Finger millet is among the food security crops, widely used for food, local beverage preparation and animal feed. Regardless of its high nutritional contribution, the production of finger millet is not commonly known in eastern Ethiopia in general and east Hararghe zone in particular. Lack of sufficient knowledge and awareness of farmers about the production and benefits of the improved finger millet varieties is among the hindering factors. Demonstration of finger millet varieties is necessary to alleviate these problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to introduce finger millet varieties with improved management practices through demonstration and evaluation. It was conducted at Ido baso and Umarkule kebeles of Fedis district through FRG approach. A total of 10 trial Farmers were selected based on their interest and land ownership. Aksum and Tadesse finger millet varieties were provided to farmers with full packages. Each variety was planted on a plot size of 10mx10m/farmer, with seed rate of 15kg/ha and 40cm*10cm space between row and plant respectively. Likewise, fertilizer (NPS) was applied with rate of 100kg/ha. Training and field visit were organized as a means to facilitate uptake and diffusion of technologies through farmers as well as to evaluate performance of the varieties and share the lessons with different stakeholders. The combined mean yield for Aksum and Tadesse is 23qt/ha and 20.1qt/ha respectively. Based on their criteria, farmers have preferred and ranked Aksum variety as first. Therefore, it is better if this variety is pre scaled up to wider community.
Demonstration, Evaluation, Finger millet
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