Participatory Variety Selection to Strengthen the Informal Potato Seed System in Southern Ethiopia

摘要

Short communications on practical research or relevant information on agriculture or seed technology are presented in this section. Potato is the world's most important food crop after wheat, rice and maize. It is a cheap, high quality food with goodbalance between proteins and carbohydrates, substantial amounts of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is one of the cheapest sources of energy and gives the highest production of protein per unit land among the four major staple food crops (CIP and FAO, 1995.) Ethiopia possibly has the greatest potential for potato production in Africa because 70% of its arable land, mainly in the highlands above 1500 masl, is believed to be suitable for the crop. FAO estimates that potato production in the country has increased from 280,000 t in 1993 to around 525, 000 t in 2007. In southern Ethiopia, mostly a local variety called Durame is produced, without any improved technologies (fertilizer, etc). Farmers are aware of the potential of the crop and are looking for high-yielding disease-resistant varieties that are responsive to improved production technology.