Sorghum is a staple crop in drought prone areas;-as it is drought tolerant worth promoting in view of effects of climate change and brings out large percentage of the people from poverty. Sorghum grows in a wide range of agro-ecological zones most  importantly  in  the  moisture stressed parts where other crops cannot survive and food insecurity is rampant (Asfaw, 2007). Globally, sorghum is the fifth most important staple food crop after wheat, rice, maize and barley (FAO, 2016). In Ethiopia, sorghum is grown in almost all regions occupying an  estimated  total land area of 1,854,710.93 ha of which 12.91% of land is in Tigray region (CSA, 2016). Sorghum in the study area is mainly grown under rain feed, where rainfall is erratic, low in amount and uneven in distribution. As a result, sorghum production has become highly unpredictable that leads into a chronic food shortage to the smallholder farmers.

The potential productivity of sorghum is reduced due to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Low soil fertility (nutrient deficiency) and drought were the main abiotic factors. Important biotic constraints include the parasitic weed; Striga (Striga species), foliar and panicle diseases and stem borers (Wortmann et al., 2006). Sorghum is utilized in different forms where the grain is used for human consumption and homemade beverages, leaves and stalks are commonly used as fodder for their animals. In the low land area of Tigray, farmers grow sorghum for human consumption in the form of food and homemade beverages.

In Tanqua Abergele Woreda, sorghum is one of the major food crops ranked first in its area coverage which accounts about 45.6% of the total cultivable land (TAWOoARD, 2013). However, the erratic and uneven distribution of rainfall is becoming a threat to produce late maturing local sorghum varieties. These local varieties are frequently exposed to moisture stress at flowering and grain filling stages of the crop which resulted in either low yield or total crop failure.

Scholars agree that technology demonstration is a critical means of technology evaluation and transfer. Demonstration experiment can be effective technique in fostering awareness due largely to their direct experimental nature which is beneficial to discovery learning (Leeuwis, 2004). As the demonstration is conducted on farm which is open to technology user and nonuser it gives room to extend the merit of the technology within the social system through social networks. Social networking is an important means of promoting technology adoption. Despite the effort of science and technology which has heavily influenced agricultural production system for decades, there are no as such promising changes in the life of target communities (Amanor, 1994). Researches targeting on solving agricultural problem were designed and implemented on station through academician’s motivation. However, these research output did not address farmers’ needs as the effectiveness of the technologies were measured through production and productivity which is not complemented with users’ preference and working condition. Perception is how the smallholder farmers perceive the improved sorghum varieties (Melkam and Chare) from his/her point of view.  Perception plays a vital role in shaping human practice (Leeuwis, 2004).

Understanding the problem, Abergelle Agricultural Research Center researchers have been conducting different  research  activities  on-station  and   on-farmers’ field to identify varieties and agronomic practices which have better adaptation under the agro-ecological conditions of it study areas. From the varietal evaluation and adaptation trials conducted on sorghum, Chare and Melkam were found to be high yielder and early maturing. The study was designed to test whether improved varieties (Chare and Melkam) has no significant difference in grain yield improvement, while farmers apply the technology at farm condition (H0). Hence, this study was initiated to enhance yield production and productivity through demonstration of improved sorghum varieties. The specific objective of the study seeks; to demonstrate the improved sorghum varieties (Chare and Melkam) in the economically marginalized smallholder farmers, to evaluate the performance of improved sorghum varieties (Chare and Melkam), and to collect farmers’ perception about the improved sorghum varieties (Chare and Melkam) in the study area.

Grain and straw yield of the varieties

Production comparison between the two improved varieties (Chare, Melkam) and one local cultivar known as ‘Merawi’ was made. The local cultivar ‘Merawi’ was selected because it is the cultivar most commonly grown in the study area. The result obtained from  the  improved sorghum varieties as well as the local cultivar in the study areas are described in Table 1.

