REVIEWING THE IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT OF MAJOR POTATO DISEASES IN ETHIOPIA

Аннотация

INTRODUCTION losses in both the quantity and quality of the Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of the most harvested tubers. Late blight, in particular, has important staple crops in Ethiopia, playing a crucial been recognized as a major threat to potato role in the country’s agricultural economy and food production globally, and Ethiopia is no exception, security. It is grown primarily in the highland with the disease affecting a significant portion of regions, where favorable climatic conditions potato-growing areas. Bacterial wilt and viral support its cultivation. As a major source of food, diseases further compound the challenges faced by income, and livelihood for millions of Ethiopians, Ethiopian farmers, leading to decreased the potato industry has seen significant growth in productivity and economic losses. recent years. However, potato production in Ethiopia faces numerous challenges, the most Effective management of these diseases is critical significant of which are various plant diseases that for maintaining and improving potato yields. While severely impact crop yield and quality. various control measures have been implemented, such as the use of chemical fungicides, resistant Among the most destructive of these diseases are varieties, and crop rotation, the effectiveness of late blight (Phytophthora infestans), bacterial wilt these strategies has been limited by several factors. (Ralstonia solanacearum), and a range of viral Challenges such as inadequate access to quality infections, all of which contribute to substantial https://www.theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajhfr 8 THE USA JOURNALS THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE RESEARCH (ISSN – 2689-0976) VOLUME 06 ISSUE12 seeds, lack of farmer education on best practices, provided in-depth information on the major potato limited research on disease-resistant varieties, and diseases in Ethiopia, their epidemiology, impact on the impact of climate change exacerbate the crop yield, and management practices. Preference situation. was given to studies that focused on field observations, surveys, and experiments conducted This review aims to provide an overview of the in different potato-growing regions of Ethiopia. major potato diseases affecting Ethiopia, their Inclusion criteria also involved the availability of economic impact on production, and the data on the economic consequences of potato management strategies currently in use. By diseases, the effectiveness of various management synthesizing existing research, the review will strategies, and the challenges faced by farmers in highlight the strengths and weaknesses of current controlling these diseases. disease management practices and propose recommendations for improving potato disease Data Extraction and Categorization: control in the country. In doing so, the review seeks From the selected literature, relevant data were to contribute to efforts aimed at enhancing potato extracted and categorized into different themes to production, increasing food security, and facilitate a structured analysis. These themes improving the livelihoods of farmers in Ethiopia. included: