The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia Getachew Addis, Zemede Asfaw and Zerihun Woldu Research Abstract A survey was conducted to investigate incidence of food would contribute to the fight against food insecurity and shortage and coping mechanisms, knowledge, con- malnutrition. This is the right route towards food-secure sumption attitudes and practices, and conservation and communities targeting food sovereignty where communi- management of wild and semi-wild edible plant species ties could maintain their traditional foods while producing (WEPS) by Hamer and Konso communities of Ethiopia. or collecting them at their own convenience. Research in Irrespective of their social and economic strata, all study different parts of Africa has shown that wild plant and ani- participants reported consumption of WEPS in which in- mal species are quite extensively used both in times of creasing frequency, quantity and number of species con- food glut and during acute food shortage (Ogle & Grivet- sumed during food scarcity. More WEPS were consumed ti 1985a, Zinyama et al. 1990). Mostly, women and chil- during famine that had lower sensory acceptability, poor dren routinely go out into the field and forests to collect cooking quality, and inflicted some kind of health prob- a variety of leaves, roots and tubers, seeds, and fruits. lems. Leptadenia lancifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Decne. When food is plentiful, many societies usually use these was the most preferred WEPS sought after during food plants as side dishes, as relishes accompanying the main deficiency by both communities. Ninety-three WEPS are meals, or as snacks in between meals (Lepofsky et al. managed by both communities mainly in the vicinity of hu- 1985, Ogle & Grivetti 1985d, Zinyama et al. 1990). Many man settlements and farmlands. The Konso community studies show that a number of the wild edible plants sup- demonstrated long established cultural practices of con- ply a considerable amount of required nutrients (Addis et serving, managing and using WEPS. Planning for promo- al. 2013, Maundu et al. 1999). tion, sustainable use and conservation of WEPS should take note of knowledge and practices of local communi- A limited number of studies have reported on use of wild ties on account of the key roles they would play in food plants in the Ethiopian diet (Addis et al. 2005, Asfaw & security-sovereignty initiatives. Introduction Correspondence Narrowing down of food sources by promoting high-yield- Getachew Addis, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Insti- ing varieties through agricultural practices is a potential tute, P.O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA. threat to sustainable crop production in view of the imped- [email protected] ing climate change. Existing evidence indicates increase in pathogenicity and/or emergence of new virulent patho- Zemede Asfaw and Zerihun Woldu, Department of Biology, Ad- gens due to warming up of the climate (Anderson et al. dis Ababa University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA. 2004, Brasier 1996). Studies by Brasier (1996) showed that Phytophthora cinnamomi causes more severe root rot on oak at higher temperatures. Diversifying food sourc- es through the use of ecologically adapted crops, includ- Ethnobotany Research & Applications 11:251-271 (2013) ing selected recruits from among the wild edible species, Published: November 28, 2013 www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol11/i1547-3465-11-251.pdf 252 Ethnobotany Research & Applications Tadesse 2001, Balemie & Kebebew 2006, Feyssa et al. study and to augment the knowledge base, practices, and 2012, Getahun 1974, Guinand & Lemessa 2001, Lulekal attitudes of the communities towards use of WEPS; the et al. 2011, Mengistu & Hager 2008, Ocho et al. 2012, local coping mechanisms against intermittent food scar- Soromessa & Demissew 2002, Woldu et al. 2006, Won- city and famine in these areas; and sustainable use and dimu et al. 2006). Utilization of wild plants for food varies conservation of plants in general and WEPS in particu- with age and gender, time of the day, seaso,n and avail- lar. Ethiopia’s aspirations to create healthy and productive able food stock. The number of species and plant parts environments, and communities enjoying food security as used for food by all age and gender groups increases at well as food sovereignty could be realized through effec- times of famine or food shortage resulting from domes- tive application of indigenous knowledge and practices. tic conflicts. Monks, nuns, and hermits of monasteries in The present investigation was mainly designed to study isolated rural Orthodox Churches in Ethiopia supplement the management practices, and the scale and conditions their diet with plant resources obtained from the wild (Ge- of wild/semi-wild plant consumption in two communities tahun 1974). (Hamer and Konso) of southern Ethiopia. The knowledge, tradition, and opportunity of using wild Study Area and Methods plants as supplements to dietary intakes