Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the performance of five improved varieties of bread wheat and production technologies in Becho district of Oromia, Centeral Ethiopia: Sanate (T1), Mada-Walabu (T2), Hobora (T3), Hogana (T4), and Hidase as standard check (T5)) arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six replications using six farmers’ fields. Yield and yield related parameters were analyzed using SAS statistical software version 9.0. Economic analysis, preference, gender and nutrition and environmental suitability data were performed to compare treatments/varieties advantages and identify the best performing variety. All the yield and yield related components are significantly different between the varieties at 5% probability level. Sanate has the high yield followed by Hobora and Hidase. Sanate variety had a 27% yield advantage over the standard check (Hidase) and had a 169.6, 143.2 and 156.6% yield advantage over the national, regional and zonal average yield of bread wheat in 2016/2017 Meher season of CSA data, respectively. Based on farmer’s preference analysis, variety Sanate had the highest acceptability (96%) followed by Hobora (74%) and Hidase (65%). Hogana variety had the lowest (24%). The economic analysis showed that Sanate variety had the maximum net benefit (86,531.65 birr/ha) followed by Hobora (71,793.96 birr/ha) and Hidase (69,564.16 birr/ha). Variety Hogana had the lowest net benefit result of about 54,507.63 birr/ha. Based on the rules of decision making and the integrated scoring on bread wheat varieties, two of the tested varieties met the requirements to be recommended. Therefore, we recommend Sanate and Hobora varieties in addition to Hidase (the control) for Becho and other areas with similar agro-ecological conditions in the central highlands of Ethiopia.

Key words: Becho, economic analysis, environmental suitability, farmers’ acceptability, gender aspect, integrated validation, protocol.