“People Gathered by Sorghum”: Cultural Practices and sorghum Diversity in Northern Ethiopia

Sorghum is an important crop in the livelihoods of Kunama and Tigrayan farmers in Northern Ethiopia and we present here a study of what factors have shaped the genetic diversity of the varieties cultivated in neighboring communities of the two ethnolinguistic groups. Using a combination of methods f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human ecology : an interdisciplinary journal Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 923 - 935
Main Authors: Wendmu, Tsedal Asres, Gebrelibanos, Tesfakiros Semere, Kovi, Mallikarjuna Rao, Ring, Kristoffer Hofaker, de Boer, Hugo J., Abera, Fetien Abay, Westengen, Ola Tveitereid
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: New York Springer US 01.10.2023
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Anthropology
Biodiversity
Breeding
Climate change
Conservation
Crop diversification
Crop science
Crops
Cultural anthropology
Cultural differences
Cultural factors
Cultural groups
Differentiation
Environmental Management
Ethiopia
Ethnography
Ethnolinguistic groups
Ethnolinguistics
Farmers
Food
Gene flow
Genetic diversity
Genetic resources
Genetic structure
genetic variation
Genetics
Geography
germplasm conservation
Human ecology
Language
Life sciences
Morphology
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Nilo-Saharan languages
people
Plant breeding
Plant sciences
Resource conservation
social anthropology
Social factors
Social Sciences
Sociocultural factors
Sociology
Sorghum
Systems development
Ethiopia
Ethnolinguistic diversity
Sorghum
Crop diversity
Tigrayan
Kunama
Northern Ethiopia
ISSN:0300-7839, 1572-9915
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Sorghum is an important crop in the livelihoods of Kunama and Tigrayan farmers in Northern Ethiopia and we present here a study of what factors have shaped the genetic diversity of the varieties cultivated in neighboring communities of the two ethnolinguistic groups. Using a combination of methods from crop science and cultural anthropology, we investigate patterns of historical and contemporary relationships between crop genetic diversity and cultural and social factors. The spatial genetic structure reveals patterns of ethnolinguistic differentiation and admixture that reflect deep affinities between cultures and crops, but the seed systems of the two communities are also open to exchange and gene-flow. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding cultural factors for genetic resource conservation, as well as for plant breeding and seed system development efforts.
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ISSN:0300-7839
1572-9915
DOI:10.1007/s10745-023-00442-9