Integration of indigenous wild woody perennial edible fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes of Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was undertaken in three districts of Amhara region to assess the extent and purpose of integration of wild indigenous woody perennial fruit bearing species in the agricultural landscapes, appraise their species composition and diversity and identify factors holding back farm integration. Data were gathered through interviews administered to 90 randomly chosen household heads, and fruit trees census in each and every plot of the informants. Species diversity was found to be low and vary by farm, land use type and site. Altogether 17 species were recorded in the agricultural settings. Species retention in the different land use types appears to be governed by species relative importance and compatibility with annual crops, where farm edges recorded a higher ethno-ecological importance score. Nevertheless, as it stands now fruit bearing species are retained primarily for non-fruit utilities. Free availability, land shortage, slope and altitude as well as disgrace feelings are among the major factors holding back farm integration and diversity of indigenous species for fruit production. Should they are additionally exploited for their fruits proper, there is a critical need to raise recognition and awareness at the rural grassroots level and instill knowledge about the food values, and assist in appropriate tree management techniques and inter-cropping regimes as well as accessing markets.

Conservation of Plant Diversity in Rural Homegardens with Cultural and Geographical Variation in Three Districts of Barak Valley, Northeast India1

“…In the present study the diversity in the homegardens of tea garden laborers, which often have access to the natural forests near the tea garden areas, showed higher diversity in comparison to homegardens of Meitei Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities whose homegardens lack access to natural forests. This finding is in agreement with Fentahun and Hager (2010), who found a clear decrease in species diversity as access to the forest declined.…”

“…This means that the more parent trees present in the natural environment, the higher the probability that farmers plant more trees in their farms (Fentahun and Hager 2010). In the present study the diversity in the homegardens of tea garden laborers, which often have access to the natural forests near the tea garden areas, showed higher diversity in comparison to homegardens of Meitei Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri communities whose homegardens lack access to natural forests.…”

“…In other studies the diversity of homegardens were found to sharply decline with the increase in altitude (Fentahun and Hager 2010;Schadegan et al 2013). Similarly, in the present study a lower diversity was recorded for the geographically isolated, high altitude Khasi community even though the homegardens are surrounded by natural forest.…”

“…The homegarden owners are aware of the importance of such forest species and show pride and interest in the presence of naturally occurring forest tree species in their homegardens. The conservation value of homegardens as repositories of underutilized, wild, and endangered plants has been highlighted by several studies around the world (Fentahun and Hager 2010;Huai et al 2011;Millow et al 2013) …”

Achieving food and nutritional security through agroforestry: a case of Faidherbia albida in sub-Saharan Africa

“…It is a continent receiving most food aid (Clover, 2003), with Malawi, for instance, in need of between 272000 to 423000 tons of food aid or its cash equivalent in 2006 (AU, 2006). This dictates the need for increased farmland diversifi cation to provide solutions that successfully combine increased food and nutritional security, cash generation and biodiversity conservation gains (Fentahun and Hager, 2010). Agroforestry is one viable option to improve and sustain the productivity of agrosystems and reduce environmental destruction.…”