ABSTRACT

Ethiopia is the primary wheat producer in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) owing to the suitable agro-ecological conditions. Despite wheats economic potential for food security, the actual yield under smallholder farmers conditions is low due to various production constraints. Thus, the objectives of this study were to assess the present wheat production opportunities and constraints and identify farmer-preferred traits to guide variety design with stem rust-resistance and economic traits in eastern Ethiopia. Data on production constraints and trait preferences were collected using structured questionnaires involving 144 wheat-producing farmers. Wheat rust (reported by 97.3% of respondents), small land size (90.4%) and a lack of improved varieties (75.6%) were identified as the major constraints. About 41.7% of respondents in the West-Hararghe and 27.8% in the East-Hararghe zones did not use crop protection strategies to control rusts. Substantial respondent farmers used cultural practices (18.8%), rust-resistant cultivars (13.2%) or, a combination of these (10.4%) to control rust diseases. The essential farmer preferred traits in a wheat variety were rust resistance, high yield potential and good quality grain for bread making. Therefore, there is a need to breed new varieties with high grain yield and quality and durable rust resistance for sustainable wheat production in eastern Ethiopia.

摘要

由于适宜的农业生态条件，埃塞俄比亚是撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）的主要小麦生产国。尽管小麦在粮食安全方面具有经济潜力，但由于各种生产限制，小农条件下的实际产量很低。因此，本研究的目的是评估当前小麦生产机会和制约因素，并确定农民偏好的性状，以指导埃塞俄比亚东部具有茎锈病抗性和经济性状的品种设计。使用涉及 144 名小麦生产农民的结构化问卷收集了有关生产限制和性状偏好的数据。小麦锈病（97.3% 的受访者报告）、土地面积小（90.4%）和缺乏改良品种（75.6%）被确定为主要制约因素。大约 41.7% 的受访者在 West-Hararghe 和 27. East-Hararghe 地区有 8% 的人没有使用作物保护策略来控制锈病。大量受访农民使用文化习俗（18.8%）、抗锈栽培品种（13.2%）或这些的组合（10.4%）来控制锈病。小麦品种的基本农民偏好性状是抗锈性、高产潜力和用于面包制作的优质谷物。因此，需要培育具有高产优质和持久抗锈病的新品种，以实现埃塞俄比亚东部小麦的可持续生产。小麦品种的基本农民偏好性状是抗锈性、高产潜力和用于面包制作的优质谷物。因此，需要培育具有高产优质和持久抗锈病的新品种，以实现埃塞俄比亚东部小麦的可持续生产。小麦品种的基本农民偏好性状是抗锈性、高产潜力和用于面包制作的优质谷物。因此，需要培育具有高产优质和持久抗锈病的新品种，以实现埃塞俄比亚东部小麦的可持续生产。