Concerns on Mismatches between Environments of Selection and Production of Crop Varieties in Ethiopia

Abstract

Crop production plays a significant role in the Ethiopian economy. The sub-sector's output has, however, been very low partially due to the biophysical challenges constraining productivity in smallholder farms and inadequate technological interventions. Genetic modification of crops to improve productivity is preferred to the continual manipulation of the growing environment because of cost particularly to the large majority of resource-poor farmers who cannot afford for production inputs. Consideration of varietal selection vis-à-vis actual target production environment is vital to maximizing gains from breeding efforts. The tradition across most of the breeding programs in Ethiopia is to develop varieties under optimum management despite the fact that marginal management characterizes the ultimate target production environments. Whether selection under optimum management is likely to result in better productivity gain than under the actual target production environments is a crucial issue in varietal development. This paper discusses the logical framework for breeding success and the conventional approach to varietal selection and its challenges in Ethiopia. Based on the analyses, the paper proposes that the wheel of the current variety development schemes should be redirected and made more objective and focused towards better serving the major target beneficiaries, i.e. the resource-poor farmers.

Selection efficiency of yield based drought tolerance indices to identify superior sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] near isogenic lines (NILs) under two-contrasting environments

“…The consistence performances of the backcrossed lines in the two contrasting (non-stress vis-à-vis stress) environments represent very nearly the same character, determined nearly by the same set of genes (Falconer, 1989). This may probably have the advantage of the possibilities to forecast the performance of genotypes under one condition on the basis of performance obtained under another and can assist breeders in deciding variety development and allocation of the scarce resources (Keneni, 2007). Therefore, indirect selection for such conditions based on the results of optimum conditions may be efficient (Brennan and Byth, 1979;Rosielle and Hamblin, 1981).…”

“…Among the drought management strategies, genetic manipulation of the crop to improve tolerance is preferred because of its sustainability and feasibility particularly to the resource-poor (Singh, 2002;Keneni, 2007).Breeding for drought-tolerant crops largely depends on the availability of the genetic resources for tolerance, reliable screening techniques, identification of genetic components of tolerance (Blum, 2011), successful genetic manipulation of the desired genetic backgrounds, and ultimate development of drought-tolerant cultivars with acceptable agronomic and quality-related traits (Araus and Cairns, 2014). The relative yield performance of genotypes under drought stressed and non-stressed environments can be used as an indicator to identify drought resistant varieties in breeding program for drought prone areas (Raman et al, 2012;Mohammadi, 2016).…”

Evaluating Drought tolerance indices for selection of drought tolerant Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) genotypes in Ethiopia

“…The combination of high yield stability and high relative yield under drought has been recommended as a viable selection criterion for assessing genotypic performance under varied degrees of water stress [1]. Genetic manipulation of the crop to improve tolerance is recommended among drought management options because of its sustainability and feasibility, especially in resource-poor areas [2,3]. The development of droughttolerant cultivars with acceptable agronomic and qualityrelated traits is largely dependent on the availability of genetic resources for tolerance, effective screening techniques, identifi cation of genetic traits of tolerance [4], successful genetic manipulation of the desired genetic backgrounds, and fi nally the development of drought-tolerant cultivars with acceptable agronomic and quality-related traits [5].…”