Contribution of wild edible plants to household livelihood in a semiarid Kondoa District, Tanzania

Mwajombe, Anselm; Liwenga, Emma T.; Mwiturubani, Donald Anthony

doi:10.1002/wfp2.12050

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In addition to having higher ( f ) and (UR) indices obtained in Table 4 , the majority of wild fruit species recorded in this ethnobotanical study have low market values. This assertion is consistent with [ 54 ], who earlier observed that income from selling wild fruits is more for subsistence than as a capital asset for the household in the semi-arid Kondoa District of Tanzania. Very few wild fruits were sold in urban areas for cash generation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania

Mgalula

2024

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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Background Wild edible fruits found in Tanzania's miombo woods are an indispensable source of food and medicine. Unfortunately, with the rapid expansion of human activities and urbanisation in the Tabora rural, Uyui and Sikonge districts of Western Tanzania, some wild fruits are disappearing due to the loss of plant diversity. The objectives of this study wereL: to document the knowledge related to wild edible fruits; to quantify the use and cultural significance, and to determine their threats. Methods The ethnobotanical study was conducted from June 2022 to February 2023 involving 244 local informants. The study used field visits, the collection of plant parts, and semi-structured interviews with locals for its data collection. Descriptive statistics and correlation test were used to analyse the knowledge related to wild fruits. Frequency citation (f) and use reports (UR) were computed to understand the diversity and cultural significance (CI). Results The study documented 27 wild edible fruit species used for food and medicine. The life form constituted deciduous shrubs or trees (64%), shrub trees (21%) and evergreen or deciduous trees (15%). About (56%) of wild edible fruits were collected from June to August after the rainy season, (33%) were harvested between December and May during the rainy season, and (11%) were gathered from September and November before the rainy season. Household size and sex of the respondents were significantly correlated to the knowledge of wild edible fruits. Higher utilisation frequency (f) was recorded for Vitex mombassae Vatke (f = 0.84), Strychnos spinosa Lam. (f = 0.82), Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr. (f = 0.56), Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog. (f = 0.45), Vangueria infausta Burchell (f = 0.45), Tamarindus indica L. (f = 0.38), Parinari curatellifolia (f = 0.25), Landolphia parvifolia K.Schum. (f = 0.22) and Microcos conocarpa Burret (f = 0.22) fruits species. Additionally, Phyllogeiton discolor (Klotzsch) Herzog. (UR = 56), Vitex mombassae Vatke (UR = 56), Tamarindus indica L. (UR = 37), Strychnos spinosa Lam. (UR = 14) and Friesodielsia obovata (Benth.) Verdc. (UR = 11), have higher use reports (UR) and considered culturally important. Wild fruits were used to cure diabetes, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and respiratory infections ailments. Discussion and conclusion Multiple uses as well as the related knowledge of wild fruits have been documented. Friesodielsia obovata, Grewia flavescens Juss and Thespesia garckeana F.Hoffm. are the medicinal fruit species reported for the first time. Harvesting of wood plants, charcoal activities, crop cultivation, grazing expansion, and environmental change, have had an impact on the diversity of wild edible fruit plants. Over the past three decades, the use of wild fruits has been impacted by the loss of plant diversity due to decline of cultural norms on the forests management. Given the variety of uses for wild fruits, promoting markets for native fruits, sensitising the locals about the cultural importance and innovation on processing techniques are necessary to spur conservation efforts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania

Mgalula

2024

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that up to 1.6 billion people-almost 25% of the world's population-rely on these resources every day for their livelihoods (FAO, 2015). For example, in Tanzania, Mwajombe et al (2022) found that IWEPs provided income in about one in ten households in the study accounting for 10% of the total household income.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Diversity and utilization of indigenous wild edible plants and their contribution to food security in Turkana County, Kenya

Oduor

Kaindi

Abong

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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IntroductionIndigenous Wild edible plants (IWEPs) are consumed daily in some form by at least one in seven people worldwide. Many of them are rich in essential nutrients with the potential for dietary and nutrition improvement particularly for poor households. They are, however, often overlooked. This study investigated diversity, consumption frequency, and perceptions of IWEPs and the contribution they make to the food security of communities in Turkana County, northern Kenya. Our findings are aimed at stimulating targeted discussions among stakeholders involved in food security programs on best way to overcome the poverty stigma associated with IWEPs consumption and to promote their utilization for food security, nutritional and dietary improvement, and enhanced community resilience.MethodsApplying a mixed-methods approach, we collected data using 12 gender-disaggregated focus group discussions and a questionnaire applied to a random sample of 360 households.Results and DiscussionParticipants identified 73 IWEPs, of which 24 were consumed in the preceding six months by 48.5% of households. Almost all surveyed households (96%) were classified as severely food insecure, and food insecurity did not differ significantly between households that consumed IWEPs and those that did not. Our results indicate that more IWEPs consumers than non-consumers reported eating foods they had not wanted to consume to cope with food scarcity, as well as having to eat fewer meals than normal. Just over half of the respondents (57.1%) held positive attitudes towards IWEPs, which was positively associated with a higher likelihood of IWEPs consumption. Long distances to harvest sites, lack of knowledge about the plants, their seasonality, and how to cook them appetizingly, coupled with overall unfavorable perceptions, are probable reasons for non-consumption of IWEPs among the survey respondents. In line with other studies cited on wild foods, we conclude that IWEPs have the potential to bridge food and nutritional deficits in food insecure households in the study area, although currently their consumption remains limited. Given this potential, further analysis of IWEPs’ nutritional composition and restoration of wild edible foods to local areas should be given priority, as well as interventions that help to overcome the challenges to their consumption and promote their wider use.

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Beyond harvest: unlocking economic value through value addition in wild edible plants for sustainable livelihood in Arunachal Himalayas

Mihu,

Deuri,

Borah

et al. 2024

Genet Resour Crop Evol

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Contribution of wild edible plants to household livelihood in a semiarid Kondoa District, Tanzania

Cited by 5 publications

References 28 publications

An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania

An ethnobotanical study of wild edible fruits in miombo woodlands of Tabora region in Western Tanzania

Diversity and utilization of indigenous wild edible plants and their contribution to food security in Turkana County, Kenya

Beyond harvest: unlocking economic value through value addition in wild edible plants for sustainable livelihood in Arunachal Himalayas

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