Documenting crop diversity for conservation, genetic research, and food security in both Bale Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia

Crop genetic erosion, driven by the loss of agrobiodiversity and the expansion of monoculture farming, poses a critical global challenge with profound implications for food security, resilience, climate adaptation, and cultural heritage. Documenting on-farm crop diversity is therefore essential to safeguard genetic resources, sustain traditional knowledge, and strengthen community-based conservation. Within this broader context, the Bale Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia, provide an illustrative case study where diverse agro-ecological conditions, farming systems, and cultural practices have shaped a rich reservoir of crop genetic resources. Field data collected from 27 villages across 81 plots revealed 19 crop species, with wheat and barley dominating cultivation while 17 other species occurred at lower abundance. Biodiversity indices indicated moderate diversity (Shannon–Weiner = 2.627; species evenness = 0.882; Simpson’s diversity = 0.903; reciprocal index = 10.309), and several crops such as Eragrostis tef and faba bean were noted for their nutritional, cultural, and medicinal significance. The findings underscore the ongoing genetic erosion and increasing prevalence of monoculture systems, highlighting the vulnerability of landraces to replacement by modern varieties and the associated risks to agricultural sustainability and environmental health. This documentation provides a vital baseline for conservation planning and the development of crop diversity fact sheets that can be integrated into extension programs, supporting farmer awareness, policy dialogue, and community-driven strategies for safeguarding agrobiodiversity.