Abstract

On-farm demonstration of improved field pea varieties was conducted in Goba, Sinana and Agarfa districts of Bale zone. The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate recently released (Hortu) variety along with standard check. The demonstration was under taken on single plot of 10mx10m area for each variety with row planting, recommended seed rate of 75kgha^-1 and fertilizer rate of 100kgha^-1 NPS. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that Hortu variety performed better than the standard check (Harena variety) with an average yield of 36.3qtha^-1 and 31.42qtha^-1 respectively. Hortu variety had 15.53% yield advantage over the standard check. Furthermore, this variety was selected by farmers. Thus, Hortu variety was recommended for further scaling up

Keywords

Demonstration, Farmers’ preference, field pea, Hortu, Selection criteria