Abstract:
The productivity of field pea is low in Ethiopia though the crop has high demand for both local and export markets. The low productivity mainly due to the un availability of quality seed supply system for limited number of improved varieties. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the functioning of field pea seed system and asses’ the seed quality in Enarj Enawuga and Yilmana Densa districts during 2016/17 cropping season. Multi stage purposive and random samplings were employed to select a total of 200 farmers from six kebeles and interviewed using pretested structured questionnaire. Seed samples of two varieties of field pea were also collected from both formal and informal sector and tested for quality in complete randomized design (CRD) with four replications. The study revealed that 96.7% of field pea area was planted with local varieties showing low adoption of improved varieties. The quality of seed samples had significant difference for physical purity, germination and vigour indices among treatments. Farmers seed management pratices enable to maintain and improve their field pea seed quality in both districts. Too low weeding and storage protection practice were observed at Yilmana Densa than Enarj Enawuga district due to a relative poor extension service provided in the area. The speed of germination was better to predict field emergence of the seed lot than the standard germination. Seed-borne fungi such as Ascochyta pisi, Fusarium sp, Phoma sp, Septoria pisi, Colletotrichum sp were found associated with the field pea seed. Among those fungi Ascochyta pisi was the dominant. Currently, the field pea seed system is dominated by the informal sector and a very wide gap exists between the demand and supply of quality seed of improved field pea varieties. This suggested the need to strengthening extension service to promote the adoption of improved field pea varieties and an integrated field pea seed system is needed to be in place to address the seed delivery system in the future
