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Analysis of korarima (Aframomum corrorima (Braun) P.C.M. Jansen) indigenous production practices and farm based biodiversity in southern Ethiopia

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Abstract

Korarima (Aframomum corrorima (Braun) P.C.M. Jansen) production is declining mainly due to destruction of the plant’s natural habitat. A survey was conducted in the three major korarima growing administrative zones, Gamo Gofa, Debub Omo and Kaffa in southern Ethiopia to assess indigenous production practices, wealth status, farm based biodiversity and household characteristics using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and semi-structured questionnaires. The wealth is unevenly distributed among households and not significantly different for korarima growers and non-korarima growers. Farmers acknowledged that shortage of shade trees; low yield and lack of improved varieties had contributed to decrease in production area (PA). A total of three distinct named korarima landraces were recorded, with a range from one to three on individual farms implying low farm based biodiversity. More households grew enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) in Gamo Gofa and Kaffa while maize (Zea mays L.) was grown by nearly all households in Debub Omo. Only a few households grew korarima. Most of the household characteristics significantly affected the PA of korarima. The correlation coefficients indicated that the relationship of household characteristics were significant. Findings of this study suggest that the maintenance of shade trees on the main farm field is the main requirement for korarima production.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge PhD scholarship award of the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) and research support received from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) research project in collaboration with Hawassa University, Ethiopia. The authors also thank Professor Åsmund Bjørnstad, UMB for his valuable comments and suggestions during preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, P.O. Box 5003, Norway, Europe

    S. Eyob & M. Appelgren

  2. Awassa College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 5, Awassa, Ethiopia

    A. Tsegaye

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  1. S. Eyob
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  2. A. Tsegaye
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  3. M. Appelgren
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Correspondence to S. Eyob.

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Eyob, S., Tsegaye, A. & Appelgren, M. Analysis of korarima (Aframomum corrorima (Braun) P.C.M. Jansen) indigenous production practices and farm based biodiversity in southern Ethiopia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 56, 573–585 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-008-9387-x

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