DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT, AND PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS OF YAMS LANDRACES (DIOSCOREA SPP.): THE CASE OF BOLOSO SORE AND DAMOT GALE DISTRICTS OF WOLAITA ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA REGION

Abstract

Yam is a resilient staple tuber crop with a long shelf life that offers food security and income generation. However, its distribution and diversity are limited, with synthetic fertilizer-demanding crops being a persistent challenge in the study area. In this regard, therefore, this study was conducted to assess diversity, distribution, management, and production constraints of yams in two districts of Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia Region, namely Boloso Sore and Damot Gale Districts of which six, yam growing Kebeles (three from each district) were selected. A total of 366 households were selected from the six kebeles using systematic random sampling techniques. The major data collection tools used were, semi-structured interviews, direct field observation, key informants interviews and focus group discussion. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS software ver.25. A total of 19 named yam landraces were recorded, with a range from one to eight (mean 2.3) on individual farm land owned by a farmer. Richness of yam landraces ranged from 1 to 8 per farm and from 5 to 14 per Kebele with in the two Districts. Yukara Kebele had the highest diversity, while Zegere Kebele had the lowest diversity. Yukara Kebele showed the highest diversity, with a diversity index (H') of 2.18 and Zegere Kebele had the lowest diversity, with a diversity index of 1.43. On average, 73.7% of yam landraces found in one Kebele were also found in the other Kebeles within the two Districts whereas 10.5% of them were common to all Kebeles of the two districts. The distributions of landraces also varied across the surveyed Kebeles. A small number of highly abundant yam landraces were grown throughout the surveyed Kebeles whereas the greater numbers of the yam landraces had a narrow distribution and abundances. In addition, the study showed that farmers in the study area manage diverse yam landraces with respect to time of maturity, adaptation to environmental conditions, and cooking properties. The major constraints to yam production include: wild animal attack, lack of materials for staking, land shortage, drought or climate change, and scarcity of mother yam, which reported by 90.7%, 87.4%, 86.1%, 74.9% and 68.8% of respondents, respectively. Therefore, local communities' conservation, preservation, and utilization techniques for yam landraces can ensure their long-term viability