80
1993; and, later, another intermediate-maturing single-cross hybrid, BH540,
adapted to the mid-altitude moist maize agro-ecology was released in 1995. The
launch of the National Extension Intervention Program in 1993 by the Ethiopian
Government, in partnership with Sasakawa Global 2000, played a key role in the
popularisation and dissemination of these hybrids (Worku et al. 2012; Abate et al.
2015). In the period 2002–2010, the three hybrids accounted for over 90% of total
maize seed sales (35,000 tonnes) by the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE)—the primary public seed supplier in Ethiopia. BH660 constituted over 55% of total hybrid
seed sales (Worku et al. 2012).
7.2 Climate Change and Drought in Ethiopia
The average age of current maize varieties under production in Ethiopia is 11 and
18 years for hybrids and OPVs respectively (Abate et al. 2017). On average, 80% of
maize varieties commonly grown in Ethiopia were developed using germplasm not
improved for drought tolerance over 20 years ago (Abate et al. 2015).
As for many countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), climate change projections
for Ethiopia suggest an increase of maximum and minimum temperatures and a
decreasing trend in precipitation (Deressa 2007). Since 1971, Ethiopia has experienced eight drought episodes of varying severity due to reduced rains in different
parts of the country (Viste et al. 2012). These episodes lasted from a single year to
4 years in duration. In general, decline in precipitation has been observed in southern Ethiopia during both the February–May and June–September seasons, although
a similar trend was not observed in the central and northern highlands. The study by
Viste et al. (2012) found 2009 to be an exceptionally severe drought year, and the
second driest year overall in the period 1971–2011, surpassed only by the historic
drought of 1984. The study also revealed increasing frequency of spring (February–
May) droughts in all parts of the country in recent years. Despite highly variable
rainfall, Ethiopia relies on a rain-fed agriculture with irrigated areas accounting for
only 1% of the total maize area (Abate et al. 2015). This makes Ethiopian agricultural system highly vulnerable to drought events as was clearly demonstrated
recently during the 2016 drought, caused by El Niño, that severely affected maize
production.
Breeding and disseminating drought- and heat-tolerant, climate-smart maize
varieties can play a major role in mitigating the risks of droughts today as well as
projected climate change in Ethiopia. Old varieties that are currently in commercial
production were not selected for drought tolerance and are less likely to be adapted
to future climates. CIMMYT, in collaboration with national agricultural research
programmes in SSA, has been intensively developing drought-tolerant (DT) varieties that are also high-yielding under optimum conditions. These new DT varieties
should replace old popular varieties to minimise the risk of climate change on
productivity.
B. T. Ertiro et al.
1993; and, later, another intermediate-maturing single-cross hybrid, BH540,
adapted to the mid-altitude moist maize agro-ecology was released in 1995. The
launch of the National Extension Intervention Program in 1993 by the Ethiopian
Government, in partnership with Sasakawa Global 2000, played a key role in the
popularisation and dissemination of these hybrids (Worku et al. 2012; Abate et al.
2015). In the period 2002–2010, the three hybrids accounted for over 90% of total
maize seed sales (35,000 tonnes) by the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise (ESE)—the primary public seed supplier in Ethiopia. BH660 constituted over 55% of total hybrid
seed sales (Worku et al. 2012).
7.2 Climate Change and Drought in Ethiopia
The average age of current maize varieties under production in Ethiopia is 11 and
18 years for hybrids and OPVs respectively (Abate et al. 2017). On average, 80% of
maize varieties commonly grown in Ethiopia were developed using germplasm not
improved for drought tolerance over 20 years ago (Abate et al. 2015).
As for many countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), climate change projections
for Ethiopia suggest an increase of maximum and minimum temperatures and a
decreasing trend in precipitation (Deressa 2007). Since 1971, Ethiopia has experienced eight drought episodes of varying severity due to reduced rains in different
parts of the country (Viste et al. 2012). These episodes lasted from a single year to
4 years in duration. In general, decline in precipitation has been observed in southern Ethiopia during both the February–May and June–September seasons, although
a similar trend was not observed in the central and northern highlands. The study by
Viste et al. (2012) found 2009 to be an exceptionally severe drought year, and the
second driest year overall in the period 1971–2011, surpassed only by the historic
drought of 1984. The study also revealed increasing frequency of spring (February–
May) droughts in all parts of the country in recent years. Despite highly variable
rainfall, Ethiopia relies on a rain-fed agriculture with irrigated areas accounting for
only 1% of the total maize area (Abate et al. 2015). This makes Ethiopian agricultural system highly vulnerable to drought events as was clearly demonstrated
recently during the 2016 drought, caused by El Niño, that severely affected maize
production.
Breeding and disseminating drought- and heat-tolerant, climate-smart maize
varieties can play a major role in mitigating the risks of droughts today as well as
projected climate change in Ethiopia. Old varieties that are currently in commercial
production were not selected for drought tolerance and are less likely to be adapted
to future climates. CIMMYT, in collaboration with national agricultural research
programmes in SSA, has been intensively developing drought-tolerant (DT) varieties that are also high-yielding under optimum conditions. These new DT varieties
should replace old popular varieties to minimise the risk of climate change on
productivity.
B. T. Ertiro et al.