Genetic erosion: assessment of neglected and underutilized crop genotypes in South Western Kenya
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2014, Vol 4, Issue 6
Abstract
The loss of Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) of crop results in reduction of the genetic base of the remaining varieties that may have a consequence upon changing environmental and ecological conditions. There is therefore, an urgent need to collect, document, characterize, conserve and utilize the traditional crops and formulate policies that will protect them from further genetic erosion. There is lack of adequate knowledge and information on the status and risks posed to Plant genetic resources in south western Kenya especially with neglected and underutilized crop species. This study was carried out to assess genetic erosion of NUS so as to recommend effective strategies for conservation and sustainable utilization of these resources. The research was carried out in the three administrative areas of the Gusii region (Kisii, Gucha and Nyamira) of Kenya. These highlands are a source of much of the food that feeds the western part of Kenya as well as the home of unique, diverse plant genetic resources. However, these resources have been seriously threatened through genetic erosion due to high population pressure, more productive crop species and now climate variability and change. There is lack of adequate knowledge and information on the status and risks posed to Plant Genetic Resources, PGR, in Gusii highlands. Therefore, acquisition of this information through base line surveys is imperative in order to develop effective strategies for conservation and sustainable utilization of these resources for present and future generations. The study was carried out in from July 2011 to November 2011.In order to assess genetic erosion, survey research was undertaken. These were, formal and informal survey to explore the level of on-farm genetic erosion in depth by inter-viewing carefully selected group, homogenous in social composition with farmers; key informant interviews (interviews with special indigenous crop knowledgeable farmers in the communities) with selected farmers (farmers seconded by the farming community for their rich indigenous technical knowledge on native crop production i.e. key informants. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, etc.) to generate summaries and tables at different levels. The study found millets, sorghums, wild fruits, bananas landraces, goose berry, passion fruit, loquat, guava, tree tomato, cassava, sweet potatoes, cocoa yams as the main Underutilized and Neglected crops in the region. Important causes of this genetic erosion were high production cost and climate variability, cash crops population pressure and small farm size, outdated land use systems, poor cultivation methods, age and gender. There is an urgent need to establish or strengthen systems for monitoring genetic erosion, including easy-to-use indicators in the region. Support should be given to collecting farmers’ varieties/landraces in particularly vulnerable or threatened areas, where these are not already held ex situ, so that these genetic resources can be multiplied for immediate use and conserved for future use.
Authors and Affiliations
N. Anunda Henry, Lydia Kitonga, Florence O. Odiwuor
Keywords
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