’’ and 39°20’01’’ East longitude. The region covers a total land area of 6,538.17 km² and is among the most densely populated parts of Ethiopia, with an average population density of 622.1 persons per km² and a per-capita landholding size of only 0.294 ha (ESS, 2023). Population distribution varies widely by woreda, shaping local agricultural pressure and resource use dynamics. Ecologically, Sidama is diverse and characterized by distinct agroecological zones: highland (27.5 %), mid-highland (45.3%), and lowland (24.2%), with altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 3,400 meters above sea level. Landscapes include steep hillsides, enset-dominated home gardens, coffee agroforestry systems, mixed croplands, and the fertile plateau surrounding Hawassa Lake Basin (BoPD, 2022). Agriculture is the dominant economic activity, with mixed crop–livestock farming systems forming the backbone of rural livelihoods. Sidama is renowned globally for its high-quality coffee, which is a major cash crop, while enset (false banana), maize, fermented cow’s milk, and butter constitute the most important staple foods. Smallholder farms integrate annual crops such as maize, haricot bean, sweet potato, Irish potato, vegetables, and perennial cash crops (coffee, khat), often grown under shade-managed systems. CGIAR Contents | Page 8 of 21 Livestock plays a central economic and cultural role (See table 1). Cattle are particularly important for plowing, household food supply, manure production, and savings. Owning livestock is a marker of social status; conversely, lacking livestock is linked to social vulnerability. The region hosts substantial populations of cattle, sheep, goats, equines, and poultry, though productivity is limited by feed shortages, declining grazing lands, and seasonal fluctuations in biomass availability. Table 1. Livestock Population Livestock species Number by its blood level Total Local Cross Dairy cows 998,365 238,345 1236710 Sheep 503,070 411,603 914673 Goat 346,127 283,195 629,322 Poultry 3,500,108 6,370,197 9,870,305 Source: Regional Livestock Resource Development Bureau, 2024. Sidama’s agricultural system is increasingly shaped by climate variability, including recurrent droughts, uneven rainfall distribution, and pest and disease outbreaks. These constraints severely affect both crop production and livestock feed availability. Seasonal feed gaps— especially during the dry months from December to May—are widespread due to shrinking grazing lands, overreliance on low-quality crop residues, and limited adoption of improved forages (Leta 2024). 2 The Innovation: Maize–Legume Forage Intercropping Maize–legume forage intercropping was introduced as a practical, climate-smart solution to the severe livestock feed shortages affecting Sidama’s maize-based mixed farming system. Innovation integrates cowpea and lablab into standing maize fields, allowing farmers to produce high-quality forage without allocating additional land. Legumes are planted between maize rows at the knee height stage, enabling both crops to thrive without excessive competition. Our field observations and laboratory analyses showed that the legumes significantly improve feed quality, offering much higher crude protein and digestibility than maize stover alone (Bezabih et al 2025). Farmers also reported improvements in soil moisture, soil texture, maize stand robustness, and weed suppression. Relay cropping introduced in 2025 further enhanced feed availability in drought-prone areas by taking advantage of residual moisture later in the season. Overall, the innovation fits well with farmers’ land constraints and enhances both crop productivity and livestock performance. Contents | Page 9 of 21 CGIAR Photo: Cowpea-maize intercropping (Photo credit: Haimanot Seifu) The innovation was implemented through a living lab approach, where experimentation, learning, and adaptation took place directly in farmers’ fields. Mother–baby trial structures were established, with mother trials at research stations and FTCs providing controlled learning sites, and baby trials across dozens of farmer fields demonstrating performance under diverse conditions. Farmers worked alongside extension agents and Sidama Regional Agricultural Research Institute (SIRARI) experts to plant, manage, and monitor the intercrops, turning their fields into active learning spaces. Regular field visits enabled joint evaluation of crop growth, moisture challenges, pest issues, and weed interactions. Field days served as critical milestones where experiences were shared and results compared. Farmers observed improvements in livestock performance—particularly milk yield and body condition—after feeding legume–stover mixtures. The living lab approach also allowed complementary technologies such as feeding troughs, forage choppers, and improved storage to be tested and demonstrated. Collectively, the living lab created a dynamic environment for multi- stakeholder learning and strengthened readiness for scaling. 