Abstract:
Sorghum is one of the most dominant crops grown in Ethiopia as staple food. However, the
contribution of the improved sorghum varieties is very low as farmers have no sufficient information
about agronomic practices and economic importance of the released sorghum varieties that lead
inadequate adoption of improved varieties. This study was conducted to identify best sorghum varieties
that suit the study areas and also identify farmers’ selection criteria. Eleven lowland, seven midland
and six highland improved varieties of sorghum along with farmers’ local cultivar from each
representative site were evaluated in three replications with randomized complete block design under
participatory scheme using farmers’ selection criteria in 2017/18 main cropping season at Tepi, Sheko
and Masha locations of the region, respectively. Farmers’ set grain yield, earliness, bird damage
resistance, disease resistance, insect pest tolerance and tillering capacity as selection criteria for
lowland released sorghum varieties. The same criteria set by farmers except market price in place of
tillering capacity for midland released sorghum varieties. Likewise, grain yield, grain size and color,
disease resistance and earliness were farmers’ selected traits for the highland released sorghum
varieties. The results of analysis of variance indicated the existence of significant differences among
varieties for all traits tested at Sheko. Only panicle length per plant were non-significant at Masha
and shako while highly significant variation observed among the varieties for all traits studied in Tepi.
Based on the field experimental results the varieties Meko-1 and Yeju; RAYA and IS-9302; Alemaya-
70 and Chiro were the earliest varieties at Tepi, Sheko and Masha study sites, respectively. The highest
mean grain yield were obtained from Melkam, Gambella-1107 and Misikir for the lowland; Dano,
Lalo and Birmash for midland and ETS-2752, Chalanko and Muyra-1 for the highland varieties.
Moreover, Melkam, Misikir and Gambella-1107 from lowland; Dano Lalo,and Birmash from midland
as well as ETS-2752, Chelenko and Muyra-1 from highland improved sorghum varieties were
identified as agronomical suited the area and also preferred from farmers evaluation. In conclusion,
participatory varietal selection is a viable method to gain greater insight into farmers’ perceptions,
preferences, knowledge, shortcomings and potentials of improved sorghum varieties. Based on the
results of this study the identified and preferred varieties need to be multiplied and distributed to
farmers through both formal and informal seed system.
