On-farm demonstration of improved and drought tolerant maize varieties with associated management practices

Maize is an important cereal crop in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. It plays a greater role in ensuring food security. The study was designed to evaluate and promote Melkassa-6Q variety with standard check (Melkassa-2). The study sites were Adama and ATJK districts. The districts were selected based on their maize production potential and accessibility of the site for demonstration. Training and field days were implemented to facilitate the successful implementation of the activity and create awareness among farmers about the varieties. Grain yield was recorded and the varieties were compared to each other based on their yield performance. Farmers ‘feedback was also collected and farmers preference ranking of each demonstrated variety was done depending on the farmers’ set criteria for variety evaluation. The mean yield of Melkassa-2 (standard check) is about 39 qt/ha across locations whereas the mean yield of Melkassa-6Q is 36.4 qt/ha which is 2.6 qt below the standard check. In addition to yield, Melkassa-2 variety was preferred over Melkassa-6Q variety in overall farmers’ evaluation criteria for maize variety evaluation. Therefore, there should be an adequate quality seed supply of Melkassa-2 variety till the best-performing maize variety is released by the research system.