3. Scaling Approaches and Large-scale Dissemination 3.1 Capacity Building and Farmer Training Capacity development formed a central pillar of the scaling effort, ensuring that farmers, extension workers, and woreda institutions possessed the skills and confidence needed to adopt and sustain maize–legume forage intercropping. At the outset of each season, ILRI and the Sidama Regional Agricultural Research Institute (SIRARI) organized practical training sessions that brought together selected farmers, extension agents (DAs), and woreda-level CGIAR Contents | Page 10 of 21 livestock and crop experts. These sessions combined classroom-style explanations with hands-on demonstrations in the field, enabling participants to understand the full intercropping process from land preparation and planting legume seeds between maize rows, managing weed competition, handling forage biomass at harvest, and feeding it to livestock. Through this approach, participants were able to see each step in practice, ask questions related to their own farm conditions, and receive guidance that was closely aligned with their daily realities. In 2024, ninety-nine farmers in Hawassa Zuria were trained, followed by more than 300 across four woredas in 2025. The sessions prepared them to dedicate 500 m-² of their maize fields to intercropping, manage the intercrop throughout the season, and evaluate outcomes based on livestock response and soil changes. Farmers learned not only how to plant and manage legumes but also how to chop and mix forage with maize stover, store biomass effectively, and save seed for the next planting season. These practical experiences encouraged farmers to share knowledge with their neighbors, accelerating voluntary diffusion. Capacity building is also extended to media professionals, especially journalists from Shashemene Fana FM and other regional stations. Many had never produced programs on livestock feed and forage innovations, and the training helped them understand technical concepts well enough to translate them into accessible content for farmers. By improving journalists’ technical literacy, the training strengthened the broader behavioural change communication strategy, allowing radio programs to deliver accurate, relevant, and impactful messages on intercropping, forage management, and animal feeding. 3.2 Demonstration Plots and Field Days Demonstration plots played a central role in validating and showcasing the maize–legume forage intercropping innovation across the intervention woredas. These plots, established on farmers’ fields, at Farmers Training Centers (FTCs), and at the Wondo Tika research substation, provided practical learning spaces where farmers, extension workers, and officials could directly observe the performance of cowpea and lablab intercropped with maize under local conditions. They served as tangible evidence of how innovation performed in different environments, from the relatively moist mid-highlands to moisture-stressed- lower altitudes. As the season progressed, the demonstration plot became reference points for farmers and experts alike, allowing them to track plant establishment, weed suppression, biomass accumulation, and livestock feeding benefits. The demonstration sites were not limited to intercropping alone. In 2025, relay cropping trials were added in selected kebeles such as Makbasa Korke and Jarra Gelalcha, offering farmers the chance to compare traditional intercropping with relay planting, particularly in areas where water stress intensifies later in the season. Alongside the forage intercrops, Wondo Tika research station showcased sole forage plots—including Rhodes grass, elephant grass, desho, and panicum—providing a broader picture of forage options available to farmers. Demonstrations on improved feeding practices, such as the use of feeding troughs and feed choppers, further enriched farmer learning by illustrating how complementary technologies could reduce feed losses and improve intake. Field days were convened at key moments during the growth cycle to bring together farmers, woreda administrators, regional bureau officials, livestock and crop experts, researchers from CGIAR centers, NGO representatives, and local media. These events became important Contents | Page 11 of 21 CGIAR platforms for collective learning and reflection. Participants walked through demonstration plots, asked questions about legume performance, discussed planting and management practices, and compared outcomes across farms. Farmers who had adopted intercropping in previous seasons shared their experiences, including improved milk production, better soil moisture retention, increased stover palatability, and stronger maize stands. Their testimonies offered practical, farmer-to-farmer- validation that