Abstract:
The assessment of WEPs and associated indigenous knowledge was conducted in Jor district.
The objective of the study was to assess the WEPs and associated indigenous knowledge of local
people. From eleven smallest administrative units, five were purposively selected for the data
collection from study area and 384 informants were selected randomly from 1992 households by
using simple random sampling. The size of sample population for each smallest administrative
unit was determined using sample size determination formula. Data collection on WEPs was
conducted from October to November 2021 with representative households. The collection of
WEPs data tools were semi-structured, focus group discussions and guided field walk with
informants. The collected data was analyzed by using Microsoft excel spread sheet, preference
ranking, paired comparison and direct matrix ranking. A total of 44 WEPs species belongs to 37
genera and 25 families were identified from the study area. In the study area, collection of WEPs
was dominated mainly by women and children. Based on their mode of consumptions, most of
the WEPs (52.27%) were consumed raw and others were after cooking. Herbs account for 36.36
% followed by Trees (31.36%), Shrubs (20.45%) and Lianas (11.36%). Fruits were the most
used parts (54.54%) followed by leaf (25%), seed (2.27%), tuber (2.27%) and young shoot
(2.27%) in the area. The diversity use value of 10 wild edible plants species from the total of
WEPs in Jor district were recorded. From these the average use value for the species was taken,
the score of each species summed up and ranked. According to preference ranking analysis, the
fruit of Balanites aegyptiaca was the most preferred wild edible plants over the other reported
wild edible plants followed by root of Colacasia esculenta. However, WEPs are like other plants
species threatened due to various human activities and natural causes. Therefore, the
conservation of plants species as well as preserving indigenous knowledge were the fundamental
urgent issues
