ON FARM DIVERSITY, STATUS OF GENETIC EROSION, AND PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) IN GORO MUTI DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The amount of diversity of a crop species at farmers’ level is usually measured by the number of distinct landraces or farmers’ varieties. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess on-farm diversity, preference traits, production constraints and extent of genetic erosion of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Goro Muti district, East Hararghe, Ethiopia. Common bean cultivating households were purposively selected to provide information about on farm diversity, utilization and status of genetic erosion of common bean in the study area. Data were collected for similarity/ dissimilarity index, preference index, and genetic erosion. Observational data about farmers’ cultivation, production constraints and utilization common bean varieties were collected using structured interview. The result indicated that about fifteen (15) farmers’ varieties were identified by farmers in Goro Muti district localities. The highest similarity coefficient (0.88) was observed between Ire tokuma and Aanagur and Ire tokuma and Chaffee Anani followed by similarity coefficient value (0.88) between Aanagur, and Chaffee Anani (0.83) and between Aanagur and Utuba Muti (0.82). The highest weighted score (1.60) was recorded for seed color followed by pod length (1.56), and resistance to stress (1.50). The highest preference index (6.02) with preference rank 1st was recorded for Jiner, followed by Gobe (4.54), Darban Tola (4.54), and Bosolia (4.54) genotypes with rank 2nd. The genetic integrity was found to be 88 % as genetic erosion was 12%. The farmers’ cultivation and utilization of common bean varieties in the study area demonstrated that most of the farmers (86%) suggested mixed occurrence of common bean varieties. About 99% of the respondents observed <10 varieties of common bean. Intercropping mode of cultivation of common bean was practiced by 94% while 91% of respondents noticed loss of common bean varieties. Most of the respondents (96%) have suggested the use of farmers’ own materials as seed source. The major constraints of common bean cultivation as suggested by the respondents were land scarcity (38%), lack of improved variety (31%), replacement with commercial crop namely khat (19%), and lack of local legume based food processing industry (12%). It can be concluded that farmers prefer common bean varieties mainly based on seed color, conservation efforts need to be undertaken for the least preferred genotypes. Supply of improved varieties to get better yield on small plot of land, enhanced market chain, and food processing industries should be facilitated to overcome common bean production constraints.