reinforced the value of the innovation more powerfully than technical explanations alone. Photo: Field day at Jarra Galelacha kebele, Sidama Region (Photo credit: Haimanot Seifu) 3.3 Behavioural Change Communication Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) was a critical enabler of scaling, helping to raise awareness, strengthen farmer motivation, and support widespread understanding of maize– legume forage intercropping beyond the immediate intervention sites. The communication strategy integrated radio programming, mobile voice messaging, journalist capacity building, and community-level interactions. Together, these channels created a consistent flow of information that reached farmers at scale and reinforced the learning that took place through demonstrations and field days. CGIAR Contents | Page 12 of 21 Radio played the most influential role in disseminating information across Sidama. The partnership with Shashemene Fana FM 103.4 was particularly impactful, as the station has a wide rural audience and broadcasts in languages accessible to maize-growing households in Hawassa Zuria, Boricha, and adjacent woredas. Journalists received specialized training on livestock feed and forage systems, enabling them to produce more accurate- and practical programs. The resulting radio segments introduced farmers to intercropping concepts, explained planting techniques, provided tips on feed mixing and storage, and featured interviews with experts and farmers. Mobile voice messaging added another layer of communication by delivering short, clear audio messages to farmers’ phones. This method proved particularly effective because it reached farmers directly, required no literacy, and aligned well with rural communication habits. More than 10,000 voice messages were successfully delivered, providing reminders on planting dates, weed management, and feeding practices. 4. Evaluation of Scaling Pathways 4.1 Achievements The scaling of maize–legume forage intercropping in Sidama has generated a set of clear and measurable achievements across agronomic performance, livestock productivity, farmer engagement, institutional collaboration, and communication outreach. These achievements demonstrate that innovation is not only technically sound but also socially acceptable, demand driven, and institutionally supported, key attributes needed for sustained scaling. One of the most notable achievements was the rapid expansion of farmer participation. In 2024, the innovation began with 99 farmers in three kebeles of Hawassa Zuria. By 2025, following strong field results and enthusiastic farmer feedback, participation grew to 312 farmers across four woredas, including Boricha, Bilate Zuria, and Loka Abaya. A more than threefold increase in the number of participants shows that the innovation resonated with local farming priorities, especially as households face chronic dry season feed shortages and increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns. The growth in participation was not solely driven by project facilitation, butmany farmers requested seed or training after witnessing results during field days or learning about the practice through radio programs, demonstrating- strong organic diffusion. 4.1.1 On the core innovation Agronomically, the innovation delivered consistent improvements in both maize and forage productivity, even under the variable agroecological conditions typical of Sidama’s maize belt. From the three kebeles in Hawassa Zuria Woreda, which have intercropped cow pea and lablab forages with maize in the 2024 cropping season, one of the kebeles (Shamana midregent) is known for its green maize harvest and marketing – the marketing channel extending to major towns in the country and Addis Ababa city during the main rainy season. The green maize stover is the major feed resource for these farmers during the harvest, which usually occurs around late July and August. Intercropping forage legumes Contents | Page 13 of 21 CGIAR like cowpea and lablab adds value both in terms of quality and quantity. From the 33 farmers who intercropped lablab and cow pea with maize in 2024 in Shamna midregenet kebele, samples of both maize and the forages have been collected from 5 farms during the green maize harvest stage to assess the field-level biomass yield. The collected samples were measured for their total fresh weights and components (grain, stover, legume forage and weed) in the field, and sub-samples were oven-dried at ILRI’s nutrition lab for moisture extraction. As can be seen from Figure 1 below, the results of the measured samples show that legume intercrops are superior to sole maize cropping in all parameters – maize grain, maize stover, and total feed biomass yields. The maize grain yield from lablab, cowpea intercrops, and maize weed plots was 3.29, 2.89, and 1.4 t t/ha-1, respectively. Maize stover yields from lablab, cowpea