DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF BROOMRAPE (OROBANCHE CRENATA) IN FOOD LEGUMES PRODUCTION OF SOUTH TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Annual surveys for Orobanche crenata Forsk, were carried out during seasons 2012 and 2013 at pulse growing localities of south Tigray, Ethiopia, to determine the intensity of infestation, study farmers attitude and awareness towards the parasite, discuss the dangers of the weed and develop a future strategy for checking dispersal by creation of necessary legislative measures. The surveys were based on filed survey at highland legumes growing areas and interview using semi-structure questionnaires. Results revealed that Orobanche occurred in 28.6-83.9% of the surveyed fields in Enda-Mekoni and Ofla districts, respectively. Ofla district was the hot spot area and the up-downstream spreads from the original infestation to the rest of districts worsen the problem. The highest frequency and abundance were displayed in Ofla, while, the lowest was in Enda-Mekoni and Raya-Alamata. During the surveys, more than sixty stakeholders were interviewed. Farmer's response to the questionnaire revealed that they were aware of the adverse effects of O. crenata, but malpractices and ignorance about the seriousness of the threat were very common among farmers. The spread of the weed escalated at alarming speed putting all food legumes at jeopardy and indirectly the productivity of cereals is regularly diminution due to the limitation rotational crops resulted cereal based mono-cropping production system. Hence, development of future strategy for checking dispersal by creation of necessary attitudinal and legislative measures is paramount significance to tackle the problem.