Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity

Authors

  • Ermias Lulekal Department of Plant Production Ghent University
  • Zemede Asfaw Department of Biology Addis Ababa University
  • Ensermu Kelbessa Department of Biology Addis Ababa University
  • Patrick Van Damme Department of Plant Production Ghent University Belgium ICRAF Nairobi Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v24i2.4998

Abstract

This work reviews literature on ethnobotanical knowledge of wild edible plants and their potential role in combating food insecurity in Ethiopia. Information on a total of 413 wild edible plants belonging to 224 genera and 77 families was compiled in this review. Shrubs represented 31% of species followed by trees (30%), herbs (29%) and climbers (9%). Families Fabaceae (35 species), Tiliaceae (20) and Capparidaceae (19) were found to be represented by the highest number of edible species. About 56% (233) of species have edibility reports from more than one community in Ethiopia. Fruits were reported as the commonly utilized edible part in 51% of species. It was found that studies on wild edible plants of Ethiopia cover only about 5% of the country’s districts which indicates the need for more ethnobotanical research addressing all districts. Although there have been some attempts to conduct nutritional analyses of wild edible plants, available results were found to be insignificant when compared to the wild edible plant wealth of the country. Results also show that wild edible plants of Ethiopia are used as supplementary, seasonal or survival food sources in many cultural groups, and hence play a role in combating food insecurity. The presence of anthropogenic and environmental factors affecting the wild plant wealth of the country calls for immediate action so as to effectively document, produce a development plan and utilize the plants. Key words: ethnobotany, cultural diversity, food insecurity, indigenous knowledge, nutritional analysis 

Author Biographies

Ermias Lulekal, Department of Plant Production Ghent University

Department of Plant Production Ghent University

Zemede Asfaw, Department of Biology Addis Ababa University

Department of BiologyAddis Ababa University

Ensermu Kelbessa, Department of Biology Addis Ababa University

Department of BiologyAddis Ababa University

Patrick Van Damme, Department of Plant Production Ghent University Belgium ICRAF Nairobi Kenya

Department of Plant Production

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Published

2011-08-03

How to Cite

Lulekal, E., Asfaw, Z., Kelbessa, E., & Van Damme, P. (2011). Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity. frika ocus, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v24i2.4998

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Articles