Participatory Demonstration and Evaluation of Onion Varieties in Lume and Dugda Woredas, East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops grown in Ethiopia as well as in the study area. The crop is produced as a cash crop and it is widely used to increase the taste of the different types of food. The research activity was carried out to show the performance of recently released onion varieties (Nafis and Nasik red) along with the check (Bombay red) with their recommended agronomic recommendations through on-farm demonstration and evaluation under farmers' management and resources. Dugda woreda and Lume Woreda were purposively selected based on their onion production potentials from east Shewa zone. From each Woreda randomly one kebele was selected, Shinbi-Gamo kebele from Dugda woreda and Shera-Gibandiba from Lume woreda. Twenty-four farmers were selected, twelve farmers per woreda, for hosting the demonstrations. All the data collected from the demonstration fields and farmers were analyzed through simple descriptive statistics and preference ranking tool. The mean yield obtained from the demonstration field for each variety were 167.72 qt/ha (Nafis), 161.56 qt/ha (Nasik red) and 149.8 qt/ha (Bombay red) in Dugda woreda. In Lume woreda, the mean yield of the varieties was 320.39 qt/ha (Nafis) 257.39 qt/ha (Nasik red) and 257.39 qt/ha (Bombay red). Nafis variety shows better yield performance than the other two varieties in both woredas. The farmer's preference, further showed that Nafis variety was the best one or superior to the others by its high yielding ability, bulb size, and market preference. Therefore, agricultural research and woreda offices of agriculture should take the lead to further popularize the selected varieties in their respective mandate areas to boost production and productivity of the onion.