Garlic (Allium sativm L.) is the most widely used crop among cultivated Allium species in Ethiopia andit has a wide range of climatic and soil adaptation. Production of the crop is confronted with a number of problems and the total production and productivity in the country is low. Among many contributing factors, lack of improved varieties and garlic rust are the major ones. In view of this, an experiment was carried out to screening garlic germplasm for yield and diseases tolerance at Debre Markos University College of Agriculture and Natural Resource research field during 2013/14-2016/2017. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The result of the study showed high heritability together with high and medium genetic advance for days to physiological maturity, bulb weight, clove number, clove weight and total bulb yield between germplasms and significant variation among the germplasms tested with regard to plant height (cm), leaf length, (cm), maturity date, leaf number, bulb weight (g), clove number, clove weight (g), bulb diameter (cm) and total bulb yield (kg/ha). Different germplasms resulted in better performance with respect to recorded parameters. Germplasms 5 and 18 were found to be superior followed by germplasms 13 and 38. In addition, they recorded maximum plant height, leaf length, bulb weight, clove weight, bulb diameter, total yield, shorter maturity date and moderately susceptibility to rust. The result generally indicated that germplasms G5 (7640 kg), G18 (6929 kg), G38 (4626 kg) and G13 (4601 kg) are promising germplasm in the study area. It will be good to repeat the experiment at multi locations for National Variety Trail test.
Medicinal plants play important roles in human and animals disease treatment. 1000 medicinal plant species are identified and reported in the Ethiopian Flora. They contribute and is more preferable for new drug development. Ethiopia has the potential to become an important source country, given the diversity of plants and the rich traditional knowledge regarding their use. The main sources of medicinal plants for utilizers are the wild forests. There is also cultivation practice of medicinal plants in home garden. About 80% of human and 90% of livestock population in Ethiopia depends on utilization of medicinal plants for primary health care. The knowledge transfer of medicinal plants in Ethiopia is largely oral. Most parts of medicinal plants commonly used are leaves and roots. Utilization of leaves for drug preparation is important for conservation of medicinal plants since harvesting leaves may not cause detrimental effect on the plants compared to the root or whole plant collections. Medicinal plants play a crucial role in health care needs in Ethiopia, because modern health care do not have adequate and equitable health service. Moreover, they depend on medicinal plants due to financial limitations related to rapid population growth and poor economic performance. In Ethiopia the market for essential oils of medicinal plants is very high and increasing in alarming rate. In the year 2011, 1,596.5 tons of essential oils of medicinal plants was imported and more than 30 million USD spent. Through increasing production potential and modernizing the sector of medicinal plants, they play a great role to substitute import and export. Medicinal plants have great potential to contribute to economic development and poverty alleviation in Ethiopia. Environmental degradation, deforestation, agricultural expansion over exploitation and population growth is the principal threats to medicinal plants in Ethiopia.
In developing countries, food systems are mainly characterized by unorganized, traditional supply chains, and limited market infrastructure. Bulk quantity of the harvested produce is lost every year because of the absence of proper postharvest handling and management practices. The current study was conducted to estimate and identify the major causes for postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Debre Markos, north-western Ethiopia. Forty respondents who were retailing fruits and vegetables were randomly selected and qualitative and quantitative data were collected by using direct market observation and semistructured questioners. The result of the present study revealed significant differences between sociodemographic factors, handling practices, and postharvest loss. Educational status, selling experience, and packaging material have a significant relationship with postharvest loss. A significant difference was obtained among the transportation methods used, the selling place, storage methods, and materials. The result also indicated that fewer than 20 percent of respondents practiced selling fruits and vegetables in the resident mini shop. The majority of damaged produce was sold at a discount price. Retailers do not have formal knowledge of postharvest handling practices. The average postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables were estimated to be five to eighty-three percent of the market share. Mainly, during retailing, rotting, mechanical damage, poor handling, improper management of temperature and relative humidity, and hygiene problems during handling are among the major causes of postharvest losses. To reduce the high postharvest loss and supply quality products for consumers throughout the year, intervention activities such as the construction of permanent selling place for perishables, practicing various evaporative cooling technologies, outset training, awareness creation, and infrastructures should be effectively and urgently addressed.
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