Cite this as
Teha A (2022) Promotion of improved onion technology through FRG System in Fadis and Babile districts of East Haraghe Zone. J Agric Sc Food Technol 8(1): 011-013. DOI: 10.17352/2455-815X.000138Copyright
© 2022 Teha A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Pre extension demonstration of onion varieties was conducted at Fadis and Babile districts of East Hararghe zone one kebele from one FRG established and 10 trial farmers. Both varieties were sown on 10*10 plot size of demonstration plots with full package technology. The training was given for farmers on onion agronomic practices to make full package technology. The bulb yield of the improved onion varieties (Red Bombay and local) were 22.86, 18.74ton/ha at Erer and 22.00, 17.92 ton/ha Ballina Arba Kebele respectively. The result showed that there was a significant difference between both varieties at <1% level. Red Bombay has a 22.37% yield advantage over local check.
Onion ((Allium cepa L) is an important vegetable crop, which has been produced worldwide including of Ethiopia for its daily uses and economic benefits [1]. The onion is recognized as one of the most important vegetable crops cultivated throughout the world since its introduction to the world [2]. It has grown mainly as a food source and used as cousins and value addition for different dishes. The chemical flavonoids, anthocyanins, fructo-oligosaccharides and organosulphur compounds found in the onion is considered as medicinal and health benefits to fight different diseases including cancer, heart and diabetic diseases [2]. The average annual onion production in Ethiopia is about 230,745.2 tons with a productivity of about 9.5 t ha-1, which is very low compared to the potentials the country has (CSA) [3].
Despite its lower productivity, which brings below the world average, onion is becoming the source of livelihood for many peoples who have engaged in production and trading. The main reason for this lower productivity of the crop is most probably due to lack of improved onion, inappropriate agronomic practices and little-given attention to crop production [1].
However, the area under cultivation is increasing from time to time both under rain feed and irrigation conditions due to its economic profitability. Also, an inevitable yield and yield component improvement activities including plant nutrient management, crop water requirements and scheduling programs, plant population densities, and disease and insect pest control systems were identified [1].
The result of the Adaptation trial done by Fadis Agricultural Research Center showed that Melkam gave maximum bulb yield 294.64 qt/ha which means double of the standard check (132.58qt/ha) followed by Bombay Red 224.55qt/ha and Nasik Red 206.69qt/ha, respectively. Thus, Melkam showed good field performance and attractive bulb size and bulb color. However, Nasik has good quality. The objective of this study is to promote Red Bombay and local Onion technology with full package in Babile and fadis. This project aimed at alleviating the problems of low quality Onion obtained from informal seed sectors and ensures the benefits to be obtained from improved Onion varieties [4-7].
Fedis district has the altitude range is from 1200–1600m.a.s.l meters, with a prevalence of low lands. The area receives average annual rainfall of 400-804 mm. The mean monthly temperature of the area is 22.2oC and 32.5oC, respectively. The farm units are small family holdings with an average agricultural land area of less than one hectare. Agriculture is mainly rain-fed.
Babile is located on distance of 31 kms from Harar in the direction of county’s Eastern part. It is bordered by Gursum in Northern, Fedis in south, sumale region in eastern, Harari region and Fedis in western and Jarso in Northwest district. Erer ibada and Ibada Gemechu are located on distance of 33 km from Harari region and Erer Ibada located at 090 10’ 41.5’ north of latitude, 0420 15’ 27.3’ east of longitude and elevation 1274m a.s.l. The climatic condition of this area is almost dry land. It has bimodal nature of rainfall. The socio-economic character of the population in the study area depends on subsistence agriculture.
The activity was conducted in the selected district of East Hararghe Zone for the consecutive two years of the cropping season. Fadis and Babile district were selected based on the potentiality of onion Production and accessibility for close monitoring. Erere Ibada from Babile and Ballina Arba from Fadis district were selected purposively in collaboration with experts and development agents of the Office of Agriculture and Natural resource.
From each kebeles, one FRG (Farmer Research Group) member considering gender and youth consisting of 15 farmers were established and Farmers Research Group (FRG) with the member of 15 (3 male trial farmers and 2 female trial farmers) and 10 farmers work with trial farmers. Member of FRG farmers were selected based on; their interest on technology, willingness to cost sharing like land provision, labor work and willingness innovative experience sharing for the members as well as non-members of target farmers.
One improved treatments Onion (Red Bombay and local) variety, replication-replicate across five trial farmers per PAs. One improved and one local variety were sown on 10 farmers. 10m*10m plot size used. Spacing 20cm between rows and 10cm between plants (10cm* 10cm) gives a higher yield. Fertilizer application rate 100 kg NPS and 150 kg Urea in split 30-45 days after planting is recommended and seed rate 4kg/ha.
Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through personal field observation, individual interview by using checklist and datasheet. Quantitative data such as number of farmers who participated, yield performance, number of stakeholders who participated in training and field days were collected. Qualitative data such as farmers’ feedback and perception toward the new technology were also collected.
Quantitative data was summarized using simple descriptive statistics (Mean, Frequency and Percentage), independent samples t-test. While the qualitative data collected using group discussion and key informant interviews, field observation and oral histories was analyzed using narrative explanation tools and argument. Finally, data from different sources was triangulated to get reliable information.
The bulb yield of the improved Red Bombay and local were variety 22.86, 18.74, 22.00 and 17.92 ton/ha at Ballina Arba and Erer Kebele respectively Table 1.
Tables 2,3.
Table 4.
Score of 1 is given for correct answers and 0 for incorrect answers. As one can observe from Table 5.
The mean score for knowledge test before intervention and after intervention is 5.3 and 6.4 respectively. The result of paired-sample t-test indicates a significant difference between the mean score for knowledge test before intervention and after intervention at 1% significant level. This implies an improvement of farmers’ knowledge regarding the improved onion technologies due to technological intervention Table 6.
The farmers’ criteria were early maturity, Yield, disease tolerance, leaf color, bulb size, bulb shape, bulb skin color and seed set Table 7.
Generally, the bulb yield of Red Bombay and local variety were 22.86 and 18.74ton/ha at Erer, 22 and 17.92 ton/ha at Balina arba, respectively. The average yield performance of Bombay Red and local at both location was statistically significant difference at 1% across the location. The wider promotion of Red Bombay is recommended to reach more farmers and wider area. Based on its maturity, yield, diseases tolerance, Dark green leaf color, medium bulb size, flat Glob bulb shape, light red bulb skin color bombay red varieties was recommended for further scaling up.
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