On-farm evaluation of faba bean and field pea varieties around Holetta

Faba bean and field pea are the most important pulses in Ethiopia. Although a number of varieties have been released at the national level in the past, the participation of farmers in the selection and testing process was very limited. A farmers research group was formed at Wolmera Goro and Ilala Gojo to make participatory research. The production problems in the area were identified and prioritized by farmers and participatory faba bean and field pea variety evaluations were started. Five genotypes each of faba bean and field pea were evaluated for agronomic performances, cooking time and taste acceptance in 1999 and 2000. Different forums including field days of stakeholders were organized for planning and evaluation of the trial. The selection criteria of the farmers were determined. Based on the criteria, the promising faba bean and field pea varieties took the first and the second ranks in both crops. They were also simultaneously presented to the national Variety Release Committee and one each of faba bean and field pea varieties were recommended for release. The promising varieties were better for yield and disease resistance and either comparable or better than the standard checks for seed size. The variety N86108-5 from faba bean and Tegegnech from field pea took the shortest and the local varieties the longest cooking time. The promising and the improved varieties were relatively better for taste acceptance while the local varieties were least accepted. Therefore, the farmers selected the new varieties. The effectiveness and efficiency of our research endeavors largely depends on how far appropriate technologies are developed made available and accepted by the farmers and on how effectively they are utilized in production. Therefore, for effective participatory research, effective mechanisms should be created not only for farmers' participatory evaluation but also for the release and multiplication of varieties preferred by farmers whether or not they fulfill the legal crieteria of the National Variety Release System. The conventional and the participatory approach should also be closely integrated in such a way that farmers be more beneficial out of them. The conventional approach should take into consideration and simulate the actual circumstances of a given target group in a give area.