Participatory assessment of production threats, farmers’ desired traits and selection criteria of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties: opportunities for faba bean breeding in Ethiopia

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop used as a major source of dietary protein for subsistence farmers and of foreign currency for Ethiopia. However, yields have remained low, thus threatening food security. The objectives of this study were to assess major threats to faba bean production, determine farmers’ varietal preferences and selection criteria, and assess farmers’ perceptions of faba bean diseases. Data were collected from 240 households through a survey and participatory rural appraisal methodology. Major threats to faba bean production were chocolate spot disease, which was a persistent problem in the Ethiopian highlands, and lack of improved seed. Many farmers (>85%) recognised symptoms of chocolate spot disease but had various names for it. Disease severity was associated with growing susceptible local landrace varieties which resulted in low yields (0.56 to 2.8 t ha-1). About 66.4% of the farmers preferred local landraces for their adaptability to the environment, tolerance to frost, early maturity, good food taste and straw yield, while improved varieties grown by 10% of the farmers were preferred for high grain yield and bigger grain size. Therefore, opportunities exist to improve the preferred landraces for yield and disease resistance through breeding.