Enset (Ensete Ventricosum) Production in Ethiopia: Its Nutritional and Socio-Cultural Values

Abstract

Enset is a perennial root crop indigenous to Ethiopia cultivated dominantly in the south and southwestern highlands. There are several enset varieties or clones mainly produced for their starch from the pseudostem while some are exclusively cultivated for their corm. Kocho, bulla, and corm (amicho) are the main food products of enset. We studied the nutritional, socio-economic, and cultural values of this crop. The corm (Neqaqa) was found to be more nutritious than bulla (Gena) except in starch and zinc contents. Enset is rich in starch but low in protein composition hence, dietary protein source is mandatory. It plays great role in the food security of the country and a staple food for significant Ethiopian population. It has several environmental, nutritional, and socio-cultural importance however its cultivation is under disease challenges. Continuous research effort is required to improve the production of enset and its food products and fiber processing.

Yeasts and bacteria associated with kocho, an Ethiopian fermented food produced from enset (Ensete ventricosum)

“…Enset food can be harvested at any time when other crops fail to grow due to drought. Furthermore, it can be stored for longer period and thus is available all year round (Birmeta et al 2002, 2004a; Daba and Shigeta 2016). …”

Ensete ventricosum: A Multipurpose Crop against Hunger in Ethiopia

“…Both Kocho and Bulla are rich sources of carbohydrates. Nevertheless, Kocho has lower starch (75 g/100 g) than Bulla (89 g/100 g) on dry matter basis [59,60]. e average daily intake of enset foods is 0.55 kg providing 68% of the total energy, the highest known, 20% of protein and 28% of iron.…”

“…e average daily intake of enset foods is 0.55 kg providing 68% of the total energy, the highest known, 20% of protein and 28% of iron. Both food products are poor in total fat and protein [59,60].…”

“…Studies have revealed variations in chemical composition of enset plant parts and food products. is variation is attributed to the type of enset clone, harvesting age, management practice [59], spacing and frequency of transplanting, physical and chemical nature of the soil, method of cultivation, climatic conditions [23], and length of fermentation period [47]. According to [62], Bulla from the Gewada enset clone has a higher fat, fibre, carbohydrate, energy, and iron than other clones.…”

Micronutrient composition and microbial community analysis across diverse landraces of the Ethiopian orphan crop enset

“…Despite the importance of enset for food security and the existence of hundreds of diverse landraces (Borrell et al, 2018), the nutritional composition of the raw plant tissues and processed food products (e.g. kocho ) has only been reported in a small number of landraces (Bosha et al, 2016; Daba & Shigeta, 2016; Mohammed et al, 2013; Nurfeta, Tolera, Eik, & Sundstøl, 2008). Reported nutritional composition and the relative concentrations of certain micronutrients show considerable variation.…”