Large scale evaluation of the improved tef (Eragrostis tef) technologies

Abstract

Yehuala Kassa, Shumet Chakle, Teklemariam Ayele, Beneberu Teferra & Awlachew Ayfokiru.2021.Large scale evaluation of the improved tef (Eragrostis tef) technologies.Journal of Innovative Agriculture.volume 8, issue 2, Pages 22-28. Tef is the most important staple crop in Ethiopia. Despite its importance and increasing demand in local and global markets, tef production and productivity have remained low. Therefore this experiment was implemented to assess farmer technology preferences and to create wider demand for the availability of high yielding improved tef varieties. The improved variety of Kora with its associated recommended management practices was used and compared with the local tef growing practice in the 2019 growing season on 65 farmers’ farm lands. All the necessary data were collected and estimated using descriptive statistics. The result showed that the variety of Kora provided a higher average grain yield of 2682.4 kg ha-1 and resulted in a yield advantage of approximately 76.9% higher grain yield over the local variety under farmer’s practices. The result further showed that in the study areas a higher technological index of 41.6% was recorded. Participant farmers were agreed that the variety Kora had longer panicle length, resistance to lodging, resistance to waterlogging, longer in plant height, higher in grain, and straw yield compared to their local variety and even the previously introduced varieties. The improved variety drew a lot of attention from farmers because of its high yielding potential, white seed colour, good straw yield, and lodging resistance. The result indicated that promoting the improved tef Kora variety at a large scale, along with the recommended management practices, could increase farmers' access to improved variety seed and extension services.