Cultural practices and varietal preferences for durum wheat by farmers of Ada, Lume and Gimbichu Weredas of Ethiopia
A survey of 144 fanners was undertaken in Ada, Lume and Gimbichu Weredas to assess fanners' practices in durum wheat production; and to identify the durum wheat varieties they grow and the quality characteristics they seek in them. On average about 59% of the fanners in the three Weredas adopted the recommended durum wheat production practices in tenns of varieties (42%); time of planting (50%); use of DAP-fertilizer (89%); Urea first application (58%) and 24% second application; and one-hand weeding (92%). It is important to note that the three Weredas ..re close to the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center (DZARC) and are getting its extension support. Few fanners controlled weeds with herbicides in the three Weredas, mainly due to unavailability, exorbitant prices, fanners' lack of experience in their use and non-availability of sprayers. Sixty-four percent of the sample fanners grew 27 local durum wheat varieties previously. By 1990/91 only 5% were growing local varieties. Aphid attack, lack of seed and susceptibility to rust diseases were given as the main reasons why fanners ceased to grow these varieties. In the 1990/91 season, 21 % of the sample fanners grew three improved durum wheat varieties: Boohai, Cocorit-71 and Gerardo, while 8% and 13% grew Enkoy and Israel, respectively. Enkoy and Israel are bread wheats but fanners do not differentiate them from durum wheat. Israel turned out to be the variety fanners rated highly in the three Weredas for its yield, desirable grain color, bread quality, strong and long straw, disease resistance, performance in light soil (Gombere), frost tolerance and marketability. Although fanners' varietal preferences clearly highlight regional differences and local fanners' circumstance, there are preferences for specific varietal characteristics found in common the three Weredas. These are large grain size, amber grain color, early maturity, strong straw, straw palatability for livestock, food quality (mainly for injera, kinche and kolo) and marketability. Fanners' actual allocation of the land in the three Weredas fairly closely reflected their varietal preferences. The main implication from this study is that for durum wheat breeders to succeed, they should consider those characteristics that are important to fanners.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Research Report biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
CIMMYT
1994
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| Subjects: | AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, CULTIVATION, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, CROP PRODUCTION, VARIETIES, TRITICUM AESTIVUM, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10883/1183 |
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| Summary: | A survey of 144 fanners was undertaken in Ada, Lume and Gimbichu Weredas to assess fanners' practices in durum wheat production; and to identify the durum wheat varieties they grow and the quality characteristics they seek in them. On average about 59% of the fanners in the three Weredas adopted the recommended durum wheat production practices in tenns of varieties (42%); time of planting (50%); use of DAP-fertilizer (89%); Urea first application (58%) and 24% second application; and one-hand weeding (92%). It is important to note that the three Weredas ..re close to the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center (DZARC) and are getting its extension support. Few fanners controlled weeds with herbicides in the three Weredas, mainly due to unavailability, exorbitant prices, fanners' lack of experience in their use and non-availability of sprayers. Sixty-four percent of the sample fanners grew 27 local durum wheat varieties previously. By 1990/91 only 5% were growing local varieties. Aphid attack, lack of seed and susceptibility to rust diseases were given as the main reasons why fanners ceased to grow these varieties. In the 1990/91 season, 21 % of the sample fanners grew three improved durum wheat varieties: Boohai, Cocorit-71 and Gerardo, while 8% and 13% grew Enkoy and Israel, respectively. Enkoy and Israel are bread wheats but fanners do not differentiate them from durum wheat. Israel turned out to be the variety fanners rated highly in the three Weredas for its yield, desirable grain color, bread quality, strong and long straw, disease resistance, performance in light soil (Gombere), frost tolerance and marketability. Although fanners' varietal preferences clearly highlight regional differences and local fanners' circumstance, there are preferences for specific varietal characteristics found in common the three Weredas. These are large grain size, amber grain color, early maturity, strong straw, straw palatability for livestock, food quality (mainly for injera, kinche and kolo) and marketability. Fanners' actual allocation of the land in the three Weredas fairly closely reflected their varietal preferences. The main implication from this study is that for durum wheat breeders to succeed, they should consider those characteristics that are important to fanners. |
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