Yield improvement of cow pea through demonstration of improved variety (Bekur) with improved production technologies in Tanqua-Abergelle and Saharti-Samre Districts, Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

This demonstration was conducted in 2016/17 production season in two purposively selected major cow pea producing areas namely Hadnet and Nebar-Hadnet kebelles from Tanqau-Abergelle and Saharti-Samre districts, respectively. The major objective of this research was to demonstrate high yielding improved cow pea variety so as to increase productivity of cow pea. The specific objectives were to estimate partial budget analysis and collect farmers’ perception on improved cow pea variety versus local cultivar. For this study, 35 sample farmers (18 from Hadnet and 17 from Nebar-Hadnet) kebelles were purposively selected based on their willingness to participate in cow pea demonstration. The average grain yield obtained from the improved cow pea variety and local cultivar at Hadnet and Nebar-Hadnet kebelles/locations were (10.61 and 14.06 qt/ha) and (7.17 and 9.1 qt/ha), respectively. These shows 47.9% and 54.5% grain yield increment over the local cultivar, respectively. The average straw yield obtained from the improved cow pea variety and local cultivar at Hadnet and Nebar-Hadnet kebelles/locations were (28.64 and 33.38 qt/ha) and (26.58 and 30.35 qt/ha), respectively. These shows 7.8% and 9.9% straw yield increment over the local cultivar, respectively. The average gross income generated from grain and straw yield of improved cow pea variety and local cultivar at Hadnet and Nebar-Hadnet kebelles/locations were (14,045.04 and 17,079.98 ETB/ha) and (9,642.84 and 11,075.79 ETB/ha), respectively. These shows 45.7% and 54.2% gross income increment over the local cultivar, respectively. The partial budget analysis results indicate that improved cow pea technology was highly profitable compared to local cultivar in both kebelles/locations. Based on farmers’ perception analysis result, except the attribute of straw yield, most of the respondents had favored the improved cow pea variety (Bekur) in its grain yield, maturity, pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed uniformity, seed color, marketability, pests resistance, taste of food and time of cooking than the local cultivar (Adengur). Hence, farmers should produce high yielding and early maturing improved cowpea variety that can generated more income instead of producing low yielding, late maturing and less income generating local cow pea cultivar. Besides, further popularization and scaling out of the improved cow pea variety (Bekur) in a similar agro-ecology should be done by the research center and office of agriculture and rural development of the respective districts.