Asfaw Zemede (Professor)Berhane Menbere2018-07-182023-11-092018-07-182023-11-092017-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9278This study was conducted on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) varieties identified by farmers of South Wollo and East Gojjam. The field study was conducted in two of the main production areas of the species focusing on 12 kebeles (smallest administrative units) distributed in six districts within the two zones of South Wollo and East Gojjam of Amhara Region. The main objective of the study was to investigate on the diversity of common bean landraces (farmers’ varieties) and to know the ethnobotanical values of the crop. The field study was carried out between October 2016 and January 2017. A total of 168 informants comprising 144 general informants and 24 key informants (84 men and 84 women) aged between 19 and 75 years were interviewed. Structured interviews with general informants and semi-structured interviews with key informants, field observations, guided field walk and market surveys were used to collect information at the household level and at market places. Descriptive statistics, informant consensus, preference ranking, ANOVA (analysis of variance), Shannon-Wiener diversity index and t-test were employed for the analysis of the data by using R-software (R-studio) v 3.2.2 and MS Excel 2016 spread sheet. The findings are presented in tables, figures and words. A total of 69 common bean landrace seed samples were collected. The majority of the farmers gave names to their varieties based on morphological traits, seed color, seed taste and maturity time. Interview results indicated that the majority (80%) of the informants asserted that they cultivate local landraces, of which seven distinct farmer-named types of common bean landraces were sorted out. Common bean landraces were mainly cultivated as a sole crop but intercropping was also practiced. The dominant landraces were NECH BOLOQE in the four strata (SM3 of S. Wollo, M2 of S. Wollo, M3 of E. Gojjam and M2 of E. Gojjam) ranging from 70 to 40 % followed by KEYE BOLOQE and DALECHA BOLOQE. TEKUR BOLOQE was found (12 % of occurrence) in M2 of S. Wollo. Informants showed that common bean is an important food item mainly consumed in the form of SHIRO (fine ground grains used in the making of sauces), KIK (split grains for sauce making) and NIFRO (boiled grains). Uses of common bean varieties for human consumption and income generation have statistically significant difference (p<0.05) among varieties. NECH BOLOQE was shown to be extremely important for income generation (98%) whereas KEYE BOLOQE and TEKUR BOLOQE were said to be important for human consumption. The grains of this crop were among the important marketed grains in the local markets at kebele and district levels. Moreover, farmers showed that common bean is an important crop for animal feed, agroecological intensification through intercropping and crop rotation, as medicine and the flowers are foraged by honeybees. Varieties varied significantly (P<0.05) in their resistance to diseases and pests. However, there is no statically significant difference (P>0.05) in resistance to frost among varieties both in S. Wollo and E. Gojjam. The study has confirmed the essential role that traditional farmers play in the development and maintenance of common bean landraces and therefore farmers’ practices need to be backed up and enhanced for effective conservation of the genetic resources found in the study area and elsewhere in the country. Education and awareness raising of the local farmers and further research are needed in order to maintain the landrace diversity and the genetic resources of common bean. Key words: Common bean, diversity, landrace/farmers‟ variety, Ethiopia, farmers‟ knowledgeenCommon beanDiversitylandrace/farmers‟ varietyEthiopia farmers‟ knowledgeThesis