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Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region

Received: 13 February 2025     Accepted: 18 April 2025     Published: 14 May 2025
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Abstract

A study was carried out to improve agro-pastoral awareness and enhance the adoption of full-package sorghum production technologies. Participatory on-farm demonstration and evaluation of sorghum varieties were conducted with their full packages at Zone 3 of Argobba district, Afar region, Ethiopia. A gender-inclusive pastoral and agro-pastoral research extension group member (PAPREGs) was formed in the study kebele before the start of demonstration work. Capacity-building training on sorghum agronomic practices was delivered to PAPREG members and extension agents. A single plot design was used for the area's 10 m × 10 m size for each variety on each selected agro-pastoral land. This experiment contains five improved sorghum varieties: Melkam, Argiti, Tilahun, Dekeba, and Meko, and one local variety as a check. A PAPREG group with 30 members was formed to facilitate active participation and enhance awareness of improved sorghum production. Yield data and agro-pastoral perception were collected. Simple descriptive statistics were used to examine the quantitative data, such as the amount of grain yield produced, whereas pair-wise and direct matrix ranking were used for qualitative data, such as agro-pastoralists' perceptions. Based on the analysis of agro-pastoral preference and other physiological data, improved sorghum technologies, Kekeba and Melkam, can be promoted in the respective districts of the study area. These varieties were preferred by agro-pastoral because of their earliness, good palatability, drought tolerance, and disease-tolerant traits. Therefore, it could recommend further promotion and large-scale production of sorghum using the Kekeba and Melkam varieties in the study area and similar agroecological zones.

Published in International Journal of Agricultural Economics (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11
Page(s) 86-94
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Participatory, Trait Preferences, Perception

References
[1] FAOSTAT. 2021. Database of agricultural production. FAO Statistical Databases (FAOSTAT). Available online: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
[2] Ali, A., Seyed Mohsen, M., Mohammad, G., Seyed Alireza, B., Alireza, S. 2016. Evaluation of Water Stress on Yield, Its Components, and Some Physiological Traits at Different Growth Stages in Grain Sorghum Genotypes. Natural Science, Biological, 8: 204-210.
[3] Assefa, Y., Staggenborg, S. A., and Prasad, V. P. (2010). Grain sorghum water requirement and responses to drought stress: A review. Crop management, 9(1), 1-11.
[4] CSA (Central Statistics Agency), 2021. Report on Area and Production of Major Crops. Volume I, Addis Ababa (2013).
[5] Assefa, A., Bezabih, A., Girmay, G., Alemayehu, T., and Lakew, A. (2020). Evaluation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) variety performance in the lowlands area of Wag Lasta, north eastern Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 6(1), Article.
[6] Central Statistical Authority of Ethiopia. Agricultural Sample Survey (AgSE2001). Report on Area and Production - Afar Region. Version 1.1 - December 2007. (Accessed 26 January 2009).
[7] IBPGR and ICRISAT. (1993). Descriptors for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. IBPGR, ICRISAT.
[8] Mihiretu, A., Asresu, M., Wubet, A. (2019a). Participatory assessment of lentil (Lens culinaris) production practices in marginal dry lands of Wag-lasta, Ethiopia. Agric. Environ. Sci., 4(3).
[9] Hailemariam, S., Fistum, M., and Amare, S., 2021. Promotion of improved sorghum technologies through large-scale demonstration in Gololcha Woreda, Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. American Journal of Plant Sciences. 12, 366-375.
[10] Abady, S., Liku, G., Yadeta, D., 2017. Participatory varietal selection and evaluation of 12 sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties for the lowlands of Eastern Hararghe. International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science. 4, 281-285.
[11] Mrema, E.; Shimelis, H.; Laing, M.; Bucheyeki, T. Farmers’ perceptions of sorghum production constraints and Striga control practices in semi-arid areas of Tanzania. Int. J. Pest. Manag. 2017, 63, 146-156.
[12] Beshir, B., Sime, M., 2013. Understanding Farmers’ Improved Sorghum Variety Selection Criteria: The Case of Farmer Research Group Approach in Habro District, West Hararghe. Research Report 102.
[13] Guerrero, M. D. P., Ashby, J. A., and Gracia, T. 1993. Farmer evaluations of technology: preference ranking. Instructional unit (CIAT), (2).
[14] Kohl, D., 2016. Farmers Must Manage Variable and Fixed Costs [cited 2017 Feb]. Available from:
[15] (EIAR.2016). Cereal Crop Production and Management Manual.
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    Tiliye, A., Mengistu, H., Alemayehu, S. (2025). Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 10(3), 86-94. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11