intercrops, and maize weed plots were 4.11, 3.86 and 2.99 DM tha-1 , respectively. Total feed biomass yields from lablab, cowpea intercrops, and maize weed plots were 4.56, 4.43, and 3.88 DM tha-1, respectively. Figure 1: Grain and forage yields of maize legume intercrops at green maize harvest stage at Shamana midregenet kebele, Hawassa Zuria Woreda Farmers in the remaining two kebeles (Makbasa korke and Sama Ejersa) who planted maize with cowpea and lablab usually harvest the maize at maize maturity stage contrary to those in Shamana midregenet kebele who harvest maize at green stage for market and home use. Maize and forage samples were collected from sample farms from these farms as well to determine the biomass and grain yield using the same procedure as indicated above. As shown in Figure 2 below, results show the same trend that legume intercrops are superior in all parameters. The maize grain yield from cow, lablab intercrops, and maize weed plots was 6.36, 5.4, 4.61 tha-1 , respectively. The maize stover yields from cowpea, lablab intercrops, and maize weed plots were 4.99, 3.55, 2.99 DM tha-1 , respectively. The total feed biomass yields from cowpea, lablab intercrops, and maize weed plots were 8.12, 7.07, and 4.36 DM tha-1, respectively. The only difference is that forage legumes, lablab and cow pea, shift positions here. As these two kebeles are lower in altitude, cow pea seems to have got its best suit to bit lablab though not significantly. Farmers in the lower altitudes have an additional reason to prefer cow pea over lablab. That is cow pea grain is edible to humans, while the rest of the biomass is fed to animals in a mixture with maize stover. Next steps of CGIAR Contents | Page 14 of 21 intervention have to include partners from food and nutrition institutions to verify the added value in terms of family nutrition as a result of the intervention. Figure 2: Grain and forage yields of legume forage intercrops at maize maturity stage in Makbasa korke and Sama ijersa kebeles, Hawassa zuria woreda As mentioned above, in 2025, we have demonstrated another approach of intercropping (relay cropping) of forage legumes with maize which is drilling forage legume seeds between the maize rows after grain formation of the maize crop. Results (Figure 3) from sample data collected from farms where both intercropping and relay cropping were planted in two kebeles (Jarra gelalcha and Makbasa korke) at Hawassa zuria woreda show that relay cropping of forage legumes with maize is superior in all parameters (grain yield, maize stover yield, forage yield and hence total biomass yield). The maize grain, maize stover, and total biomass yields from maize lablab intercrops were 2.72, 2.35 and 7 DM tha-1 whereas results from maize cowpea intercrops were 2.45, 2.2 and 6.53 DM tha-1respectively for similar parameters. The maize grain, maize stover, and total biomass yields from maize lablab relay crops were 4.87, 3.55 and 11.48DM tha-1 and from maize cowpea relay crops were 3.61, 3.72 and 11.41 DM tha-1. The maize grain, maize stover, and total biomass yields from sole maize plots were 2.4, 3, 5.4 DM tha-1. Contents | Page 15 of 21 CGIAR Figure 3: Grain and forage yields of forage legumes intercropped, or relay cropped with maize at Makbasa korke and Jarra gelecha kebeles, Hawassa zuria woreda Both forage legumes, cow pea and lablab are well known for their rich sources of protein supplement in livestock feeding. As shown in the table below (Table 1) the results from nutritional analyses of samples collected from the intercropped fields indicate that both forages have demonstrated their superior potential over maize stover in important parameters. Crude protein content (21-22%), organic matter digestibility (56–57%) and metabolizable energy (8.1-8.4 MJ/kg) were recorded from the legume forages while 6.9% CP, 53% digestibility and 7.4 MJ/kg of ME were recorded from the maize stover. The analysis has been made in ILRI’s nutrition laboratory in Addis using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) machine. The results imply that animals fed to maize stover alone may struggle to produce any product or can only produce little while those fed with legume mixture can comfortably be able to produce better. There is no wonder then those farmers testified that feeding forages from intercropped fields has resulted in increased milk yield and body condition of their animals and they want to continue planting the intercrops and more farmers who have seen the impacts are willing to go for the intercropping of forage legumes with maize. Table 2. Proximate nutritional composition of Cowpea, lablab and maize stover grown as intercrops Crop CP % NDF % IVOMD % ME MJ/Kg Cowpea 21±1.53 47±2.85 56±1.93 8.1±0.35 Lablab 22±1.55 47±2.64 57±1.11 8.4±0.26 Maize 6.9±1.12 80±3.86 53±1.52 7.4±0.34 CGIAR Contents | Page 16 of 21 4.1.2 On complementary innovations