FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND SEED QUALITY EVALUATION OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)IN EAST ARSI ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Wheat is one of the major cereal crops worldwide contributing to global food security and is the second most important food staple crop in Ethiopia. Wheat has considered to be a vital source of energy and protein for the people. Arsi Zone is Sustainable availability of good quality seed, Distribution and well- functioning seed system is vital development issue. The study was conducted with the objectives to generate to assess farmers’ perception of wheat seed quality in East Arsi zone; and to determine the quality of different wheat seeds from various seed sources during 2022 cropping season. The study consisted of survey was conducted in East Arsi Zone Hetosa, Chole and Lemubilbilo Districts. Three hundred sixty-four respondents were selected randomly from the three districts and six kebeles. The study identified that farmers used both Informal and Formal seed sources 48 %( n=175) from Formal and 52 %( n=189) from Informal sources for their wheat production. Majority of the respondents from 364 respondents 218 (60%) respondents had no concepts about seed quality. although seeds obtained from the formal seed system had from 364 respondents 364 (100%) about purity strongly agree, there are limitations in terms of availability and timeliness. According respondents wheat quality seed produced through contract farming are insufficient. The results obtained from the laboratory experiment showed that purity was significantly influenced by seed source.EABC and OSE both of seed enterprise seed samples had the highest purity than the Farmers sample seed for all varieties. Thousand seed weights had significantly difference by seed source and variety. The highest mean of thousand kernels weights (42.442g) was recorded seed sample of Daka variety obtained from farmers saved seed and the lowest (38.92g) seed sample of Kekeba variety. Moisture content, germination percentage, speed of germination, seedling shoot and root length, seedling vigour index I and II were significant by variety. The results from the field experiment revealed that Grain Yield was significantly influenced by both of seed source and variety. The maximum grain yield (4.4 t ha-1) Daka variety seeds from farmers seed source. And the lowest (3.4 t ha-1) Kekeba variety seeds from farmers. Days to50 % flowering, days to 90 % physiological maturity, height of plants, spike length, number of seeds per spike, thousand seed weight, biomass were significantly influenced by variety. In general, this study shows the presence as data from respondents farmers are using one type of seed for about >3 consecutive times without any change. However, they said that there is greater performance of Grain yield in the field condition and greater One thousand grain weight in the laboratory with contract farming of enterprise seed that they took each growing seasons. Therefore to combat these problems, it is better to apply:- Strict follow-up should be applied, providing quality seed for farmers on time, further study should be needed on quality and farming methods and on genetic quality of the seed.