Pulses are important food crops due to their high protein and essential amino acid content. The seeds of pulse crops  are  typically  made  up  of  20  to  25%  protein  as compared to 6 to 10% protein content in major cereal crops. Pulses are also rich in dietary fiber and usually have  only  small  amounts  of  oil.  The  protein  of  pulse seeds is high in the amino acids lysine and methionine, making pulses nutritionally complementary to cereals, which are deficient in these two essential amino acids. Pulses are the main source of protein in the diet of vegetarians, and feature prominently in the traditional cuisine of virtually every region of the globe (Sitou and Mywish, 2011).

The main faba bean producers are China (1.65 Mt), Ethiopia (0.61 Mt), France (0.44 Mt), Egypt (0.29 Mt) and Australia (0.19 Mt) (FAOSTAT, 2009). It is a hardy crop and can withstand rough climates, especially cold ones. China is the largest producer of faba beans which gives East Asia the largest share in world total area harvested (38%) and total production (42%). The next largest faba bean growing regions are sub Saharan Africa and MENA, each covering 19 and 18% of world area, respectively (Sitou and Mywish, 2011). Faba bean is a valuable protein-rich food that provides a large sector of the human populations in developing countries with a cheap protein source, thus partly compensating for the large deficiency in animal protein sources. It is one of the earliest domesticated food legumes and is now cultivated on large areas in many countries due to its high nutritive value in terms of energy and protein contents (24 to 30%) (Sahile et al., 2009).

Grain legumes occupy about 13% of cultivated land in Ethiopia and their contribution to agricultural value addition is around 10%. Pulses are the third-largest export crop of Ethiopia after coffee and sesame, contributing USD 90 million to export earnings in 2007/2008 (IFPRI, 2010). In total, the area cultivated with the selected legumes is more than 1 million hectares but production/ha is low and far below the potential production (USAID, 2011). Common bean and chickpea are major legumes, with both a production of more than 200,000 MT grain. On the world market, Ethiopia ranks 6th in chickpea production and 14th in production of common bean. Among African countries, Ethiopia is the largest producer of both chickpea and common bean (ICRISAT, 2011).

In Ethiopia, faba bean is the crop that has the highest absolute production and the largest area cultivated. Ethiopia is also the second largest producer of faba bean in the world after China (Ronner and Giller, 2012). Faba bean is the most important pulse crop in terms of area coverage and total annual production in Ethiopia. This crop has manifold advantages in the economic lives of the farming community in the high lands of the country. It is a source of food, feed, cash to farmers and also play significant role in soil fertility practices. However, currently its share in the countries pulse export is small. Faba bean covers 427,696.80 ha leading the pulse category in area and production (CSA, 2017). The productivity of faba bean varieties under traditional farming system is found to be around 0.7 ton/ha, which is very small. However, there is a possibility to improve the situation  using   improved   varieties,   which  can  give  a better yield than the one's widely used now. Mechara Agricultural Research Center has conducted participatory variety selection of different improved varieties which are developed by different research centers. Therefore, McARC recommended two varieties namely, Hacalu and Tumsa for further promotion on farmers’ fields. Thus, this study was initiated to enhance production and productivity of faba bean on farmers’ fields and to improve linkage among stakeholders and create awareness on improved faba bean varieties.

 

Description of the study area

The study was conducted in Chiro, Gemechis and Tulo districts of the West Hararghe zone of the Oromia National Regional State. Chiro which is the capital town of the zone, is located in West Hararghe zone of the Oromia national regional state at about 324 km east of Finfine, the capital city of Oromia regional national state. Normally, the district is divided into three major agro-ecological zones. These are lowland with 22 kebeles, mid land with 13 kebeles and highland altitude with 4 kebeles. The district bordered with Miesso in the north, Gemmechis in the south, Guba-koricha in the west and Tulo in the east. The district is mainly characterized as steep slopes and mountains with rugged topography, which is highly vulnerable to erosion problems (Figure 1). It has a maximum and minimum temperature of 23 and 12°C, respectively and the maximum and minimum rainfall of 1800 and 900 mm, respectively (Gosa, 2016). Rainfall type is bimodal and erratic in nature. Main rainy season is from June to September for the highland and midland areas and from March to April for the lowland. Short rainy season is from March to May for highland and midland and for that of lowland around July. The amount of the rainfall is relatively adequate in the highland and midland than the lowland.

