VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF TEFF: THE CASE OF SHEBEL BERENTA DISTRICT, EAST GOJJAM ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ming bean (Vigna radiata L.), is a recently introduced grain legume crop with high potential uses and export demand. However poor crop management practices, including improper NPSB fertilization rate and absence of improved varieties contributed to low productivity in the study area. Hence a field experiment was conducted in Cheha district, Gurage Zone to evaluate the effect of blended NPSB fertilizer rates on the yield and yield components of mung bean varieties. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. There were 16 treatment combinations, comprising two mung bean varieties (NVL-1 and Rasa) and eight blended NPSB fertilizer rates (0, 25, 50, 75,100, 125, 150 and 175 kg ha-1). The results showed that the highest values for most growth parameters and yield components were obtained with the application of 175 kg ha-1 NPSB. Results from the main effect of NPSB fertilizer rates indicated that the highest values for plant height (75.83), total number of branches (8.43), total number of nodules (22.91 and 22.6), number of effective nodules (13.41and 13.01) hundred seed weight (35.5g) and above ground dry biomass (5606.3 kg ha-1) were obtained. The interaction between variety and NPSB rate significantly influenced several growth and yield traits. The combination of Rasa variety with 175 kg ha-1 NPSB resulted in the highest days to 50% flowering (55.66 days),days to 90%physiological maturity (88.33 days), number of pod per plant (31), number of seed per pod(13.91), grain yield (1403.33 kg ha-1) and harvest index (24.97%).The partial budget analysis indicated that the combination of rasa variety with 175 kg ha1 NPSB gave the highest net benefit (48,928 Birr ha-1) with 1113.2% marginal rate of return. Therefore, the use of 175 kg ha-1 NPSB fertilizer with Rasa variety are recommended for optimal mung bean yield and economic benefit in the study area and similar agro ecology. These findings provide valuable insights for farmers and researchers to enhance mung bean production and address yield limitations in Ethiopia. However, since the result is only on one season and one location, further research is recommended to be carried out across more seasons and locations.