PRE-EXTENSION DEMONSTRATION AND EVALUATION OF IMPROVED SESAME VARIETIES IN DABO HANA AND BURE DISTRICTS OF BUNO BEDELE AND ILU ABABOR ZONES, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

The demonstration trial was conducted in the 2023 main rainy season in Dabo Hana and Bure districts of Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor zones of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The objectives were to create awareness, identify farmers’ preferences towards sesame varietal selections, and evaluate the yield and economic profitability of improved sesame varieties. Consequently, based on sesame production potential and road availability, four kebeles were selected from both districts. Four improved sesame varieties (Hagalo and Obsa varieties in Dabo Hana district and Dicho and Yale varieties in Bure district) were demonstrated and evaluated along with the local variety. The trials were replicated across twelve demonstration sites, where similar necessary agronomic practices were applied. Yield, farmers' preferences, cost incurred, and profit obtained data were collected, where descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, matrix ranking, and partial budget were used to analyze the collected data. Descriptive analysis results revealed that the mean yield of 987.80, 575.00, and 673.62 kg ha-1 was obtained from Hagalo, Obsa, and local varieties, respectively at Dabo Hana district, whereas 762.23, 442.07, and 493.34 kg ha-1 were obtained from Dicho, Yale, and local varieties, respectively at Bure district. As a result, a statistically significant mean yield difference at (P<0.05) was observed. In terms of yield advantages, 46.6 and 54.5% of yield advantages were obtained from Hagalo and Dicho varieties over the local variety, respectively. Furthermore, the farmers’ varietal preference matrix ranking shows Hagalo variety was preferred by the farmers in Dabo Hana district, whereas Dicho variety was selected in Bure district, having 4870 and 4168% MRR, respectively. Therefore, Hagalo and Dicho varieties were recommended for further scale-up and scale-out works in the study area and other similar agroecologies. Keywords: Demonstration, Farmers preferences, Sesame variety, Training, Yield advantage