Chickpea has become an important legume, accounting for more than 15% of Ethiopian legumes with about one million households engaged in its production. The objective of this study was to develop and select high yielding, bold seeded chickpea that fulfilled the required standard for export and relatively early maturing genotype that can do well in the terminal moisture stress area of the region, from 2009/10 and 2011/12 cropping season. The experiment was conducted on eight advanced lines on multi-environmental trial using randomized complete block design with three replications. Farmers involved in the evaluation of the candidate genotypes on nutritional and utilization aspect of the crop. The AMMI model was used to analyze the data. The combined analysis of variance over years and locations revealed that there was highly significant difference among genotypes in days to flowering, days to maturity, number of pods per plant, 100 seed weight and seed yield. ICC-14808 were found outstanding in all agronomic and yield performance. The genotypes were evaluated, and verified for release by the National Variety Releasing Committee for the drought prone areas of Eastern Amhara. The yield potential of the candidate genotype was 3.7 tons ha-1at research station. ICC-14808 genotypes have a 45% of yield advantage over the standard check (Shasho). The candidate variety is bold seeded (35gm) of 100 seed weight that fulfilled the required standard for export. Besides, the variety was drought tolerant, and grows in areas where all other cool season pulse crops couldn’t grow very well. The utilization and quality assessments of the farmers were explained in the papers. Based on the evaluation and assessment of the national variety-releasing committees, genotype ICC-14808 was released for user in the Eastern Amhara.

Keywords: Chickpea, Cicier arietinum L., Kabuli, AMMI, Yield, and boldness