Critical Review on Wild-Edible Fruit Species in Ethiopia

Abstract

Wild edible fruit species are commonly consumed and utilized in different parts of Ethiopia for staple food, filling seasonal food shortages, emergency food during a famine, and household income generation. There is a pressing need for domestication and improvement of some wild edible fruits for increased production, diversifying income for small-scale farmers, and conservation of the diminishing wild edible fruit resources. A total of 37 widely utilized and marketed wild edible fruit species falling into 23 families were recognized as of used in different parts of the country. Of which, 26 species are identified as available in local markets in different parts of the country. Ziziphus spina-christi, Syzygium guineense, Balanites aegyptiaca, and other nine species were identified as a priority wild edible fruit species from available information based on utilization extent, preference ranking by farmers, product marketability, and conservation needs for the species. There exists a lack of scientifically planned genetic variation evaluation, superior variety selection, genetic improvement, and seedling production initiatives for indigenous wild edible fruit species in Ethiopia. All of the 37 widely utilized and marketed wild fruit species have not developed to their full potential in terms of quality, production scale, and market in the country. Identifying and selecting priority species, strengthening botanical information, germplasm collection and improvement, production and processing technologies, increasing the supply of improved planting materials, and promoting on-farm cultivation of wild edible fruit-based agroforestry systems were identified as key future strategies for domestication and wider cultivation of wild edible fruit species.

Living under extreme conditions: How African communities are coping with a changing climate

“…In Zimbabwe, many households rely on wild fruits as a source of food for nearly a quarter of the dry seasons (Kidane and Kejela, 2021). This is similar to trends seen in Ethiopia, where wild fruits are consumed to withstand seasonal shortage of food (Melaku and Ebrahim, 2021). In contrast to this, in Uganda most wild fruits are gathered during the rainy season (Nyero et al, 2021).…”

“…Under extreme conditions, local communities usually adopt various measures, so as to cope with their impacts (Debela et al, 2019). These may include income diversification by growing different cash and food crops, feeding animals with crop residues and tree branches, utilization of hay for animals feed, and the gathering and consumption of wild fruits and vegetables as food items (Coppock, 1994;Abdulla, 2013;Birhanu et al, 2017;Melaku and Ebrahim, 2021). Table 1 outlines some examples of plants being used in various ways, as part of the adaptation strategies implemented by various communities in an attempt to cope with extreme events.…”

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

“…A critical review of wild edible species of Ethiopia found a lack of scientifically based information about a key range of genetic variables important for tree domestication which has resulted in a failure to capture their full potential in terms of quality, production, and marketing [452].…”

Assessment of Edible Woody Plants’ Diversity, Their Threats, and Local People’s Perception in Borecha Woreda of Buno Bedele Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

“…Adansonia digitata L., Tamarindus indica L., and Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. are some of the underutilized species in Ethiopia [14]. Tis study therefore flls the gaps by identifying households' expectations, conventional expertise, management problems, and consumption of edible woody plants in the study area.…”