Assessment of Indigenous Crop Diversity Threat Status in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State
Melak Agajie1* and Dereje Mosisa2
1Assosa Biodiversity Center, Crop and Horticulture Case Team, Agronomist, Ethiopia
2Assosa Biodiversity Center, Botanist, Ethiopia
*Corresponding Author: Melak Agajie, Assosa Biodiversity Center, Crop and Horticulture Case Team, Agronomist, Ethiopia.
Received:
May 25, 2021; Published: June 17, 2021
Abstract
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse crop genetic resources. Thus, the country is one of the Vavilovian centers of origin and diversity for various crops. The study was aimed to assess the threat level of local crop species in the Benishangul Gumuz regional state where there have been high diversity of crops. Data have been collected through field visit and through interview of the local farm communities. The data was collected from 13 districts of the region. From each of the districts two villages were purposively selected. This study reveals, of the 17 crop species local cultivars studied the highest percentage of local cultivar loss is scored by haricot bean (17.86%) followed by maize (14.29%). The least threatened local cultivar scored is 3.75% which is scored by 12 crop species among the total 17 species studied which implies that crop species in the region are under threat of losing land races/farmer varieties through time unless prompt response is taken.
Keywords: Germplasm; Climate Change; Trait; Agro-biodiversity; Subspecies
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