African Agribusiness Review (Business/Agri crossover) | 03 June 2008
Indigenous Crop Varieties and Food Security in Ethiopian Agriculture: A Review of Role and Potential
M, a, m, o, B, e, y, e, n, e
Abstract
Indigenous crop varieties play a critical role in food security across various agroecological zones of Ethiopia. A systematic literature review was conducted to synthesize existing knowledge about indigenous crops in Ethiopia. Indigenous crop varieties were found to account for approximately 40% of total agricultural land use and contribute significantly to local biodiversity. The integration of indigenous crop varieties into modern agricultural practices can help improve resilience against climate change impacts and enhance food security outcomes. There is a need for policy support in promoting the conservation, sustainable utilization, and promotion of indigenous crop varieties. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.