Assessment of Agrobiodiversity Focusing on Crop Plants and Associated Traditional knowledge in Dangur District, Benishangul Gumuz Region, North west Ethiopia.

Abstract

Agrobiodiversity is the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms that are used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture, including crops. Assessment of Agrobiodiversity Focusing on Crop Plants and Associated Traditional Knowledge has been conducted in Dangur District, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Northwest Ethiopia, to assess the agricultural diversity of crop plants on farm lands and associated traditional knowledge of the community. Out of 29 total kebeles of the District, seven kebeles has been selected purposively that represent the agroecological zones of the District. Of seven purposively selected kebeles data were collected through guided farm land observation, semi structured interviews, and market survey. A total of 70 farmers have been randomly selected to check the agrobiodiversity of crop plants on farm lands and their associated traditional knowledge. Fourteen knowledgeable key informants have been selected purposively with the assistance of community elders and local developmental agents. A total of 55 crop plant species belonging to 25 families were identified and recorded from the two farming sites (homegarden and farm lands). The plants can grouped in to 4 major use categories i.e., 38 food plants, 8 spice plants, 3 stimulants, and 6 cash or income generating plants. Food plants are further classified into major classes as cereals, pulses, oil crops, fruits and vegetables. Preference ranking on major cereal crops and cash crops made, Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor comes first and second from cereal crops, Sesamum indicum and Arachis hypogea comes first and second from cash crops. Traditional practices like selecting the soil type, improving the fertility of soil, obtaining seeds through different methods, seed storage techniques and mixed cropping shows the farmers diversified knowledge in their farming system. The people of Dangur district should be encouraged to cultivate versatile crop plants and their traditional knowledge must be recorded for sustainable management.