Another important achievement was the strengthening of institutional collaboration between research centers, extension systems, and local administrations. ILRI, SIRARI, woreda livestock and crop offices, extension agents, and FTCs worked collaboratively throughout the season—from site selection and training to data collection and field validation. This strengthened coordination improved the quality of technical support provided to farmers and laid the groundwork for institutionalizing the practice within woreda and regional agricultural plans. The involvement of other CGIAR centers (CIMMYT, IWMI, ABC) and NGOs added further expertise and visibility, broadening the institutional base for future scaling. The intervention also achieved significant progress in behavioural change in communication, reaching far beyond the initial pilot areas. Radio broadcasts produced in collaboration with Shashemene Fana FM provided accessible, practical information for thousands of farmers helping them to understand and adopt the practices. More than 10,000 mobile voice messages were delivered, reinforcing key agronomic and feeding messages at critical times during the season. Many farmers stated that they first heard about forage intercropping with maize through radio or mobile messages, demonstrating that communication tools were effective in building awareness and sparking demand. The innovation also contributed to growing interest in the forage seed and biomass market, an essential component of scaling. Demonstrations of cowpea and lablab performance, along with emerging forage enterprises such as Rhodes seed producers in Sidama, inspired farmers and cooperatives to explore seed saving, local seed multiplication, and biomass marketing. These emerging market linkages are important achievements because sustainable scaling requires reliable access to high-quality seed- beyond free distribution. 5. Amplifying Scaling The experience gained across Hawassa Zuria, Boricha, Loka Abaya, and Bilate Zuria demonstrates that maize–legume forage intercropping has strong potential for broader, sustained scaling in Sidama and comparable maize-based mixed farming systems. The innovation is technically viable, socially desirable, and aligned with institutional priorities, but its full realization requires a deliberate and well-coordinated expansion strategy. The following recommendations outline how scaling can be amplified in the coming years, based on evidence from field trials, farmer feedback, institutional assessments, and the documented constraints that emerged- during implementation. Seed system development A central priority moving forward is strengthening the forage seed system, which remains the single largest barrier to expansion. Cowpea and lablab seeds were widely requested by farmers following the demonstrations, yet supplies were insufficient to meet the demand. Scaling, therefore, requires a coordinated approach to produce and distribute early generation seeds through ILRI and SIRARI research farms, while simultaneously establishing community- based seed producer groups and cooperatives capable of multiplying and marketing quality Contents | Page 17 of 21 CGIAR seed locally. Clear certification procedures, strengthened quality control- systems, and support for dormancy testing and simple seed storage technologies are essential to create a dependable market-driven seed system that can sustain farmer demand beyond project interventions. 1. Scaling out While the initial focus areas provided a strong foundation, the maize belt of Sidama extends far beyond the current intervention woredas. Scaling efforts should therefore target additional woredas such as Shebedino, Dale, Bensa, Aleta Chuko, Wonsho, and Bona Zuria, where maize production is extensive, and feed shortages are acute. This expansion should follow a cluster-based strategy in which demonstration plots, training centers, and seed multiplication hubs are established in each new woreda to anchor adoption. Integrating the innovation into annual extension plans at the woreda and regional levels will ensure that scaling becomes an institutional priority rather than a project-specific- effort. 