Assessment of Farmers’ Criteria for Common Bean Variety Selection: The case of Umbullo Watershed in Sidama Zone of the Southern Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

Participatory variety selection (PVS) trials were conducted in 2004 and 2005 in
Umbullo watershed of Sidama zone in the Southern region of Ethiopia to evaluate the
performance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties and to assess farmers’ criteria for
bean variety selection, and thereby identify the most important farmers’ criteria for future bean
improvement work in the region. Six varieties including the local check were used for the study.
Mother and baby design was employed and the trials were replicated over farmers. Yield data
was subjected to analysis of variance and there was significant difference (p<0.01) among the
varieties. GL and GLY interaction effects were also found to be significant (p<0.05). Awash-1
was the best genotype followed by Omo-95. But the farmers’ selection criteria were beyond
yield and most farmers gave priority for qualitative traits. Accordingly, five qualitative traits
were ranked by farmers as the best criteria that are better than yield. These are seed color,
drought tolerance, disease and pest resistance, marketability and seed size. Almost all farmers in
the study area preferred Ibado as a number one variety due to its seed color (red speckled), seed
size (large), demand in the market (high), early maturity (<90 days) and relatively good yield (>2
tons ha-1). The local variety was ranked second due to its seed color (light red) and marketability.
Therefore, our future bean improvement program should target at developing varieties that fulfill
farmers’ preferences especially for home consumption and local market.