Production practices and agronomic approaches of Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) in eastern

This study investigates the integrated production practices, cultivation trends, and agronomic approaches of khat ( Catha edulis Forsk) in the East and West Hararghe zones of Eastern Ethiopia. Addressing a notable gap in agronomic research on stimulant crops, we employed a mixed-methods approach combining structured household surveys (n = 238), focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS v26 and MS Excel 2010 to generate descriptive statistics and conduct t-tests and Chi-square analyses. Findings reveal that Dalacha and Hamercot (gray) are the most preferred khat varieties, receiving first-rank preferences from 65.2% and 53% of farmers, respectively, while Dima (red) was less favored. Intercropping emerged as the dominant expansion strategy in East Hararghe, with cultivation rates increasing by 37.7% and 63.6% in East and West Hararghe, respectively. Irrigation practices were shaped by water source availability, with boreholes and rivers being most common. Planting material quantity was influenced by moisture, soil type, land access, and material health. Propagation relied primarily on stem cuttings (59.2%) and suckers (32.8%). Harvesting was timed to optimize market demand and plant maturity, with manual picking during cooler morning hours being standard.