Enset Production System Diversity across the Southern Ethiopian Highlands

Enset is a staple crop of the southern Ethiopian highlands. Small-holder farmers cultivate enset as part mixed subsistence farming systems, in which provides substantial food security services. While its cultivation unique to this region, production systems take on many forms, varying with environmental and agronomic conditions, diversity (co-)staples produced, importance for household, socio-economic cultural differences. Through extensive interviews 375 households covering 20 communities, along an altitudinal range 1500 3000 masl across main enset-producing belt, was assessed. We show that size land holdings overall cultivated farmland decreased altitude. The economic status however drives proportion allocated enset, relatively more (45%) poorer compared medium (38%) richer (23%) households. diversity, average 6.4 different species farm (ranging from 2 15 crops), did not vary wealth or Enset-derived items were component multiple daily meals most households, complemented other crops produced farm. Supplemental purchases mainly included meat bread products, although purchasing power enset-growing predominantly low. co-staples grown varied altitude, according productive boundaries. Maize important co-staple observed entire investigated range. At mid upper altitudes, wheat barley often supplemented substituted maize cereal crop, while at lower teff addition maize. Coffee cash up altitudes 2300 m. Root tuber crops, legumes had moderate these systems. yam, sweet potato taro roots tubers shifted Irish potatoes high altitudes. beans higher several high-altitude kebeles. combined livestock rearing are key self-reliance small-holder farms. need increased highlighted by ensure availability population growth. On hand, threatened Xanthomonas wilt.