PRE-EXTENSION DEMONSTRATION OF IMPROVED CHICKPEA VARIETIES IN KONTA SPECIAL WOREDA OF SOUTHERN NATION NATIONALITIES AND PEOPLES REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

The study was conducted in Konta Special Woreda at Opa-lashe Kebele during meher season of the year 2016. The objective of the study was to demonstrate, disseminate and recommend the best performing chickpeas varieties. The study was carried out in twelve farmers’ field and one Farmer Training Center. Farmers were considered as replications. Training was given for the selected farmers, development agents and Woreda experts about improved chickpea technologies production and management. Then after, two varieties (Arerti and Natoli) were demonstrated in plot size of 100m². NPS and Seed rate used was 100 kg and 140kg per hectare respectively. The spacing between plots, rows and plants was 1m, 30cm and 10 cm respectively. Farmers evaluated and selected the varieties depending on their criteria's set. The ranking procedure was explained for participant farmers and each selection criterion was rated from 1 to 5. The listed traits in the criteria were earliness, number of pods per plant, resistance to disease and grain yield. The descriptive statistics result showed that the variety Natoli was with better mean grain yield performance followed by Arerti. The combined result of mean grain yield and farmers’ performance score suggested that both Natoli and Arerti varieties were selected by the village farmers because of their ability to bear more pods per plant, large seed size, disease resistance and high grain yield but variety Natoli was selected as farmers’ first choice for its higher grain yield compared with Arerti. Moreover, farmers calling for governmental and non-governmental organizations which promote large scale chickpea production with full packages in the study area.