Participatory Variety Selection for Enhanced Promotion of Improved Sesame varieties: A case for konta District in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Participatory varietal selection was conducted in Southern part of Ethiopia to evaluate the performance of sesame varieties and to identify farmers’ preference and selection criteria in the study site. Six sesame genotypes along with local check from respective area were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016/17 main cropping season. Farmers’ evaluation was made at two different stages of the crop, namely at flowering and at maturity using both direct-matrix and pair-wise ranking methods of selection system. Farmers’ set; stand strength , number of capsule per plant, plant height, disease resistance, shattering resistance, earliness, seed color and Grain yield 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 grain yield at 5% probability level. The highest mean grain yield was obtained from the genotypes Setiti-1 (783.35 Kg ha-1), Abasena (756.25kgha-1) and Humera (713 Kg ha -1). Likewise, Setiti-1, Abasena and Humera were identified as farmers preferred varieties from both pair-wise and direct matrix ranking evaluations. Thus, the varieties Setiti-1, Abasena and Humera were selected for their performance in the field and from farmers' evaluation perspective. Therefore, based on the results of present study, Setiti-1, Abasena and Humera can be recommended for cultivation under konta areas and similar agro ecologies.

Keywords: Direct-matrix ranking, Pair-wise ranking, PVS, Farmers selection criteria, sesame