Pre-extension demonstration of improved malt barley varieties in Bale and west Arsi zones, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Pre-extension demonstration of improved malt barley varieties was conducted in Dodola district of West Arsi zone and Goba and Dinsho districts of Bale zone using two recently released (Singitan and IBON 174/03) improved varieties against Bokoji-1 (standard check) and Holker (local check).The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate improved malt barley varieties in order to enhance farmers to select best fit variety/ies for their localities. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that IBON 174/03 variety performed better than the others. Furthermore, farmers selected this variety. Therefore IBON 174/03 was recommended for further scaling up.Pre-extension demonstration of improved malt barley varieties was conducted in Dodola district of West Arsi zone and Goba and Dinsho districts of Bale zone using two recently released (Singitan and IBON 174/03) improved varieties against Bokoji-1 (standard check) and Holker (local check).The main objective of the study was to demonstrate and evaluate improved malt barley varieties in order to enhance farmers to select best fit variety/ies for their localities. Mini-field day involving different stakeholders was organized at each respective site. Yield data per plot was recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics, while farmers’ preference to the demonstrated varieties was identified using focused group discussion and summarized using pair wise ranking methods. The demonstration result revealed that IBON 174/03 variety performed better than the others. Furthermore, farmers selected this variety. Therefore IBON 174/03 was recommended for further scaling up.

Pre-extension demonstration of improved malt barley varieties in Bale and west Arsi zones, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia Keywords:

Demonstration , Farmers’ preference , FRG approach , Malt barley , Selection criteria