In situ conservation: The Ethiopian experience

Plant species of economic importance are not randomly distributed throughout the world. Ethiopia has considerable plant genetic diversity because it has a wide range of eco-geographic, edaphic and climatic conditions. It is a major world centre of genetic diversity for many regionally and globally important domesticated plant species including wheat, barley, sorghum, teff, chickpeas, coffee, as well as other less-appreciated but potentially useful crops.

It is argued that the international community should develop an awareness of the value of farmers’ varieties for future food security and be ready to promote in situ conservation programmes. The primary objective of in situ conservation is to conserve the biodiversity of traditional crop varieties on the farm with the help of farmers’ knowledge and traditional practices.