have been de- scribed for some communities. The collection, documen- Study areas and people tation, and dissemination of indigenous knowledge on WEPS have been limited to a few ethnic groups in Ethio- A reconnaissance survey was conducted between Feb- pia. Inventories of wild edible plants are mostly available ruary and March 2005 to select study sites. According- in the major languages such as Amharic, Oromo, and Ti- ly, Hamer and Konso woredas (districts) were selected gre (Addis et al. 2005, Feyssa et al. 2012, Wondimu et based on existing vegetation types, natural resource man- al. 2006). There are few or no documents on indigenous agement, indigenous knowledge, and practices associat- knowledge and practice with wild and semi-wild edible ed with conservation and use of wild plants. The majority plant species (WEPS) in the remote parts of southern Ethi- of the inhabitants in these woredas are of the Hamer and opia where their use is even more prominent both at times Konso ethnic communities. of glut and food deficiency. Therefore, there is a need to Hamer woreda is located between 4o31’ to 5o28’ o 36.5 E N andA=Angude 36o9’ to 36o53’ E at an altitudinal range of 0 10 20 381B=Asele to 2084 meters above sea level (masl) (Figure 1). C=DimekaThe annual Town rainfall ranges between 480 mm in kilometers N the D=Dimekaextreme lowland Zuriya to 827 mm at Dimeka (cap- ital E=Kolatown of Keji the woreda) which may be higher in 5.25oN moreF=Lala elevated parts. The population of Hamer is estimated at 46,129, of whom 98.6% reside in ru- C F ral areas (Population Census Commission 2008). D G The majority from the Hamer community sustain their life mainly through cattle raising supplement- ed by a little cereal crop production and collection E of wild edible plants. Livestock and their products are sources of cash for immediate use, food, and A prestige in the community. The Hamer are patrilin- B ETHIOPIA ETHIOPIA Addis Ababa Konso Figure 1. Hamer, Ethiopia, woreda with study kebeles (lowest ad- ministrative unit): A. Angude, B. Asele, C. Dimeka Town, D. Dimeka Hamer Zuriya, E. Kola Keji, F. Lala; and a forest G. Buska Mountain massif. www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol11/i1547-3465-11-251.pdf Addis et al. - The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants to Household 253 Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Ethnic Groups, South Ethiopia eal, but the heavier burden of family responsibility falls on rate homesteads. The newer lowland villages are not sur- women. Hamer social events such as Ivan-Gadi (dancing rounded by the intricate walls. The Konso are hardened throughout the night), Ekuli-Bula (bull jumping rituals for by the challenges of the vagaries of life such as shortage adolescent males), to qualify for marriage, and using col- of land, recurrent drought, and ethnic conflicts. They have ored clay paste mixed with butter for cosmetic purposes effectively managed and changed these challenges into are their important cultural displays. During marriage ar- opportunities for development of traditional technologies rangements, the bride is allowed to consume only animal which transformed the inhospitable Konso terrain into a products (meat, milk, and blood) for months without any remarkable landscape of stone terraces, agroforestry, soil contact with the groom until the approval of the elders. fertility management, and water harvesting and storage The Hamer communities have maintained their culture for systems. They have invested more for delayed, but sus- generations, but now-a-days there is more and more ex- tained, environmental returns than on immediate benefits. posure to the outside world given the improved access This was the major reason for the recognition of the “Kon- and increasing flow of tourists. so Cultural Landscape of Ethiopia” as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The agroforestry and mixed cropping sys- o o Konso woreda is located between 5 15’ to 5 30’ N and tem that includes growing cabbage trees, haleko [Morin- o o 37 15’ to 37 30’ E and lies between 650 to 2650 masl (Fig- ga stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod.], to ensure food security ure 2). The woreda has an annual rainfall ranging from at all times is peculiar to Konso and a few other communi- 771 to 921 mm with a pronounced bimodal pattern. Ac- ties in southern Ethiopia. cording to the 2007 national census of Ethiopia, the popu- lation of the Konso community was 219,004, the majority of whom (211,498) dwell in the rural parts and depend on Methods subsistence agriculture (Population Census Commission 2008). Most of the Konso villages are strategically situat- Hamer and Konso communities were purposely selected ed on higher ground for lookout and defense. The villages for the study due to their rich indigenous knowledge on usually include a part called mora (central place), which wild edible plants, botanical diversity in the area, and ex- is used for social gatherings, cultural proceedings, and in- emplary practice in natural resource management (Foerch formal education.