International Journal of Agriculture and Biosciences (original) (raw)

Abstract

Participatory variety selection is the most important breeding program which enhanced adoption of suitable improved varieties in order to address the needs of a broader range of users and to enhance farmer skills in variety selection and seed production efforts. It plays significant role in collaboration between breeders, farmers, marketers, processors, consumers, and policy makers. It also allows farmers to take part in the development of new varieties more suitable to marginal environments and to organic farming agronomic practices. Several different improved sorghum varieties are released at different international and national research institutions in different times, however the technologies were not properly addressed the farmers based on participatory, client oriented and demand driven. Therefore, the experiment was conducted in Eastern part of Ethiopia of Oromia regional state to evaluate the performance of improved sorghum varieties and to identify farmers' preference traits through continuous performance evaluation at different stages of the crop. Five sorghum varieties along with local check collected from study area were evaluated in randomized complete block design in 2019 main cropping season. Farmers' evaluation was made at two different stages of the crop, namely at flowering and maturity using both direct-matrix and pair-wise ranking methods of selection scheme. Farmers' set; grain yield, disease resistance, grain color and seed size as selection criteria to evaluate and identify their preferred varieties. The results of analysis of variance indicated the existence of highly significant differences among varieties for all traits measured except plant height at 5% probability level. The highest mean grain yield was obtained from the variety Dibaba (11325 Kgha-1) and Jiru (10200 Kgha-1) respectively. Grain yield had positive and highly significantly correlated with thousand seed weight (0.95**) and also positively and significantly correlated with days to 50% flowering (0.85*). Likewise, based on the overall farmer's preference (from both pair-wise and direct matrix ranking evaluations), Dibaba and Jiru were ranked first and second and followed by Adelle, ETS2752 and Chiro respectively. Thus, the varieties Dibaba and Jiru were chosen for their performance in the field and from farmers' evaluation perspective. Moreover, this study indicated participatory varietal selection is a viable method to gain greater insight into farmers' perceptions, preferences, merits and shortcomings of sorghum varieties. Therefore, based on the results of this study, Dibaba and Jiru are recommended for multiplication and distribution to farmers through both formal and informal seed systems. Generally, the integration of plant breeders and farmer's perception used to increase the adoption rate and design a good breeding program for future improvement.

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