Distribution, conservation, and indigenous knowledge of finger millet germplasm in different agroecologies in Uganda

Abstract

Introduction Crop improvement is crucial in addressing food and nutritional security, as it requires a wide range of genetic diversity to serve as germplasm during breeding. Finger millet is an underutilized yet climate-resilient crop with valuable genetic variation that can be leveraged to enhance food security and improve nutritional quality. Methods This study examines varietal diversity, farmers’ preferred attributes, varietal distribution, production environments, and traditional conservation practices of finger millet germplasm across six agroecological regions (Mid-Northern, Northern, West Nile farmlands; Southern dryland and highlands, Western highlands, and Karamoja drylands) in Uganda. Data was collected between June 2020 and February 2021 through household surveys, key informant interviews, and field observations.ResultsMost agroecologies were highly to moderately suitable for finger millet production, and farmers utilized traditional knowledge to select and conserve millet germplasm for present and future purposes. Over 90% of the varieties collected were landraces exhibiting wide variability, providing desirable traits necessary for improving finger millet. A total of 460 landrace accessions were collected, and 198 distinct local names were documented across ethnic groups, depending on morphology, maturity, and cultural significance. Farmer selection and conservation of finger millet focused on taste (38.6%), drought tolerance (31.9%), pest and disease tolerance (14.1%), and early maturity (12.4%), confirming the role of preferential traits in addressing food and nutrition security. Conservation practices include sharing seeds with neighbors or relatives, replanting stored seeds, and selecting and storing seeds in designated areas, such as farm stores or rooftops. Over 72.1% of the seed was from farmer-saved sources, underscoring the important role of farmers in maintaining varietal diversity. Correlation analysis showed significant associations between soil characteristics, agroecology, seed sources, and farmer preference. PCA grouped varietal adoption drivers into environment factors, market/consumption attributes, and seed system/conservation practices. However, threats such as labor demands, drought, pests, diseases, aging farmers, and the replacement of millet with maize and rice pose a risk of genetic erosion. Conclusion The abundance of landraces presents a rich genetic pool for breeding and conservation. Integrating both in situ and ex situ conservation strategies is recommended to safeguard finger millet diversity to support food and nutrition security.