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. Key words: Adaptive capacity, agroclimatic variations, diversity, Ethiopia, farmers’ selection criteria, livelihoods, sorghum bicolor landraces, synergism.
Highlights
Since agriculture began, farmers have been domesticators, users and managers of diversification and expansion of the cultivated crop genetic resources that they manage and own
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 exhibiting various and significant magnitudes of relatedness (Biomass and Market – r=0.72, R2 =0.52, P
There are synergistic functions among the farmers‟ selection criteria that operate in variable degrees of relatedness to achieve multiple livelihood and environmental benefits for the farmers through the generation and management of on-farm sorghum landrace diversity (Table 3; Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Summary
Farmers have been domesticators, users and managers of diversification and expansion of the cultivated crop genetic resources that they manage and own. “Traditional farmers”, as used in this paper, are identified as „farmers who grow a diversity of crops on highly heterogeneous agroclimatic environments using dynamic time-tested knowledge and practices developed by their predecessors, along with their own ingenuity, to meet their varied livelihoods. Their farm sizes tend to be small and the farmers use animal and human power, inherited approaches and strategies, and ingenuity to meet the challenges presented by natural factors (biotic and abiotic stresses). These „traditional farmers‟ in their diverse agricultural landscapes, and especially in the world‟s centers of crop origin and diversity, have generated and maintained a wealth of crops and crop varieties that continue to have local, national, regional and global importance (Meyer et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
