On farm cultivar diversity of Enset (Ensete Ventricosum W.) in Southern Ethiopia

This study was initiated to explore farmers ’ strategy on choice of enset cultivar mix and features pertaining to farm cultivar diversity. The survey was undertaken on eight geographical zones in southern Ethiopia. Enset is an important food crop, after cereals and pulses, with coverage of 25% of arable land in the region. Primary data were collected from enset producing sample farmers. The crop supports 6.7 persons per household in 0.71 ha of land holdings on average. Large number of enset cultivars (312) was recorded with an average of 10.2 cultivars per individual holding. Diversity indices have shown that there exists high diversity of cultivars (on the basis of local vernaculars) with few cultivars appeared to be highly abundant with less common and rare cultivars characterize the distribution- abundance pattern. Uneven distribution and abundance of few cultivars suggest their relative importance and provide evidence for deliberate clonal mix for on- farm conservation. Farmers had also prioritized and rated traits/values for selection and maintenance of cultivars and the prime ones, among many others, were identified. The traits comprise disease resistance, early maturity, kocho quality, kocho yield and tolerance to drought. They are the decisive factors shaping the distribution-abundance pattern of cultivars. Nonetheless, several biotic and abiotic stresses, according to respondents, were confronting on-farm diversity management, particularly production and productivity due to varied level of susceptibility to shocks, while some cultivars celebrated for distinctive merits encountered risk of extermination. The association of farmers’ choice of values/traits with other cultural, socioeconomic and biophysical factors needs to be investigated further. Efforts aimed at maintaining enset landraces need to be enhanced and heightened via combination of approaches (gene banks, breeding programs and in-situ conservation). Due emphasis has to be given to farmers ascribed values/traits and resistance mechanisms to various shocks in landrace deployment efforts as part of enset variety development strategy

Multivariate analysis of morphological variation in enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) reveals regional and clinal variation in germplasm from south and south western Ethiopia

Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is cultivated by millions of people across Ethiopia in diverse agro-ecological and cultural settings, selecting for various agronomic traits. However, as for other underutilized crops, our understanding of the diversity and utilization of enset remains limited. This work sought to redress this limitation by estimating morphological diversity among enset accessions collected from major enset growing regions, including across altitudinal gradients. In total, landraces comprising 387 accessions originating from nine regions of Ethiopia were characterized using multivariate analysis of 15 quantitative traits. Cluster analysis grouped accessions in to five distinct classes with maximum number of accessions 338 in cluster (I) and minimum 1 in cluster (V). The clustering of accessions did not show grouping on the basis of region of origin. The first four principal components accounted for ~74% of the total variance. Linear discriminant analysis indicated that around 40.8% (160 accessions) and 45.2% (175 accession) of the studied accessions were correctly classified to their respective regions of origin altitude groups, respectively. The breadth of phenotypic differences in these 15 traits suggests significant degrees of genetic variation. These traits will be exploited to identify potential donors for future enset improvement efforts

Estimating yield components, limiting factors, and yield gaps of Enset in Ethiopia using easily measurable above-ground plant traits

The quantification of yield for different enset products has mainly been based on farmers’ estimates, which are often inaccurate. Several allometric models have been developed to overcome this challenge. Building on past work, the current study developed allometric models for enset fiber, kocho, and bula yield estimation. Enset yield limiting factors and associated yield gaps were also determined. In this study, above-ground growth and yield (kocho, bula, and fiber) traits of five-year-old plants of two widely grown enset landraces, ‘Unjame’ and ‘Siskela’, were assessed in farmers’ fields at three contrasting altitude sites. Except for bula, a minor yield component, correlation, and PCA analysis showed strong association between the above-ground and yield traits. Allometric equations based on the above-ground traits significantly (R2 = 25 to 68%) explained the variation in the yield traits. This study, for the first time, generated allometric models that can reliably estimate enset fiber yield. Leaf length, petiole length, and plant height are especially good for estimating fiber and kocho yields. The performance of models for bula were poor possibly due to the very low bula yields per plant. Soil chemical characteristics differently influenced enset yield attributes. For example, improving K supply can potentially enhance fiber yield. Higher yield gaps were observed for bula, with P accounting for the highest yield gaps across yield traits. Through careful targeting, the different yield attributes can thus be enhanced. This and previous studies clearly show that non-destructive enset plant assessments can provide solid information for quick and easy yield assessments for various traits during e.g., agronomic, germplasm evaluation, soil fertility enhancement, and intercropping trials

