Trends of Crop Variety Release and its Impact on Productivity and Food Systems in Ethiopia A Review

Abstract

The research system since 1970 released and registered 1,489 improved varieties of 149 crops. Among the total released crop varieties, 74 of them are forages. Cereal crops accounted for 501 varieties, pulse crops; oil crops, and tuber, roots and vegetable have a total of 277, 126 and 313 varieties, respectively. The major cereal crops wheat, maize, barley, tef, and sorghum have higher number of varieties released. Proportionally higher allocation of research budget, existence of international collaborations, exposure of researchers to different research systems and availability of project funds have contributed to the significant difference in number of released varieties among crops. Though, increased productivity cannot be associated only with the use of improved varieties, the contribution of varieties and agronomic practices take the lion share of the improvement. The trend in yield for major crops show considerable increase in the last twenty years which might be associated with the use of varieties, seed supply system, application of fertilizer, crop protection, and better extension services. However, there is poor coherence between rate of new variety release, their uptake and productivity gains. The research system since its establishment has generated, other than varieties, other production packages that are partially applied in the production system. However, a significant number of these technologies did not reach to the beneficiaries due to many reasons including lack of consistent and progressively vibrant linkages. Thus, this review would shade light on crop varieties’ generation versus their degree of utilization and influence in the production and productivity improvement, in setting the futuristic crop improvement endeavour of affiliated institutions.