2. Scaling deep A third crucial area concerns building and sustaining farmer capacity. Although substantial progress has already been made, future scaling requires continuation and deepening of farmer training on intercropping, relay cropping, forage harvesting, feed conservation, and ration formulation. Development agents should receive regular refresher training to maintain their technical competence and be equipped with the tools needed to supervise farmers’ fields consistently. Given their critical role in farmer decision-making, ensuring that DAs can confidently diagnose problems, provide timely- advice, and promote forage innovations will be essential for sustained adoption. Scaling should also emphasize bundled innovation packages, which farmers have repeatedly identified as practical and beneficial. Maize–legume intercropping performs best when integrated with improved feeding troughs, multifunctional feed choppers, and better biomass storage practices such as hay making and silage preparation. Introducing these complementary technologies in tandem reinforces the feed quality gains from intercropping and reduces feed wastage, while helping households maximize the value of the forage they produce. Demonstrating these bundles during field days and integrating them into farmer training materials will help farmers view forage innovation as a complete system rather than an isolated practice. CGIAR Contents | Page 18 of 21 Photo: ILRI researcher Abera Adie demonstrating the use of the chopper (Photo credit: Haimanot Seifu) Behavioural change communication must remain a core pillar of scaling, especially given its demonstrated success in raising awareness and driving adoption. The radio partnership with Shashemene Fana FM should be expanded to include stations such as Bensa FM, allowing deeper penetration into eastern and southern Sidama. Mobile voice messaging should continue as a direct channel for farmers, with messages tailored to seasonal tasks such as planting, weeding, harvesting, and feeding. Regular collaboration between journalists and livestock experts will ensure that communication content remains accurate and aligned with farmers' needs. Given the strong influence of peer learning observed during field days, media content could also increasingly feature farmer testimonies to further strengthen credibility. 3. Scaling up Contents | Page 19 of 21 CGIAR Developing forage seed and biomass markets is another strategic avenue for amplifying scaling. Evidence from emerging enterprises, such as local seed producers and hay traders indicates strong potential for commercial opportunities. Supporting cooperatives, youth groups, and aspiring seed entrepreneurs with business training, technical guidance, and market linkages will help establish a more vibrant forage economy. Creating small-scale seed processing and storage facilities and designating local markets where forage products can be traded, would anchor the sustainability of forage innovations and encourage farmers to invest more confidently in production. The usual free handouts of forage seeds and other planting materials should be discouraged to strengthen marketing of these materials to ensure sustainability of the sector. Experiences show the major buyers of forage seeds and planting materials in Ethiopia are government programs and NGOs. These programs make bulk purchases regardless of the quality of the planting materials and distribute them for free to smallholder farmers. Scaling should also incorporate a structured system for multi-stakeholder coordination. Successful expansion in 2024 and 2025 depended on close collaboration between ILRI, SIRARI, woreda livestock and agriculture offices, extension networks, local administrators, and media outlets. Institutionalizing this coordination through formal agreements, regular joint planning sessions, and shared monitoring frameworks will help sustain momentum and ensure that responsibilities are clearly distributed as scaling intensifies. 6. Conclusion The experience of implementing maize–legume forage intercropping across four woredas in Sidama has illustrated both the urgency of addressing feed scarcity in maize-based mixed farming systems and the potential of farmer-centered innovation to catalyse meaningful change. The system characterization studies made clear that livestock productivity in Sidama is fundamentally constrained by declining grazing land, poor-quality maize stover, recurrent drought, and the rising cost of commercial feed. These deep, structural challenges require transformative solutions that work within the region’s realities—limited landholdings, labour constraints, and increasing climatic pressures. The maize–legume forage intercropping innovation directly responds to these challenges by integrating improved feed production into the staple maize system without competing for land, while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility, crop resilience, and livestock performance. The codesign and living lab processes demonstrated the effectiveness of participatory approaches in ensuring that innovations are context-appropriate and well understood by farmers and extension workers. Through collaborative experimentation, practical training, and continuous field-based dialogue, farmers were empowered not only to implement innovation but also to refine and adapt it to their own conditions. Relay cropping trials further expanded the range of options available to farmers living in drought-prone areas, offering a promising pathway for maintaining feed availability under climate stress. Scaling efforts revealed the