Large Scale Demonstration of Improved Tef [Eragrostis Tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Variety Bosset for Moisture Stressed Areas of Naedier-Adiet and Tahtay-Maichew Districts of Northern Ethiopia

Tef is a stable food for majority Ethiopians constrained by moisture stress, insect and diseases contributed for low productivity of the crop. In Ethiopia, cluster farming is recently introduced as an extension approach to boost productivity and improve seed production system. The study was carried out with the objective to demonstrate and evaluate the performance and analyze the perception of farmers’ on the improved early maturing tef variety with integrated management practice at a large scale through cluster approach in two moisture stressed areas of Naedier Adiet and Tahitay Maychew districts. A total of 172 interested farmers were selected purposely and each allocated an average area of 0.25 hectare. Data was collected from farmers using quadrant tool sampling method to evaluate yield performance and analyzed using descriptive statistical of mean, standard deviation and Likert scale measurements was used for perception of farmers. An average yield of 1307.59 kg ha-1 was obtained which has a yield advantage over the traditional way tef production. The pre and post harvest perception data also showed the acceptance of the variety based on yield attributes such as earliness to mature, higher yield, tolerance to moisture stress, taste of food and “Injera” quality. Therefore, the variety should be further promoted to large number of farmers under wider cluster areas of similar agro-ecologies.