Socialising over fruits and vegetables: the biocultural importance of an open-air market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

Background Earth’s biocultural diversity comprising biological, cultural and linguistic diversities is being eroded quickly. Our ability to recognise and appreciate what is remaining is crucial for its survival. However, not all forms of diversity are appreciated equally and a growing trend in plant blindness indicates that humans ignore plants in the environment. In this context, open-air markets emerge as cultural spaces that bring people closer to each other, as well as with local biodiversity represented by fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 160 people visiting Tamu Kianggeh of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. We randomly interviewed every fifth adult visitor (> 18 years) leaving the market on Fridays and Sundays continuously for a month, using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire had 18 questions related to demographic particulars, reasons for visiting the market, vendor preference, social networking and visits to open-air markets and supermarkets. Results and discussion People visit the market for the diversity of vegetables/fruits; local fruits and vegetables; socialising; cheap prices; ability to bargain; freshness of the products; convenience; medicinal plants; snacks; leisure etc. The ethnic diversity represented at the market comprised chiefly of Malay, Kedayan, Iban, Dusun, Tutong, Chinese communities and foreigners. Majority of the respondents chose ‘availability of a wide range of fruits and vegetables’ as the primary reason for the visit, followed by ‘availability of local fruits and vegetables’. Tamu Kianggeh sold larger number of fruits and vegetables (104 taxa, 26 natives, 2 endemics) compared to the nearest supermarket (85 taxa, 14 natives and 1 endemic). A significant number of respondents also reported that they had made friends at the market. Conclusion Tamu Kianggeh is a meeting ground for ethnic and biological diversities, a property that makes them important centres of biocultural diversity at the local level. Open-air markets such as Tamu Kianggeh bring people closer to a diverse range of vegetables and fruits. They also bring people closer to each other by serving as platforms for socialising. We propose that strategies developed to counter plant blindness should also consider the potential of open-air markets.

Wild food plants and fungi sold in the markets of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

“…Open air markets are an important part of the eastern and south Asian rural economy, and even though Asia is the largest, most populous, and perhaps the most diverse of all continents, such studies are quite few and far between ([ 4 – 33 ];). Although surveys of wild edible plants and fungi sold in Southeast Asia are rare, some research effort has been put into studying the socioeconomic aspects of “green” open markets in general [ 44 – 47 ] as well as the contamination of plants with heavy metals [ 48 ] or parasites and pathogens [ 49 – 51 ]. Some studies from Southeast Asia performed in open air markets concern plant genetic resources from a single species, genus or family; the identification of the main cultivated plants (e.g., [ 52 – 56 ]); or medicinal plants [ 24 , 57 ].…”

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants traded in herbal markets of Kahramanmaraş

“…Herbal markets, in turn, not only supply herbal treatment for diseases but also conserve biocultural diversity by transferring traditional knowledge to future generations. Accordingly, several studies have documented traditional knowledge in herbal markets ( Bussmann et al, 2007 , Bussmann et al, 2016 ; Idu et al., 2010 ; Quiroz et al., 2014 ; Sher et al., 2014 ; Towns et al., 2014 ; Randriamiharisoa et al., 2015 ; Tinitana et al., 2016 ; Carvalho et al., 2018 ; Jin et al., 2018 ; Luo et al., 2018 ; Franco et al., 2020 ; Nanogulyan et al., 2020 ). Ethnopharmacological investigation of herbal markets can also be a useful method to find new herbal recipes, which can be used to treat many diseases that cannot be treated by standard health systems ( Mushtaq et al., 2018 ; Petrakou et al, 2020 ).…”

Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae

“…Brunei Darussalam: Curcuma rhizomes are commonly sold in local markets (Franco et al 2020). Thailand: Local people in Northeastern Thailand extract a yellow dye from rhizomes for use in the cotton and silk textile industry (Junsongduang et al 2017).…”