critical importance of strengthening institutional coordination, extension capacity, and seed systems. While the expansion of adopter farmers across four woredas marks a significant achievement, it also exposed gaps in seed availability, extension follow-up, and market functioning. The existing forage seed system is not yet capable of meeting rising demand, and stronger structures for early generation seed production, cooperative-based multiplication, and quality assurance are needed for scaling to be sustained. Likewise, the demonstrations and field days underscored the essential role of development agents and research staff, whose technical backstopping and close field engagement significantly shaped adoption outcomes. CGIAR Contents | Page 20 of 21 Behavioural change communication emerged as one of the most powerful accelerators of scaling. Radio broadcasts and mobile voice messages reached thousands of farmers including those outside intervention areas—creating awareness, reinforcing technical messages, and triggering demand. The integration of journalists into the innovation process improved the quality of agricultural programming and built an important bridge between research institutions and rural communities. This combination of mass media and hands-on demonstration created a strong enabling environment for expanding the innovation beyond the initial pilot sites. Looking ahead, the lessons from the first two years point clearly toward the conditions necessary for amplifying scaling. Strengthening seed systems, expanding bundled innovation packages, deepening extension capacity, addressing climate constraints through techniques like relay cropping, and supporting emerging forage markets will all be essential. The coordination among ILRI, SIRARI, woreda offices, NGOs, private seed producers, and farmer cooperatives must continue to evolve into a more formal and durable structure. Equally important is the continued investment in communication tools, including radio, mobile messaging, and farmer-led learning platforms, which have proven to be highly effective drivers of behaviour change. References • Leta, G. 2024. Characterization of maize-based mixed crop-livestock system: key components, their interaction and profiling of priority interventions in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. • Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Gebreyes, M., Demise, T. and Mekonnen, K. 2025. Optimizing Rainwater Utilization in Maize Production Through Forage Legume Intercropping Strategies. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. • Mekonnen, K. 2025. Intensification of maize-based systems with feed and forage options in the Sidama region: A photo report from a visit in Hawassa Zuria District, Sidama Region, 17-18 November 2025. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. • Mekonnen, K., Gebreyes, M., Bezabih, M., Adie, A., Seifu, H., Tessema, F., Alene, T., Mesfin, H. and Whitbread. 2025. Behavioural Change Communications for Climate-Smart Feed and Forage Innovations: Three Years of Radio and Mobile Outreach in Ethiopia. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. Contents | Page 21 of 21 CGIAR Contact: scaling@cgiar.org CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Its research is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector. www.cgiar.org We would like to thank all funders who support this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: www.cgiar.org/funders. To learn more about the Scaling for Impact Program, please visit this webpage. To learn more about this and other Science Programs and Accelerators in the CGIAR Research Portfolio 2025–2030, please visit www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/ Copyright: © 2025. International Livestock Research Institute. This publication is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. | | | mailto:scaling@cgiar.org http://www.cgiar.org/funders https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/scaling-impact https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. https://x.com/CGIAR_SAAF https://www.facebook.com/CGIARAnimalAqua https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cgiar-sustainable-animal-and-aquatic-food/about https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYuSEwWKAsoNwg6MJEI-qeA Executive Summary Introduction 1.1 Characteristics of the Maize-Based Mixed Farming System 1.2 Problem Statement and Rationale for Intervention 1.3 Overview of Sidama Region 2 The Innovation: Maize–Legume Forage Intercropping 3. Scaling Approaches and Large-scale Dissemination 3.1 Capacity Building and Farmer Training 3.2 Demonstration Plots and Field Days 3.3 Behavioural Change Communication 4. Evaluation of Scaling Pathways 4.1 Achievements 4.1.1 On the core innovation 4.1.2 On complementary innovations 5. Amplifying Scaling Seed system development 6. Conclusion References