The Role of Farmers in Biodiversity Conservation of Maize Landraces through Farming Systems in Kenya

Abstract

Maize is a major Kenyan crop that contributes greatly to food and livelihood security. About 90% of Kenya's population depends on corn for their income. Small-scale farmers account for 75% of Kenya's total maize production. Maize accounts for 3% of Kenya's GDP and 25% of agricultural employment. Average yields are far below the regional level, creating serious food deficits, especially when rain is limited. Kenya's government has promoted the use of high-yield varieties (hybrids), but farmer needs have been ignored in developing these varieties. Farmers therefore continue to plant traditional landraces and varieties to reduce costs and harness the benefits of locally evolved genetic traits. Here, I studied whether promoting hybrid varieties has improved livelihoods and food security, and estimated the value of the traditional landraces.
I analyzed data from small-scale maize producers in the Taita District of Kenya's Coast Province. The hybrids generally had superior quantitative traits (height, grain yield, stover yield, and grain size) when their agro-ecological requirements were met, but their potential cannot be achieved by rural farmers because of poor management, a lack of agricultural inputs, unfavorable biotic and abiotic factors, or a combination of these factors. In contrast, the landraces had superior qualitative traits (early maturation, drought tolerance, disease resistance, and good cooking and eating qualities). They are thus important sources of traits required for local adaptation, economic stability, and sustainability. Farmers conserve and sustain important genetic resources by maintaining maize landraces. This farm-level conservation allows continuing selection, environmental interactions, and gene exchange with wild species that sustain evolution of the landraces. Their performance demonstrates the necessity of strengthening and expanding in situ conservation programs to maximize the diversity and utility of these plants as source materials for crop-improvement programs. Involving farmers in managing a country's indigenous genetic resources is essential, as is “participatory” plant breeding, in which farmers guide the selection of new varieties.