Aim: To assess the potentials and constraints of production and utilization of white lupin in the
major growing areas and analyze the production, area coverage and productivity trend in Ethiopia.
Study Design: Purposive sampling method was used to select districts and random sampling
procedure followed to select respondents among white lupin producers.
Methodology: Survey was conducted on Feb 2013 at Machakel and Banja districts of Eastern
Gojjam and Awi Zones of Amhara Regional respectively. A sample size of 80 respondents for the
two districts was used. The data was analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software, and descriptive statistics
was used to interpret the results. In the trend analysis, three forecasting models such as linear
trend model, quadratic trend model, and exponential growth model were used to find the best fitted
model for area coverage, production, and productivity of white lupin. Forecasting errors namely
mean absolute percentage error; mean absolute deviation and mean squared deviation were used
as model selection criteria.
Results: The study areas showed significant difference (p<0.001) for production and utilization
practices.
About 82.5% and 66.7% of the respondents at Banja and Machekel districts respectively replied on
consumption of snack as supplementary food. Farmers produce the crop with minimum or no
cultural practices. About (40%) respondents intercrop white lupin with other crops. Farmers use
their own seeds; lack of production packages, late maturity, disease and stepwise postharvest
processing are the major constraints. The quadratic model, due to its lowest values of the
forecasting errors, was best fitted to predict the future estimate of area, production, and productivity
of white lupin.
Conclusion: If the current production practices remain unchanged, decreasing in total area
coverage, production and productivity will continue. Therefore, for better utilization of this potential
crop, the current indigenous farmers’ practices need to be supported by research based
technologies of production and utilization.