As the world marked International Women’s Day, women in Africa are making significant strides forward in science, technology and innovation. Selamawit Araya Kidane is on her journey to become one of the few nematologists in Ethiopia and indeed Africa. Her research is on Enset (False Banana), Ethiopia’s underestimated “saviour” crop.
Selam obtained a BSc in Horticulture. Plant pathology was a significant area of her undergraduate studies and how she came across nematodes. Nematodes can be found living in soil and water, where they feed on microorganisms and organic debris. They can also be parasitic, causing significant harm to people, animals and plants. Her research aims to investigate the impact of plant parasitic nematodes on enset, and how the damage that these pests cause on this particular crop can be managed. Enset is an important staple food crop in the country, with approximately 20% of the population depending on it. Although wild enset can be found across Africa, it is has only been domesticated in Ethiopia. In the Southwest of Ethiopia where enset is primarily cultivated, it is a culturally and agriculturally symbolic crop, providing food security, cash income, animal feed, as well as preventing erosion and soil loss on the steep highlands. Enset remains marginalised by researchers, with minimal scientific studies conducted on it. As such, this research is groundbreaking in many ways.. For the first time, the role is evaluated of planting material in the spread of these pests and assessed common varieties for potential resistance against them.
Excerpts from: www.un.org/africarenewal/news/unlocking-true-potential-false-banana
