Field surveys across 81 plots in 27 villages located in both Bale Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia, identified 19 crop species, with wheat and barley dominating agricultural cultivation while 17 other crop species occurred at lower abundance.
Biodiversity assessments of the surveyed plots revealed moderate overall diversity, recorded through a Shannon–Weiner index of 2.627, a species evenness score of 0.882, a Simpson’s diversity index of 0.903, and a reciprocal index of 10.309.
In addition to the dominant cereal crops, researchers noted that several less abundant species, including Eragrostis tef and faba bean, hold documented nutritional, cultural, and medicinal importance within the region’s farming systems.
The investigation, conducted by Mohammedaman Hussen and Benti Ofga, examined on-farm diversity within a landscape where diverse agro-ecological conditions, agricultural systems, and cultural practices have historically formed a rich reservoir of crop genetic resources.
The field findings highlight ongoing crop genetic erosion and an increasing prevalence of monoculture systems, pointing to the vulnerability of local landraces to replacement by modern crop varieties along with accompanying risks to agricultural sustainability and environmental health.
According to the authors, documenting this on-farm diversity establishes an empirical baseline for conservation planning and supports the development of crop diversity fact sheets for agricultural extension programs, policy dialogue, and community-driven agrobiodiversity preservation.
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