The Eleventh Regional Wheat Workshop For Eastern ... - Cimmyt

Farmer participatory evaluation ofbread wheat varieties - Kassa et al.
varieties based on the mean yield value. In order to combine all parameters, numerical ratings
were converted into rank.
RCBD method of statistical analysis was employed to analyze quantitative data, and a
modified Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique for prioritization (Anonymous,
undated), i.e., weighted direct matrix ranking, was used to differentiate farmers' favorite
variety considering both qualitative and quantitative criteria. Simple correlation analysis was
also used to see interdependence between the variables based on the farmers' preference rank.
RESUL TS AND DISCUSSION
Combined analysis of variance revealed that Galama gave significantly higher grain yield
(2.9 tJha) among the eight varieties. The rest of the varieties had statistically equivalent grain
yield except the difference found between Kubsa and Tusie. Although statistically nonsignificant,
Kubsa and Mitike outyielded the local check (Dashen) by 4.2 and 0.37%
respectively. As far as biomass yield is concerned, Galama stood first though the mean yield
difference with four of the entries including the local check was not significant. Biomass
yield of Wabe and Tusie significantly differed from that of Galama, Kubsa and Mitike, and
Abolla had the same as Galama (Table 2). Unlike the case of grain and biomass yield, harvest
index of the varieties were not significantly different (Table 6). Mean values of harvest index
indicated that Galama still outsmarted all varieties (Table 2).
The mean values of weighted direct matrix ranking for all qualitative and quantitative
parameters considered showed that all the new varieties except Tusie outweighed the local
check (Dashen). Farmers' preference order to the varieties in the final assessment indicated
that Galama was the favorite variety followed by Kubsa, Mitike, ET-13, Wabe, Abolla,
Dashen and Tusie (Table 3).
The farmers were highly impressed by the vegetative growth of Kubsa and Wabe at their
early growth stage, as the two varieties were vigorous in growth and early to medium
maturity types. However, later on Galama carne out with the best agronomic performance,
which the farmers believed to substitute Dashen, their favorite 'local' cultivar. It was
characterized by the farmers as having high tillering capacity, superior growth, big panicle,
easy threshing ability, superior yield, large grain size and plumpness, better dough and bread
qualities.
As grain yield has been the prime selection criteria for the resource-poor subsistence farmers
in the study area in particular and in the peasantry in general, it might have biased the farmers
during evaluation of varieties. Thus, qualitative data were analyzed independently to assess
the position of the varieties against other farmers' criteria so that breeders could get feedback
as to a trait for future improvement. As a result, change in priority order was observed for all
varieties except Galama. The preference sequence from best to poor cultivar was Galama,
Wabe, AbollaiTusie, Kubsa, Dashen, ET -13 and Mitike. Variety Wabe took the second
position because of its good seed color and threshing ability. Similarly, Tusie and Abolla
were in relatively good rank for their good grain size and in addition good taste of bread for
the latter. Kubsa was in the fifth preference rank mainly due to its bad dough and loaf quality.
The local check was pushed one step up because of its fair threshing ability and grain size.
Although Mitikie was the third important variety in the overall evaluation (Table 3) due to its
baking quality/taste of bread and yield, it took the last order in this case, for it had small grain
size and difficulty during threshing like ET-13 (Table 4). Similar complaints were found for
429