On Farm Participatory Evaluation and Demonstration of Improved Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) Varieties Under Irrigation Condition in South-Eastern Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, tomatoes are one of the most economically important vegetable crops. However, a number of factors, including a lack of improved and adapted tomato varieties, limit their productivity and production. A field study was conducted during the 2020 -2021 cropping season at Arsi areas, Tiyo, and Zuway Dugda districts and aimed to evaluate the performance of released tomato varieties, on-farm demonstrations, and varietal selection based on farmers’ preferences. Six released tomato varieties, Chali, Melkashola, Melkasalsa, Eshete, ARP-D2, and Fetan were planted on basic plots at farms and replicated at the research station. Data were collected on growth, yield and yield related traits from the mother trials and farmers perception on the demo varietal trials. The analysis of variance revealed that the tested varieties had significant differences (P≤0.05) in yield and yield-related traits. As a result, Gelilema variety had significant marketable yield (55.91 t ha-1) and total yield (65.24 t ha-1), followed by Melkashola variety with marketable yield (47.42 t ha-1) and total yield (59.12 t ha-1). Total fruit yield correlated positively and significantly with marketable yield (0.89), average fruit weight (0.87), number of fruit per cluster (0.65), number of cluster per plant (0.97), and was negatively associated with plant height (-0.05). Farmers' preferred traits, such as higher fruit yield, better disease tolerance, fruit size, shape, transportability, and higher market demand, were used to rank the most preferred varieties at both distinct areas. At Golja kebele, Gelilema was the most preferred and best-performing variety, followed by Melkashola. At Zuway Dugda, Melkashola and Melkasalsa were selected as the first and second choices, respectively. As a result, in order to address the demand of the farming community public agricultural extension and other stakeholders should promote the selected improved tomato varieties from smallholder farmers to large-scale production in the area of study and comparable agro-ecologies.