Enset landrace diversity in major enset growing regions of Southern Ethiopia

Enset [Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman] is an important food security crop of the Southern Ethiopian highlands. The cultivation of enset is characterised by a wide variety of landraces, suitable to varying agro-ecological conditions and with multiple uses by households. The objective of this paper is to present enset landrace diversity, characteristics and uses in Ethiopia. The study was done through interviews with 375 households covering 20 communities (kebeles) and eight ethnic groups, along an altitudinal range of 1,500 to 3,000 masl across the main enset-producing belt in Southern Ethiopia. A total of 296 locally named enset landraces were recorded. Landrace presence was mostly constrained at the kebele and zone levels, with limited overlap in landrace names across these boundaries. Moderate to high enset landrace diversity was observed on farms across the entire study region. Cultivating a variety of landraces not only allowed for diversified uses, but increases the likelihood of retained yield and food security under variable environmental circumstances. Farmer experience and indigenous knowledge allow for the selection of specific landraces suited to prevalent agro-ecological conditions. We identified a perception bias in the attribution of landrace agro-ecological characteristics, with farmer insight often dependent on the environmental conditions that the local community was exposed to. We underscore the importance of research-based characterisation of enset landraces, to ensure optimal cultivation of this food security crop in changing climatic conditions

Achievements, experiences and strategies on enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) research in Ethiopia

Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is a perennial, herbaceous and monocarpic crop belonging to the family Musaceae. Enset based farming is an indigenous and sustainable agricultural system in Ethiopia with a total of 312,171.98 hectares of land under cultivation. The production and productivity of enset is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. Enset research activities have been initiated since the 1970s at different institutions. Currently, the research is nationally coordinated by Areka Agricultural Research Centre (AARC). Accordingly, the centre has been coordinating more than fifty research activities on five research objectives. The objective of this paper was to review the status of enset research and development, and provide strategies for transforming the sector. With regard to the crop improvement, the following have been sorted out: clonal identity using farmers’ classification, collection and maintenance of enset germplasm, morphological and molecular characterization of enset clone, evaluation of enset varieties for drought tolerance and best quality and yield of kocho and amicho. Regarding the agronomy part, studies on comparison of whole, halved and quartered corms for planting, frequency of transplanting, spacing for planting enset on permanent field and soil fertility management have been carried out. Other attempts were also made on epidemiology and pathogenicity of EBW, and identification and control of other pests and diseases such as root mealy bug, and identification of some tolerant clones. Technologies on enset processing were developed such as: enset decorticator, squeezer and grater and all these findings and technologies have been well documented in the form of manuals, posters and leaflet forms and distributed to stakeholders and end users across enset producing zones. In order to sustain the benefits of the research and development, the project is organizing training programs and extension activities to sensitize and enhance capacity building of the farmers.Keywords/phrases: Diversity, Enset, Enset Bacterial Wilt (EBW), Genetic resources, Strategie

