Farmers’ perception for classification and genetic erosion of yams landraces in Ethiopia: Implications for Breeding and Conservation

Understanding on-farm classification and rates of loses of crop genetic resources are crucial for breeding and conservation. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ insight for classification, quantify the rate of landraces loss and identify major factor that causes of genetic erosion on yam in Southwest Ethiopia for conservation.

A participatory rural appraisal study was conducted in 22 kebeles from seven districts of southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from 240 yam growers using a semi-structured questionnaire, focus group and key informant discussions and field observations.

Farmers’ classification system on yam varied and depends on the domestication status, sex type, used value and maturity. The rate of genetic erosion at district and kebele levels varied from 28.80% in Yeki to 57.93% in Kersa districts and 0% in Gubea muleta to 25% in Mehal sheko kebeles with an average rate of 44.48% and 14.1%, respectively. Number of farmers growing landraces decreased drastically in all surveyed districts in the past decades. Low attention given to the crop (95%), drought (93%), porcupine attack (90%), shortage of farm land (74%) and dilution of the crops by improved technologies (72%) were the prominent factors for ending landrace cultivation. Moreover, farmers’ preference for yield potential and cash crops subsequently reduced the chance of maintaining landraces. To conserve the landraces at district/kebele level, 30.2%, 52.6% and 15.2% of respondents mentioned provide training on the value, use, production of yams; genetic enrichment between district/kebele and collect landraces from different markets, respectively. The remaining 2.0% of the farmers had no suggestion for conservation of yams.

Yam variety development programs should discourse the farmers classification system and identified factors for erosion for breeding and conservation in Southwest Ethiopia.