Farmers’ management of potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) late blight (Phytophtora infestans(Mont.) de Bary) and sprouting in Shashemene and West Shewa districts, Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato is a potential crop for enabling smallholder farmers to attain food security. However, it is underutilized in Ethiopia due to late blight occurrences and management of sprouting. Understanding what farmers are doing in potato tubers storage and disease management is important to find alternative solutions for existing problems. The purpose of this research was to identify potato varieties currently grown in the study areas, to investigate their responses to sprouting ability and late blight as well as existing management for sprouting and late blight. A survey was conducted with randomly sampled respondents in Shashemene ( 146) and West Shewa (318). Data were collected by interviewing farmers engaged in seed production and consumption. Farmers in the studied areas reported growing more than four potato local and improved varieties. Gudene variety earlier released as resistant to late blight was reported to be susceptible by 73.3% of the farmers. In the studied area, sprouting was controlled using diffused light storage and dark storage. However, chemical application was practiced by farmers to control late blight ranging from 82% to 94% and 93% to 99% at Shashemene and West Shewa, respectively. Since the application of chemicals raised the issue of health and environmental hazards, essential oils have been investigated and used to control late blight and sprouting in different parts of the world; however, it is not practiced ABOUT THE AUTHOR The authors have pooled together knowledge from their qualifications and experiences on different aspects of the subjects that went into this article. On the one hand, Dr. Bekele and Mr. Daniel have applied their agricultural knowledge to plant pathology, crop physiology, agronomy, postharvest handling and related expertise. On the other hand, Prof. Zemede and Dr. Ermias brought their expertise in biodiversity, ethnobotany, environmental science principles and methods as well as related areas. Thus the authors tried to address the problems from diverse angles along the different relevant specialization areas.

Knowledge of climate change and adaptation by smallholder farmers: evidence from southern Ethiopia

“…Meanwhile, frequency of dry spells and extended droughts has increased. The result of farmers’ perception was consistent with the metrological observations of rainfall and temperature trends in the study area ( Belay et al., 2021 ).…”

“…The focus group discussants mentioned frequent drought episodes, with some having no historical comparisons occurring in the study area for the last three decades and affecting many people. These drought events reported by the farmers are conceded with the metrological findings of Belay et al. (2021) related to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, including El Niño events in 1987, 1991, 2001, 2009, 2015, and 2019.…”

“…The altitudinal range in the area varies between 2,420 and 2,740 m above sea level. The annual mean temperature ranges from 12 °C to 20 °C, and the mean annual rainfall ranges 972–1023 mm ( Belay et al., 2021 ). The study area experiences two rainfall seasons, namely, Kiremt (from June to September) and the short rainy season Belg (from March to May) ( Belay et al., 2021 ).…”

“…The annual mean temperature ranges from 12 °C to 20 °C, and the mean annual rainfall ranges 972–1023 mm ( Belay et al., 2021 ). The study area experiences two rainfall seasons, namely, Kiremt (from June to September) and the short rainy season Belg (from March to May) ( Belay et al., 2021 ). Farmers in the area practice mixed-agriculture (crop-livestock) farming system with legumes, cereals, fruit trees, and vegetable root crops; perennial crops, such as Enset (Ensete ventricosum) ( Tadesse et al., 2021 ).…”

“…Extreme weather events and climate variability have reduced agricultural production in Ethiopia and contributed to food insecurity ( Hilemelekot et al., 2021 ), displacement ( Solomon et al., 2018 ), poverty ( Onyutha, 2019 ; Seife, 2021 ), and increasing conflicts ( van Weezel, 2019 ). Agriculture is the mainstay of the Ethiopian economy and contributes 52% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 80% of total employment, and generates 80.2% of the foreign exchange earnings; hence, it is the primary sector contributing to income and food security ( Belay et al., 2021 ; Deressa et al., 2011 ). The country’s agricultural sector is dominated by small-scale mixed crops and low-level livestock productivity while experiencing poor extension services ( Tessema and Simane, 2021 ).…”