Collection, Consumption, and Sale of Lusala (Dioscorea hirtiflora)—a Wild Yam—by Rural Households in Southern Province, Zambia

Abstract

Dioscorea hirtiflora Benth. is an indigenous wild edible tuberous climbing plant native to Zambia. Known as lusala, the tubers are sold in markets across southern Zambia. Lusala collection, consumption, and trade were investigated through interviews with rural households (four districts) and market traders (three towns), and supplementary focus group discussions. Of 278 households interviewed, high proportions collected (83%), consumed (96%), and sold (59%) lusala, not varying amongst district or wealth category. Lusala populations were perceived to be declining in the wild by 79% of households. Tuber collection, largely by females and mainly from March to September, peaked in April when households engaged in each activity and collected 27.9 kg, consumed 12.0 kg, and sold 35.7 kg (from 129, 108, and 69 reporting households, respectively) that month, regardless of district, wealth category, or gender. Those sales provided an average household income of USD 16 in April 2017. In August 2017, each market trader purchased an average of 899 kg for USD 383. Local knowledge of D. hirtiflora was considerable. Lusala collected from forests is an important edible wild tuber in the local economy of the Southern Province of Zambia; it provides a seasonally important food supply and income to rural households and supplies demand for urban populations.

Propagation of lusala(Dioscorea hirtiflora), a wild yam, forin situandex situconservation and potential domestication

“…subsp. pedicellata Milne-Redh is known locally as lusala, busala, or lwiidi within the Tonga ethnic group of Southern Zambia and is an important wild edible tuber there (Wilkin, 2001;Forestry Department, 2016;Zulu et al, 2019). Lusala is an annual of open woodland and grassland with scattered trees growing at altitudes of 200-1700 m with vines that can reach 3 to 8 m, often twining around shrubs or trees, producing 1-6 cylindrical tubers of up to 5 cm in diameter (Wilkin, 2001).…”

“…Yield per plant has not been estimated, and foragers harvest tubers from clumps of plants periodically. In southern Zambia, most rural households forage the tubers from forests to consume and/or trade seasonally (March-September), and it is in high demand from urban populations (Zulu et al, 2019).…”

“…The West African D. hirtiflora is one such example and is consumed in times of food shortage after preparation to reduce or eliminate the toxicity (Fern, 2019). In contrast, lusala from Central Africa is edible (Wilkin, 2001) and does not appear to be toxic: foragers chew it raw, while it is widely consumed once cooked (Zulu et al, 2019). Lusala's nutritional value is similar to cultivated yams in most respects, but protein and iron contents are superior being some 2 and 10 times greater, respectively (Nyirenda et al, 2007).…”

“…Lusala's nutritional value is similar to cultivated yams in most respects, but protein and iron contents are superior being some 2 and 10 times greater, respectively (Nyirenda et al, 2007). It is described as tasty and blends well with groundnuts, eggs, fish, and meat in cooked meals (Zulu et al, 2019). Despite its local importance, lusala is largely undomesticated, with limited research attention, while populations in the wild are declining due to overharvesting and deforestation (Forestry Department, 2016;Zulu et al, 2019).…”

“…It is described as tasty and blends well with groundnuts, eggs, fish, and meat in cooked meals (Zulu et al, 2019). Despite its local importance, lusala is largely undomesticated, with limited research attention, while populations in the wild are declining due to overharvesting and deforestation (Forestry Department, 2016;Zulu et al, 2019). Domestication may be one route to the sustainable utilization of lusala to relieve the pressure from foraging on this species in the wild.…”