 

 

Experimental design (Single plot side by side design)

Two improved faba bean varieties namely Hachalu and Tumsa were demonstrated and evaluated with local variety. The experiment was demonstrated on 10 m × 10 m (100 m²) demonstration plots and DAP 100 kg/ha at the time of sowing applied to each demonstration plot with recommended seed rate. Row sowing methods were applied with 10 cm between plant and 40 cm between rows. The required management like weeding, thinning out application at the growing stage was done.

Data collection methods

Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through observation, group discussion on field day and data recording sheet. Data like farmer preference on disease and pests resistance, early maturity, drought tolerant, grain color, and yield data were collected through the prepared data collection sheet/record sheet by organizing mini field day and observation on farmer’s field.

Data analysis

Descriptive statistics like mean and tabulation were used to analyse the crop performance concerning yield and yield components of the experiment harvested from demonstration plot. Improved varieties along with local variety were also analysed through paired t-statistics. While qualitative data were analysed through simple ranking and summarization. Partial budget analysis was also used to   analyse   the   economic  benefit  gained  from  the   experiment

 

 

Crop performance on the farmer’s field

The mean yield of Hachalu and Tumsa were 20.14 and 16.45 qt/ha with standard deviation of 17.88 and 12.20, respectively and the mean and standard deviation of the local variety were 19.83 and 16.73, respectively (Table 2). The mean yield of Hachalu variety was greater than both Tumsa and local varieties.

 

 

 

Yield advantage of the crop Varieties

Yield difference of Hachalu from local is 20.14 - 19.83 = 0.31

Yield difference of Tumsa from local is 16.45 - 19.83 = -3.38

Percent of yield increase over local is given by yield of improved variety minus yield of local variety divided by yield of local variety and multiply by 100.

Thus, percent of yield increase of Hachalu over local check is (0.31 / 19.83) × 100 = 1.56%

The result in Table 2 indicated that maximum  yield  werescored from Hachalu variety (51.47 qt/ha). Yield increased in percentage of improved variety of Hachalu over local check were 1.56%. This indicated that using improved variety of Hachalu were relatively more productive than local variety with the same area and management. The minimum yield was scored due to insufficient rainfall encountered in the area cropping season 2016. It was concluded that Hachalu variety has more yield advantage than Tumsa and local variety.

Statistical implication of experiments

There is no statistical difference between the yield of improved varieties and local check on farmer’s field at 5% significance level (Table 3).

 

 

Capacity building and experiment evaluation

Mini field day was organized on faba bean technology with consideration of different stakeholders (Farmers, DAs and Experts of the district) at Arbarakate kebele of Chiro  district. Thus, 26 male and 5 female households participated on field day organized at Chiro (Arbarakate PA).  Extension   personnel  (one  male)  and  three  male development agents also participated with farmers to evaluate the experiment. For variety selection on field, researcher has divided farmers into three groups with combination of DAs and extension personnel (SMS). The group of farmers and DAs led by SMS put their own criteria to evaluate the technology by observing on field. Each group has given his own value to the experiment on demonstration plot (Figure 2). As shown in Table 4, the values given by group of farmers were summarized and its average was ranked by their participation.

 

 

 

Table 4 shows that farmers, development agents and experts have selected Hachalu and Tumsa varieties as the first and second, respectively based on overall averages of selection criteria.

Economic benefit gained

Costs incurred and benefit gained from the project is discussed in detail as follows. The result of Tables 5 and 6 indicated that maximum gross margin (30,204.38 Birr/ha) and net benefit of (14,394 Birr/ha) were gained from Hachalu variety with same inputs and costs incurred to it with Tumsa during the project life time. Minimum gross margin (24680.63 Birr/ha) and least net benefit (8,871 Birr/ha) were recorded from Tumsa variety (Tables 5 and 6). It can be concluded that using improved variety of faba bean (Hachalu) was economically profitable than Tumsa variety at the study area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests.