Participatory Promotion of Improved Chickpea Varieties in Habro and Oda Bultum Districts of West Hararghe Zone

This activity was conducted during the 2013 main cropping season at Habro and Oda Bultum districts of West Hararghe Zone to evaluate the performance of improved chickpea variety on farmer’s field and strengthen stakeholder’s linkage in the study area. A total of seventy (70) farmers from both district were participated for the activity. Three improved variety of chickpea (Minjar, Natoli and Habru) were evaluated with local checked to create awareness for farmers. 0.125 of land were used for each variety on each farmer’s field. The result of the study showed that Minjar variety performed well than other improved varieties and local check in terms of yield from the same area on farmer’s field. In addition, farmers also prefer Minjar variety in terms of its seed quality, seed size, early maturity and disease resistance over other improved varieties and local check. So, concerning body should scale up further for similar agro ecology to improve chickpea production and productivity of farming community.      DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-17-06 Publication date: September 30 th 2020

four Peasant Associations of which Bareda, Abdi Gudina & Haro Chercher from Habro district and Kara from Oda Bultum district. Generally, agro ecologies of the two districts were summarized as follows.

Site and Experimental Farmers Selection Criteria
Communication with district Agricultural Office (AO) and expert has been conducted to make the activity more participatory and select appropriate Kebele for Chickpea production in the study area.
Accordingly, Bareda, Abdi Guddina, Haro Chercher and Kara Kebeles were selected based their potential production of chickpea in relation to other kebeles. Additionally, discussions were held with respective kebele officials and DAs to select farmers on which the activity conducted. These criteria includes: Farmers interest to the crop, model farmers, accessible of site, ability to risk taker, farmers who afford two timed of land for this experiment, farmers who manage their field on time( land preparation, sowing, weeding, harvesting, threshing) and others. Accordingly, a total of seventy (70) farmers were selected to conduct the activity.

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis
Different data like yield data and farmers selection criteria were collect through supervision on prepared data collection sheet by researchers and DA of the PA. Organizing field day was also another way to collect farmer's attitude toward provided technology in relation to their agro ecology. The collected data (quantitative data) was analyzed by using average and frequency distribution while qualitative data were analyzed through qualitative interpretation.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION Performances of improved chickpea varieties under Farmer's Condition
Habro and Oda Bultum districts were potential chickpea producing from west Hararghe Zone. Because of this  Vol.11, No.17, 2020 three improved varieties of chickpea was compared with local variety on selected farmers to improve its production and productivity. Therefore, the performances of each variety were evaluated based on different parameter like yield data, farmers selection criteria by comparing each verity with local check. Table 4 showed that yield summery of each variety (Minjar, Natoli, Habru and local check) on farmers' circumstance and total field harvested from activity. The result indicated that the average yield of Minjar, Natoli, Habru and local check variety is 38.7, 43.2, 37.4 and 25.2 kuntal per hectare, respectively. From this we concluded that Natoli have yield advantage over other improved variety and local check. The above table indicated that a total of 341.7 kuntal yield were harvested from three improved varieties of chickpea provided for seventy farmers in the study area. This indicates that improved varieties of these three improved verity of chickpea were disseminated in the study area. Photo: Performance of chickpea varieties on farmer's field

Awareness Creation & Capacity Building on Chickpea Production in the study area
Additionally, farmer's field day was organized to facilitate experience sharing among farmers to get feedback and promote the technology to other stakeholders. Accordingly, participant of field day compared each variety with local and preferred Minjar variety due to its seed quality, seed size, early maturity and disease resistance over other improved varieties and local check. However, Natoli variety have yield advantage over other improved varieties and local check.  Vol.11, No.17, 2020 42 Photo: Farmers field day Training was provided for farmers and expert of agricultural offices to enhance their skill & knowledge on chickpea production and management. Photo: Training provided to farmers

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Chickpea is legume crop grown for food and market purpose in West Hararghe Zone. Chickpea production play greater role in ensuring household food security in the study area. Due to this the activity was conducted in order to evaluate improved chickpea varieties on farmer's field. Accordingly, Minjar variety was selected by farmers for further dissemination due to its seed quality, seed size, early maturity and disease resistance over other improved varieties and local check.. Therefore, concerning body should give attention for further popularization in similar agro ecology with package of recommendation.