Enhancing sesame seed yield through participatory identification and promotion of high-performing irrigated varieties for Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, irrigation-based sesame production is constrained by multiple factors, with the limited availability of improved varieties being a major bottleneck. This study aimed to evaluate the seed yield performance of improved sesame varieties through farmers’ participation. Participatory variety selection followed by demonstration and pre-scaling up of selected varieties was conducted in Metema district during 2019 and 2022-2024 under irrigation, respectively. Seventeen varieties, including a local check, were evaluated to select the best-performing varieties. A mother-baby trial approach with an RCBD design with three replications was used. Agronomic data were collected from the mother trial, while farmers’ varietal and trait preferences were gathered from the baby trial. The demonstration and pre-scaling-up were conducted on farmers’ fields to assess further and identify varieties, and to create demand through promotion. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed in R software and revealed significant differences (p<0.05) among the tested sesame varieties for all traits except branch number. The results revealed significant variation among the evaluated sesame varieties, with the highest seed yield recorded for Ado (2,084 kg ha⁻¹), followed by Adi (1,891.5 kg ha⁻¹). These two varieties also produced the highest number of capsules per plant, while thousand-seed weight ranged from 2.2 g in the local check to 3.7 g in Adi. Based on farmers’ preference assessment, which considered traits such as number of capsules per plant, uniform maturity, plant height, seed color, and overall field performance, Adi was highly preferred due to its superior yield performance, attractive whitish seed color, and market desirability. Consequently, Adi was demonstrated and promoted under farmers’ conditions, which generated considerable interest and demand for its seed. During the pre-scaling phase, Adi produced a mean seed yield of 1,330 kg ha⁻¹ under farmers’ management conditions. Considering its stable performance, preferred seed color, and strong farmer acceptance, Adi was recommended for wider promotion and commercial production under irrigated conditions, while Ado, despite its higher yield potential, requires further evaluation and scaling-up efforts to enhance its adoption.