Assessment of Diversity of Wild Edible Plants and Associated Indigenous Knowledge in Jor District, Anywaa Zone, Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia

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