Study on Wild and Semi-Wild Edible Plants Inwukro Kilte-Awulaelo Eastern Zone of Tigray Adminstrative Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-09-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Wild and semi-wild edible plant species (WSWEPs) are important resources in combating food insecurity. The present study was conducted to identify and document WSWEPs and to assess their role in food security in Kilte-Awulaelo Wereda, Eastern Zone of Tigray. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, group discussions, guided field observations and local market surveys. A total of 66 respondents were selected by means of simple random and purposive methods. A total of 30 WSWEPs were identified and documented. Of these 3, 2, 2, 2 and 16 species belonged to Ficus, Cyperus, Ziziphus, Rumex, and others, respectively. These species were distributed in 22 different families, including Polygonaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Cyperaceae, Moraceae and others. Cordia africana Lam., Opuntia ficus-indica L., Ziziphus spina-christi L., were found to be highly popular species cited by the respondents. WSWEPs are consumed in the mode of non-cooked, cooked, and dried. The present study found that WSWEPs in the study area were threatened by anthropogenic factors including agricultural expansions, overgrazing, selective harvesting and construction. WSWEPs are mainly harvested in spring and summer seasons, and the most frequent gatherers and consumers are children, entire households, youngsters and poor members of the communities. The frequently consumed parts of WSWEPs were found to be fruits (66% of the total WSWEPs), while the remaining edibility is attributed to various plant parts, including flowers, leaves and stems. WSWEPs of the studied area were composed of trees (53.3%), shrubs (33.3%) and herbs (13%). Main sources of knowledge for the studied WSWEPs were reported to be grandparents (34.9%), parents (27.3%), self-taught individuals (19.7%), churches and schools (18.7%). The study found that WSWEPs are mainly conserved in home gardens as live fences, in farm land peripheries, as well as in protected areas such as churches. We recommend that, along with sustainable utilization and conservation of the existing germplasm, of Cordia africana, Opuntia ficusindica and Ziziphus spina-christi require urgent selection, domestication, propagation and cultivation.
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Keywords
Consumption, Managements, Marketability, Multi-Purpose, Threat Factor