As it is described in Table 1, an average grain yield of 47.60 and 39.90 ql/ha were obtained from the improved sorghum varieties Chare and Melkam, respectively while the average grain yield obtained from the local cultivar ‘Merawi’ was 32.20 ql/ha. The result of the study indicated in (Table 1) shows both the improved sorghum varieties (Chare and Melakm) have statically significant (at >  5%) grain yield increment over the local sorghum cultivar  with yield increment of 15.40ql/ha  (47.8%) and 7.70 ql/ha  (23.9%) over the local cultivar (Figure 2).

In the dry season shortage of animal feed is also one of the critical problems of farmers. In this regard, compared to the improved varieties the local cultivars are lower in their bio-mass yield. The result indicated that the straw yield obtained from Chare and Melkam was 10130.00 and 11640.00 kg/ha, respectively while the biomass yield the local is 9170.00 kg/ha. This implied that the improved varieties give additional straw yield, about 10.5% (Chare) and 26.9% (Melkam) higher compared to the local cultivar (Merawi).

Benefit cost ratio of the improved varieties Vs local cultivar

Given the prevailing market price, benefit cost ratio was computed from grain and straw yield on hectare basis. In terms of monetary value, the beneficiary farmers were able to generate an average gross income of 32,459.50, 27,681.00 and 22,305.50 Birr/ha from Chare, Melkam and local cultivar, respectively (Table 2). There is no difference in management practices to all and hence the total variable costs are similar. The average net income farmers could generate per hectare was 18,682.50, 13,904.00 and 8,528.50 Birr/ha, in the same order. This implied that farmers could earn an additional net income of 10,154.00 and 5,375.50 Birr/ha from Chare and Melkam, respectively. The benefit cost ratio of Chare, Melkam and local cultivar was 2.36, 2.01 and 1.62, respectively. In other words, farmers can generate 2.36, 2.01 and 1.62 Birr benefit from Chare, Melkam and local cultivar for 1 Birr investment cost of production. The cost benefit ratio indicates growing  all verities of sorghum  is financially profitable, however producing improved sorghum varieties has great contribution in capitalizing the return of producers’. This implies that with ever increasing human population while the size of the cultivated land remains constant, improving production and productivity of a given land using improved crop varieties could be the best solution as far as improving household food security status is concerned (Figure 3).

Farmers’ perception on attributes of improved sorghum variety

The improved sorghum varieties merits and demerits were assessed from farmers’ point of view. Table 3 demonstrates the perception of farmers based on the parameters listed in deciding a variety is acceptable in replacing the existing local cultivar. The participant farmers perceive the technology as a favor in its’ drought resistant, early maturity, and grain and straw yield.

Additionally, the technology beneficiary criticizes the technology negatively in its’ poor disease resistance and low palatability of the straw.  The data collected from the sampled technology users response is similar with the data collected from non-technology user field day participant farmers and agricultural knowledge workers in the varieties early maturity and have good performance in field level.  Both the target beneficiaries as well as participants of the field days perceived that the improved varieties (Chare and Melkam) were better in yield, early to maturity and drought tolerant. Additionally, the participant farmers perceive that improved sorghum variety especially Chare is lower in straw palatability and its color when compared with local cultivar.

From the demonstration intervention, it can be concluded that there are wider possibilities to greatly support the government efforts toward enhancing food security and livelihoods of poor households. As in the case of the two improved sorghum varieties (Melkam and Chare), increasing productivity of a given crop commodity by about 23% and 48%, which have a quite significant implication on improving household food security. Therefore, the study points out the following recommendations:

(1) There should be reliable seed supply both in quality and quantity of both varieties so as to ensure sustainable seed supply system and fulfill the farmers demand.

(2) Considering the erratic and unrealizable climatic conditions, further research efforts to generate drought tolerant sorghum varieties are very essential.

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.

Operational Research to Disseminate Project and Tigray Agricultural Research Institute are dully acknowledged for the budget and necessary materials support. The authors also thank the farmers who participate in the research process and kindly support in giving trusted data.