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

    Adikini, S and Kakeeto, R and Senabulya, S and Adriko, J and Okinong, D and Aita, A M and Zaake, E and Ojulong, H F and Odeny, D A and Kasule, F (2026) Distribution, conservation, and indigenous knowledge of finger millet germplasm in different agroecologies in Uganda. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (TSI), 9. pp. 1-19. ISSN 2571-581X

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    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. Results: Most 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.

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: Research Program : East & Southern Africa
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Uncontrolled Keywords: diversity, finger millet varieties, land use, landraces, selection, traditional knowledge
    Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets > Finger Millet
    Others > Genetics and Genomics
    Others > Germplasm
    Depositing User: Mr Nagaraju T
    Date Deposited: 22 Apr 2026 08:09
    Last Modified: 22 Apr 2026 08:09
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13606
    Official URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-f...
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
    Acknowledgement: Special thanks to NaSARRI management for supporting the research team and providing logistical items, such as vehicles and human resources, during data collection. We express special gratitude to Iowa State University for providing the license for IBM SPSS version 29.0, 2022, software used in data analysis. We thank the research assistants who supported the data collection. We also appreciate the farmers and extension officers from various agroecologies, as well as other stakeholders who participated in the study, for their time and contributions.
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