An Onfarm Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) was carried out at Tselemti district and Medebay zana, Laelay adiabo districts with the objective of identifying adaptable and most farmers’ preferred quality protein maize (QPM) variety for the areas. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design as mother trial farmers used as replications. Twenty farmers were sampled and provided with four different improved maize varieties i.e BHQPy-545, MHQ-138 and BHQP-548 were tested against farmer’s commercial variety, Melkasa-2. These hybrid varieties belong to the early and medium maturity group and are suited for the dry agro ecologies. Participatory variety selection using mother and baby trial methodology was applied in the study areas and used as a means evaluating released improved QPM varieties and for obtaining farmers input and feedback on the selection of new maize varieties that are in advanced stages of development. Data were collected using individual interviews, participant observation and group discussions at two stages; maturity and after harvesting. The results of analysis revealed that a significant difference among the varieties for grain yield trait at (P<0.05). The results also revealed that farmers’ preferences in some cases coincide with the researchers’ selection. So, based on researcher’s experimentation and farmers’ evaluation BHQPY-545 was the highest yielder and was rated highly by almost all of the host participate farmers.

Keywords: Grain Yield, Mother and Baby Trial, Quality Protein Maize and Participatory Variety Selection