Effects of socio-economic household characteristics on traditional knowledge and usage of wild yams and medicinal plants in the Mahafaly region of south-western Madagascar

Abstract

BackgroundRural households in the Mahafaly region of semi-arid SW-Madagascar strongly depend on the exploitation of natural resources for their basic needs and income regeneration. An overuse of such resources threatens the natural environment and people’s livelihood. Our study focuses on the diversity and use of wild yams and medicinal plants.MethodsWe hypothesized that knowledge on the use of these resources highly depends on farmers’ socio-economic household characteristics. To test this hypothesis, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted based on semi-structured interviews recording socio-economic base data and information on local knowledge of medicinal and wild yam species. This was followed by field inventories compiling plant material for botanical identification.ResultsSix species of wild yam and a total of 214 medicinal plants from 68 families and 163 genera were identified. Cluster and discriminant analysis yielded two groups of households with different wealth status characterized by differences in livestock numbers, off-farm activities, agricultural land and harvests. A generalized linear model highlighted that economic factors significantly affect the collection of wild yams, whereas the use of medicinal plants depends to a higher degree on socio-cultural factors.ConclusionsWild yams play an important role in local food security in the Mahafaly region, especially for poor farmers, and medicinal plants are a primary source of health care for the majority of local people. Our results indicate the influence of socio-economic household characteristics on the use of forest products and its intensity, which should be considered in future management plans for local and regional forest conservation.

Income diversification, wealth, education and well-being in rural south-western Madagascar: Results from the Mahafaly region

“…Instead, the collection of medicinal plants and building material were positively associated with wealth. Andriamparany et al (2014) found that yam collection (one important kind of alimentary plants) is more frequent among poorer households in the same study region, while the collection of medicinal plants is related to cultural attitudes.…”

The Consumption of Wild Edible Plants

“…Different types are identified by local people who prize their sweet taste, size of tubers, and claimed nutritional value. Wild yams have a central role in local food security in the Mahafaly region, especially for poor farmers (Andriamparany et al 2014).…”

Distribution, biomass and local importance of tamarind trees in south-western Madagascar

“…Charcoal production is less intensive on the plateau compared to the littoral, which is probably the result of environmental education efforts from NGOs in this region. Furthermore, the proportion of medicinal use is lower in the plateau compared to the littoral, mainly because of the availability of much more medicinal plants in the plateau, whereas inhabitants of the coastal area depend to a higher degree on tamarind products for medicinal purposes (Andriamparany et al, 2014).…”