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) landrace database

<p>The establishment of a comprehensive landrace database for Enset holds paramount importance in advancing the field of Enset breeding and ensuring food security in regions where it is a staple crop. Landraces represent the rich genetic diversity of Enset, encompassing a multitude of locally adapted varieties. Such a database serves as a repository of invaluable genetic information, enabling breeders to access a diverse array of traits, including disease resistance, drought tolerance, and agronomic adaptability. This genetic treasure trove allows for the development of Enset cultivars tailored to specific environmental conditions and socio-economic needs. Moreover, it aids in the preservation of traditional knowledge and practices surrounding Enset cultivation, which is deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage of many communities. In essence, a landrace database for Enset not only bolsters breeding efforts but also safeguards the genetic legacy of this vital crop and empowers local farmers with resilient and productive varieties, ultimately contributing to enhanced food security and sustainable agriculture.</p><p>For this purpose, an initial landraces database has been meticulously curated through an extensive process that includes literature searches and expert interviews. This database represents the first crucial step towards harnessing the vast genetic diversity of Enset landraces for breeding and research purposes. As part of our ongoing efforts, a comprehensive analysis of these landraces, their traits, and their geographical distributions is currently underway. The findings and insights derived from this analysis will be presented in a forthcoming manuscript, contributing to the growing body of knowledge surrounding Enset landraces and their pivotal role in shaping the future of Enset breeding and food security.</p&gt

Xanthomonas wilt of enset in Ethiopia: Geographical spread, impact on production systems and the effect of training on disease management practices

Xanthomonas wilt of enset is a major bacterial disease affecting the entire enset-growing belt in the southern Ethiopian highlands, impacting food security and livelihoods of small-holder subsistence farmers. Through extensive interviews and field validation visits with 354 households covering 19 communities (kebeles), we show 70% of the farms to present current and past enset Xanthomonas wilt infections, with a median of 18% cumulative plant loss across affected years since disease appearance. Training by extension services proved critical for building up farmers’ knowledge on disease management, the effective implementation of disease management, and farmers’ persistence to continue with enset production even when dealing with widespread infestations. After receiving training, farmers were ten times more likely to implement targeted hygienic practices and only half as likely to implement non-recommended cultural practices. Nevertheless, training in disease management did not guarantee consistent implementation by farmers. Farmers remained reluctant to dispose of infected plants, a critical part of Xanthomonas wilt management. Moreover, farmers mostly applied disease management practices once infected plants are observed on the farm, but were unaware of preventive approaches. Extension services had also not reached all communities, with 64% of the households not having received training at the time of the survey

Enset Production System Diversity across the Southern Ethiopian Highlands

Enset is a staple crop of the southern Ethiopian highlands. Small-holder farmers cultivate enset as part of mixed subsistence farming systems, in which enset provides substantial food security services. While its cultivation is unique to this region, enset production systems take on many forms, varying with environmental and agronomic conditions, crop diversity and (co-)staples produced, the importance of enset for the household, and socio-economic and cultural differences. Through extensive interviews with 375 households covering 20 communities, along an altitudinal range of 1500 to 3000 masl across the main enset-producing belt, the diversity in enset production systems was assessed. We show that the size of enset-producing land holdings and the overall cultivated farmland decreased with altitude. The economic status of households however drives the proportion of land allocated to enset, with relatively more land (45%) allocated to the cultivation of enset in poorer households compared to medium (38%) and to richer (23%) households. The food crop diversity, with an average of 6.4 different food crop species on a farm (ranging from 2 to 15 crops), did not vary with the wealth status of the households or with altitude. Enset-derived food items were a main component of multiple daily meals for most households, complemented with other crops produced on the farm. Supplemental food purchases mainly included meat and bread products, although the purchasing power of enset-growing households is predominantly low. The co-staples grown varied with altitude, according to crop productive cultivation boundaries. Maize was an important co-staple observed across the entire investigated altitudinal range. At the mid to upper altitudes, wheat and barley often supplemented or substituted maize as the main cereal crop, while at the mid to lower altitudes, teff was produced in addition to maize. Coffee was the main cash crop grown up to altitudes of 2300 m. Root and tuber crops, and legumes had a more moderate importance in these systems. At lower altitudes, yam, sweet potato and taro were the main roots and tubers produced, which shifted to Irish potatoes at the mid to high altitudes. The importance of beans was higher in several high-altitude kebeles. The food crop diversity, combined with livestock rearing are key for the self-reliance of the small-holder subsistence farms. The need for increased enset cultivation was highlighted by the farmers to ensure food availability and food security with population growth. On the other hand, enset cultivation was mainly threatened by Xanthomonas wilt