Large Scale Demonstration and Farmers Perception on Improved Maize Variety in Worabe Town Administration, Silte Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Large scale demonstration of improved maize (BH661) was carried out in Worabe Town Administration in Southern Ethiopia in 2022 main cropping season with the objectives of demonstrating improved maize technologies in wider scale. On the basis of the crop's technology gap, two potential kebeles from the district were chosen. On 30 hectares of clustered land from selected kebales, this technology helped 85 farmers. Farmers Research Group trained 115 members (102 farmers and 23 other stake holders) in advance of the demonstration. Improved seed used was by the center and fertilizer and agro-chemicals by the farmers. Planting was done with seed price of 25kg ha-1;spacing of 75cm between row and 40 cm between plant and fertilizer rate of NPS : 100 kg ha-1 and UREA: 125 kg ha-1. Weeding and different management practices were accomplished as required. The yield and farmers perception was analyzed through mean and percentage. According to the results, mean grain yield was 4,475 and 3,784 kg ha-1 recorded in Albazer and Garmama respectively. At each of the demonstration sites, a field day was held where various stakeholders participated and experiences were shared in order to demonstrate the performance of the maize. Based on feedback, the demonstration was nicely understood by participant farmers and stakeholders and the demand for the technology was created further. Therefore, the extension system of the respective districts suggested supplying the improved maize variety (BH661) with recommended applications and practices to the wider community.