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    ACS Style

    Tiliye, A.; Mengistu, H.; Alemayehu, S. Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region. Int. J. Agric. Econ. 2025, 10(3), 86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11

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    AMA Style

    Tiliye A, Mengistu H, Alemayehu S. Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region. Int J Agric Econ. 2025;10(3):86-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11,
      author = {Ambesu Tiliye and Hailu Mengistu and Shimelis Alemayehu},
      title = {Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region
    },
      journal = {International Journal of Agricultural Economics},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {86-94},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijae.20251003.11},
      abstract = {A study was carried out to improve agro-pastoral awareness and enhance the adoption of full-package sorghum production technologies. Participatory on-farm demonstration and evaluation of sorghum varieties were conducted with their full packages at Zone 3 of Argobba district, Afar region, Ethiopia. A gender-inclusive pastoral and agro-pastoral research extension group member (PAPREGs) was formed in the study kebele before the start of demonstration work. Capacity-building training on sorghum agronomic practices was delivered to PAPREG members and extension agents. A single plot design was used for the area's 10 m × 10 m size for each variety on each selected agro-pastoral land. This experiment contains five improved sorghum varieties: Melkam, Argiti, Tilahun, Dekeba, and Meko, and one local variety as a check. A PAPREG group with 30 members was formed to facilitate active participation and enhance awareness of improved sorghum production. Yield data and agro-pastoral perception were collected. Simple descriptive statistics were used to examine the quantitative data, such as the amount of grain yield produced, whereas pair-wise and direct matrix ranking were used for qualitative data, such as agro-pastoralists' perceptions. Based on the analysis of agro-pastoral preference and other physiological data, improved sorghum technologies, Kekeba and Melkam, can be promoted in the respective districts of the study area. These varieties were preferred by agro-pastoral because of their earliness, good palatability, drought tolerance, and disease-tolerant traits. Therefore, it could recommend further promotion and large-scale production of sorghum using the Kekeba and Melkam varieties in the study area and similar agroecological zones.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Varieties in Argobba District, Afar Region
    
    AU  - Ambesu Tiliye
    AU  - Hailu Mengistu
    AU  - Shimelis Alemayehu
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11
    T2  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JF  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JO  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
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    EP  - 94
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3843
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20251003.11
    AB  - A study was carried out to improve agro-pastoral awareness and enhance the adoption of full-package sorghum production technologies. Participatory on-farm demonstration and evaluation of sorghum varieties were conducted with their full packages at Zone 3 of Argobba district, Afar region, Ethiopia. A gender-inclusive pastoral and agro-pastoral research extension group member (PAPREGs) was formed in the study kebele before the start of demonstration work. Capacity-building training on sorghum agronomic practices was delivered to PAPREG members and extension agents. A single plot design was used for the area's 10 m × 10 m size for each variety on each selected agro-pastoral land. This experiment contains five improved sorghum varieties: Melkam, Argiti, Tilahun, Dekeba, and Meko, and one local variety as a check. A PAPREG group with 30 members was formed to facilitate active participation and enhance awareness of improved sorghum production. Yield data and agro-pastoral perception were collected. Simple descriptive statistics were used to examine the quantitative data, such as the amount of grain yield produced, whereas pair-wise and direct matrix ranking were used for qualitative data, such as agro-pastoralists' perceptions. Based on the analysis of agro-pastoral preference and other physiological data, improved sorghum technologies, Kekeba and Melkam, can be promoted in the respective districts of the study area. These varieties were preferred by agro-pastoral because of their earliness, good palatability, drought tolerance, and disease-tolerant traits. Therefore, it could recommend further promotion and large-scale production of sorghum using the Kekeba and Melkam varieties in the study area and similar agroecological zones.
    
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, Werer Agricultural Research Center, Werer, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, Werer Agricultural Research Center, Werer, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, Werer Agricultural Research Center, Werer, Ethiopia

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