PERFORMANCE AND FARMERS PARTICIPATORY SELECTION OF COWPEA VARIETIES IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Farmers’ participation in varietal selection process is important to collect the actual feedbacks on their performance in the field and hastens promotion and popularization of technologies. The study was conducted during 2016-2017 main cropping seasons in Gofa district of southern Ethiopia. <strong>Objective.</strong><em> </em>To assess and select superior cowpea variety (ies) that meet needs of farmers and preferences through farmers’ participation<em>. </em><strong>Methodology. </strong>Data on agronomic traits were collected on plant and plot basis whereas at maturity and post harvest stages, farmers were requested to evaluate each variety. Eight cowpea varieties were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates on the Gofa research station and additional unreplicated block at three nominated farmers’ fields from each testing site. <strong>Results.</strong> Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed the existence of significant differences (p&lt;0.05) among the tested varieties for all the measured agronomic traits. Combined mean values showed that Brazil-3 (1.65 t ha^-1), Brazil-2 (1.62 t ha^-1), Kenketi (1.53 t ha^-1), and bole (1.52 t ha^-1) were high-yielding varieties with a yield advantage of 3.9 to 12.2 % more than the check variety white wonderer trailing. In case of farmers’ evaluation using direct matrix and pair-wise ranking methods showed that Kenketi, Brazil-3, Brazil-2, and Bole<em> </em>were the most preferred varieties. The rank correlation analysis between varieties’ ranked by farmers and the varieties’ grain yield rank was positive across the tested villages.<em> </em><strong>Implication</strong>.<em> </em>These results lead to identify the farmers’ screening criteria needs to be incorporated into new varieties being developed which will contribute considerably to increased acceptance of improved cowpea varieties among smallholder farmers across the growing areas of southern Ethiopia.<strong>Conclusion</strong>. The results of this study have confirmed the need for researchers to incorporate farmers’ preferred traits in cowpea improvement programmes. The study also identified cowpea varieties Brazil-3, Brazil-2, Kenketi and Bole as potential ones that can be recommended for further demonstration, popularization, and dissemination on farmers’ fields to improve cowpea productivity in southern Ethiopia.</p>