摘要
对埃塞俄比亚北部提格雷州农民的大麦品种选择与革新进行了研究。随机选取提格雷州中部和南部地带各2个区、东部地带3个区进行此项研究,目的是了解当地大麦品种的现状,估测农民对它们的相对偏好程度。对240个农户做了调查,以得到农民对种植当地大麦品种的价值、局限及机会的看法。对农户的调查受到核心小组、与长者的非正式讨论、主要受访人员及妇女小组的支持。对公认为大麦培育者的当地农民进行了案例研究。记录24个大麦品种及其主要描述。种子和品种选择标准依赖于环境和品种特性。对家庭内部决策过程的调查表明,男人趋向于决定要种植的品种,而种子储存与加工则是妇女的专门职责。农民进行收获前及收获后选择,主要看重的是早熟及麦穗特性。独特的品种选择和种子更新程序可揭示它们用于下一步培育的潜力。对农民开发出来的品种的案例研究分析提供了这样的认识,即,如果与科学知识相结合,就可以鉴别并开发出具有广阔潜力的、可用于提格雷半干旱地区及埃塞俄比亚其它地方的有价值的栽培品种。
Farmers' innovation and selection of barley varieties were studied in the Tigray Region in northern Ethiopia.Two districts each in the central and southern zones and three districts in the eastern zone of Tigray were randomly selected for this study,which sought to understand the current status of local barley varieties and to measure their relative preference by farmers.Household surveys were conducted covering 240 households to elicit farmers' views on the values, constraints,and opportunities of growing local varieties of barley.This was supported by focus-group and informal discussions with elders,key informants, and women's groups.Case studies were made of local farmers whom the community recognized as barley breeders.Twenty-four barley varieties and their major descriptors were recorded.Seed and varietalselection criteria depended on the environmental and varietal characteristics.Investigation of intrahousehold decision making indicated that,while men tended to decide on the type of variety to grow,seed storage and processing were exclusively the responsibility of women.Farmers undertook preharvest and postharvest selection,giving emphasis mainly to earliness and spike characteristics.The distinct varietal-selection and seed-renewal procedures revealed their potential for use in further plant breeding.The case-study analysis of farmer-developed varieties provided knowledge that,if combined with scientists' knowledge, could lead to identification and development of valuable cultivars with a wide potential for use in semiarid areas of Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia.
