In-Situ (On-Farm) Maize (Zea mays) Landrace Diversity and Its Loss in Heban Arsi District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Maize is an important cereal crop in Ethiopia as a source of both food and cash. In study area, it is the most important crop in terms of production and contributes significant value to economy and social development. The aim of study was to identify constraints that contribute for in-situ loss and document maize (Zea mays) landrace diversity distribution in Heban Arsi District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study was conducted in six kebeles of Heban Arsi District which were chosen randomly from which 372 farmers were selected. Stratified proportional probability sampling technique was used to divide and allocate the sample size to each of six selected kebele. Data for the study were collected using questionnaires, field observation, interview, and focus group discussions. Then the data were analyzed and calculated using Microsoft excel. Then descriptive statistical method was applied to interpret the data. In total 12 on-farms maize varieties, 3 landrace and 9 improved varieties were mentioned by farmers in the study area. Among improved varieties, BH-541, BH-640, BH-645, BH-666, BH-661, BH-660, Limmu, Damote and Tabore were the most common dominant varieties in the past three years ago in the study area. This study also indicates that from 11 total landrace that were used by local farmers before two decades.From which only 3 (27.27%) maize landraces namely; “Shaye”, “Shone “and “Jarman( Bilfee)” were presently cultivated due to their unique end-use quality, disease resistances and wide adaptation to changing environments than rest landrace. The rest were lost from on-farm due to different factors. The identified major factors that contributed to production reduction for on farm maize variety and loss of maize landraces was introduction of improved varieties with agricultural modernization, market prices, lack of policy support and poor yield of maize landraces.The loss of genetic diversity of maize landrace in the study area was computed as 63.53%.This indicates that there was progressive decline of maize landrace in study area.About 20 years ago the farmers cultivated 90% maize landraces in the study area. However, numbers of farmers growing maize landraces presently are greatly decreased. At present 0.54% of sampled household were cultivating maize landraces only, 1.6% cultivate maize landrace along with improved and 97.85% cultivating only improved varieties. Final the study underscore the importance of strengthening conservation methods t o prevent genetic erosion of maize landraces, for examples through local seed supply system.