Teff Flashcards
Teff - characteristics
Highly nutritious - rich in protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates and essential minerals
Said to promote weight loss
Said to boost immune system
Grass with C4 metabolism
Potential to help diversify crop market
Potential in view of extreme drought scenarios
History and distribution
Originated in Ethiopia and Eritrea
Stable cereal crop
- ~6.5 Mio farmers in Ethiopia
- low risk crop
- ~5 Mio t yield on 3 Mio ha
- nutritious
Minor production in south africa, Uganda Kenya, US and few European countries, used also as cover and forage crop
importance & interest growing worldwide but little information and statistics available
Scientific classification
Poaceae
Eragostis tef
Seeds
up to 1000 seeds are produced per inflorescence
Seeds are tiny, with a typical 1000-seed weight of only 265 mg
Environmental Requirements
Drought resistant despite superficial root system
very adaptable, grows in various environments, at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 3200 m
not frost tolerant
prefers firm soils with neutral pH
Sowing
July (Ethiopia)
Temperature needs to be above 15 °C, below 10 almost no germination
sowing done by hand mainly
Fertilization
good response to nitrogen, lower to phosphorus
high nitrogen inputs increase the risk of lodging
rapid development and higher density can outgrow weeds
common fungal disease -> Teff rust
Harvest
2 - 6 months after sowing, when vegetative parts start to turn yellow
traditionally manual, more recently also mechanical
Risk: harvested after maturation hence seeds will fall off
Yield and storage
Average yield in Ethiopia reahces around 2 t/ha
Lodging is a major yield-loss factor
losses of grain during threshing and transport cause yield loss in teff
Easy storable, resistant to most pests during storage, several years of storage possible, with low humidity and away from direct sunlight
Export ban
Export ban in 2006 from Ethiopian government
Reason:
to secure control on genetic resources
to avoid disproportionate increase in internal market price, prices increased already
Export ban was partially lifted in 2015 due to increased yields
