Teshome, A. and Torrance, K. and Breuer, L
(2018)
Farmers’ synergistic selection criteria and practices for
livelihood security through the sustainable uses of onfarm
Sorghum landrace diversity, Ethiopia.
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13 (33).
pp. 1674-1688.
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Abstract
The relationships among the multiple criteria that farmers in this study area, the north Shewa and south
Wollo regions of Ethiopia, use to select which sorghum landraces to grow were examined in order to
assess the extent of synergistic relatedness among them as they fulfilled their roles in meeting the
farmers’ goals. Surveys were conducted on 300 randomly selected farmers’ fields during the 2011/2012
cropping season. In each field, the farmers identified the sorghum landraces encountered at 5m
intervals along transect lines, spaced 10 m apart; they were also asked to specify the reasons (selection
criteria) for growing each landrace. Pearson correlation, t-Tests and Linear Regression analyses were
conducted on the twelve most common selection criteria identified. These statistical analyses
demonstrated that the individual selection criteria exhibited various degrees of independent
functionality while also exhibiting various and significant magnitudes of relatedness (Biomass and
Market – r=0.72, R2 =0.52, P<0.00001; Grain Yield and Market- r=0.73, R2 =0.54, P<0.00001; and Biomass
and Grain Yield- r=0.79, R2 =0.63, P<0.00001). These results indicate that the farmers’ selection criteria
reflect farmers’ needs, knowledge and practices; and also that the heterogeneous adaptive responses
of both the genetic resources and the agroclimatic conditions provide for livelihood and environmental
benefits. These correlations among the selection criteria will have value when designing and
redesigning participatory varietal selection and breeding practices for future development of crop
varieties with the adaptive capacities to respond to biophysical variations and sociocultural
preferences. It is thus crucial to appropriately recognize and to incorporate the continuing roles of
these traditional farmers and their selection criteria in crop enhancement programmes and policies for
food and livelihood security.
| Item Type: |
Article
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Adaptive capacity, agroclimatic variations, diversity, Ethiopia, farmers‟ selection criteria,
livelihoods, sorghum bicolor landraces, synergism |
| Author Affiliation: |
Seeds of Trust Consultancy, 1750 Ainsley Dr., Ottawa, ON, K2C 0T2, Canada |
| Subjects: |
Plant Production |
| Divisions: |
Sorghum |
| Depositing User: |
Mr T L Gautham
|
| Date Deposited: |
28 Aug 2018 07:53 |
| Last Modified: |
28 Aug 2018 07:53 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/15581 |
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