Enset‐based agricultural systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of production trends, agronomy, processing and the wider food security applications of a neglected banana relative

Abstract

Enset is a staple food for over 20 million people via its starch-rich corm and pseudostem, yet it is virtually unknown outside a narrow zone of cultivation in southern Ethiopia. Due to acculturation and urbanization coupled with climate change, emerging pests and the introduction of new crops, the extensive indigenous knowledge associated with this crop is in danger of being lost, imperilling the future food security and prosperity of millions of Ethiopians. Here, we synthesize the current state of enset ethnobotanical research, identifying key gaps and challenges, and provide a framework for further enset research to safeguard this important, but neglected, tropical crop. SummaryEnset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is the major starch staple of the Ethiopian Highlands, where its unique attributes enhance the food security of approximately 20 million people and have earned it the title "The Tree Against Hunger".Yet enset-based agriculture is virtually unknown outside of its narrow zone of cultivation, despite growing wild across much of East and Southern Africa. Here, we review historical production data to show that the area of land under enset production in Ethiopia has reportedly increased 46% in two decades, whilst yield increased 12fold over the same period, making enset the second most produced crop species in Ethiopia-though we critically evaluate potential issues with these data. Furthermore, we address a major challenge in the development and wider cultivation of enset, by reviewing and synthesizing the complex and fragmented agronomic and ethnobotanic knowledge associated with this species; including farming systems, processing methods, products, medicinal uses and cultural importance. Finally, we provide a framework to improve the quality, consistency and comparability of data collected across culturally diverse enset-based agricultural systems to enhanced sustainable | 213 BORRELL Et aL. S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section. How to cite this article: Borrell JS, Goodwin M, Blomme G, et al. Enset-based agricultural systems in Ethiopia: A systematic review of production trends, agronomy, processing and the wider food security applications of a neglected banana relative. Plants, People, Planet. 2020;2:212-228. https ://doi.

Perennial Staple Crops: Yields, Distribution, and Nutrition in the Global Food System

“…For example, enset ensured greater food security for millions of people in Ethiopia's Southern highlands during the famines of the 1970s and 1980s (Brandt et al, 1997). But, enset stands are sometimes being harvested earlier than the full 4-11 year cycle, thereby depleting stands before they mature (Borrell et al, 2020). Thus, while the harvest of stored calories in enset trunks and corms can mitigate food shortages for a time (Brandt et al, 1997), the depletion of enset stands or their loss due to other reasons reduces their subsequent ability to mitigate further disruptions in the food supply and they take longer to recover (Quinlan et al, 2015).…”

Determinants of the spatial distribution of enset (Ensete ventricosum Welw. Cheesman) wilt disease: Evidence from Yem special district, Southern Ethiopia

“…Chessman) is a perennial and monocarpic herb belonging to the banana family and originated in Ethiopia (Vavilov, 1951). Enset is a wonder food and income security crop for more than 20 million people, cultivated by millionof smallholder farmers in south, central and southwestern Ethiopia (Borrell et al, 2020). It is a source of food, cash, animal feed, medicine, fuelwood, construction, and ornament for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia (Jacobsen et al, 2018;Jones, 2000;Zerihun Yemataw et al, 2015).…”

“…The disease is widely distributed and presently found in almost all enset growing regions (Welde-Michael et al, 2010;Zerfu et al, 2018). Currently, it is reported that up to 80% of enset farms in enset growing areas of Ethiopia are infected by EXW, which directly affects the livelihood of more than 20 million enset farmers in the country (Borrell et al, 2020:Z. Yemataw et al, 2017. This leads to food insecurity among the rural community.…”

Enset-Based land use land cover change detection and its impact on soil erosion in Meki river watershed, Western Lake Ziway Sub-Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…Enset is an indigenous and herbaceous monocot plant and widely grown as a food crop (James S et al, 2020;Uloro & Mengel, 2014) and it is banana-like perennial plant that the enlarged pseudo-stem and underground corm (carbohydrates) of the plant is used for human consumption (Michael , 2002) and it is called "a national commodity" of Ethiopia (Anita, et al, 1996).…”