Pre-extension demonstration of improved bread wheat technologies in Ginnir district of Bale zone, Southeastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Authors

  • Amare Biftu Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Sinana Agricultural Research Center PO Box-208, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia
  • Bekele Diriba Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Sinana Agricultural Research Center PO Box-208, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia
  • Ayalew Sida Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Sinana Agricultural Research Center PO Box-208, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Bread wheat, Technology, Farmers’ preferences, FRG/FREG approach, Ogolcho, Bika, Dhakaba

Abstract

Participatory on-farm demonstration of bread wheat varieties were carried out with the objectives of evaluating and selecting the best performed improved bread wheat technologies under farmers’ condition and to build farmers’ knowledge and skill of wheat production and management packages in Ginnir district of Bale Zone. A total of ten (10) participant farmers were selected from two wheat growing potential kebeles of Ginnir district to carry out the demonstration activity. One FRG/FREG having 20 member farmers was established at each kebele. Two improved bread wheat varieties (Bika and Ogolcho) were compared (demonstrated) with one standard check (Dhakaba) on plot size of 32mx32m (1024m2) by using each farmer’s field as replication. All recommended agronomic practices were equally applied to all the plots and the fields were closely supervised and managed well. Participatory training was given for a total of 176 participants on important agronomic practices and disease control measures. At maturity stage of the crop, the varieties were jointly evaluated with a team composed of researchers, farmers, development agents and experts. Tillering capacity, disease tolerance, spike length, seeds per spike, plant height, seed color and size, early maturing, adaptability to their locality, uniformity, crop stand and overall yield were the selection criteria identified by the participants for selecting the best performing variety/ies. Agronomic data and yield data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics in order to evaluate the performance of the varieties. With regard to yield, 54.5 qt ha-1, 47.5 qt ha-1 and 40 qt ha-1 were obtained from Ogolcho, Bika and Dhakaba, respectively. Besides; Ogolcho has 36.25% and 14.74% yield advantage over Bika and Dhakaba, respectively. Whereas, Bika has 18.75% yield advantage over Dhakaba. Thus, Ogolcho ranked first followed by Bika and both varieties were recommended to scale up/out in Ginnir district and other similar agro-ecologies of Bale zonne.

References

Bale Zone Agriculture and Natural Resource Development Office, 2016. Annual Report (Unpublished).

Bänziger, M., Edmeades, G.O., Beck, D., Bellon, M., 2000. Breeding for drought and nitrogen stress tolerance in maize: From theory to practice. CIMMYT, Mexico, 68p.

Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, 2009. Profile of Oromia National Regional State.

Central Statistical Agency, 2016. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Central Statistical Agency Agricultural Sample Survey 2015/2016 (2008 E.C.): Report on Area and Production of Major Crops (Private Peasant Holdings, Meher Season), Vol I. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dan, M., 2012. Integrating consumer preferences into breeding: A stepping stone to food security. Department of Agricultural Economics, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan; Presented on Wheat for Food Security in Africa, October 8-12, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2014. The state of food and agriculture: Innovation in family farming. Rome.

Ginnir District Agriculture and Natural Resource Office, 2016. Annual Report (Unpublished).

Sinana Agricultural Research Center, 2015. Information bulletin on major achievements of SARC, Bale-Robe, Ethiopia (Unpublished SARC Profile).

Tolesa Alemu, 2014. Adoption of improved agricultural practices and wheat production efficiency of smallholders in Arsi zone of Ethiopia. PhD. Dissertation. Haramaya University, Ethiopia.

Published

2017-09-19

How to Cite

Biftu, A. ., Diriba, B. ., & Sida, . A. . (2017). Pre-extension demonstration of improved bread wheat technologies in Ginnir district of Bale zone, Southeastern Oromia, Ethiopia. Scientific Journal of Crop Science, 6(9), 196-203. Retrieved from http://www.sjournals.com/index.php/sjcs/article/view/309

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Section

Original Article

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