The significance of gathering wild orchid tubers for orphan household livelihoods in a context of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

Abstract

We investigated the role of gathering and selling the edible tubers of wild orchids by children orphaned by AIDS as one of their livelihood strategies, through a household survey administered to 152 households in three villages in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania during 2006 and 2007. Additionally, several household heads were selected as case studies and subjected to an in-depth life-history interview. Overall, most households in the study villages were very poor. We made comparisons within a total sample of 57 households headed by children orphaned by AIDS, 43 adult female-headed AIDS-affected households, and 52 adult male-headed non-AIDS-affected households in terms of food security and wealth outcomes after engaging in orchid tuber-gathering activities. The findings reveal that the majority of the orphan heads of households regarded the gathering and selling of wild orchid tubers as the best option for satisfying their basic needs. This category of households gathered more orchid tubers than the male-headed non-AIDS-affected households but not more than the female-headed AIDS-affected households. Children in these households spent more time on tuber-gathering activities than did members of the other households but had fewer household assets. Almost all the orphan-headed households depended on the cash obtained from selling orchid tubers to purchase food throughout the year. However, we surmise that gathering and selling wild orchid tubers fails to pull these children out of poverty and functions merely as a survival strategy.

Perspectives of Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS on Ecology and Gathering of Wild Orchids in Tanzania

“…Most orchid tuber gatherers viewed preferred orchid species of high market value as being under threat due to their scarcity and the long distance the gatherers had to travel in search of the species. This finding relates to prior findings that the same edible orchid species were in declining abundance (Challe and Price 2009; Challe and Struik 2008; Challe et al 2011). In previous studies, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS frequented the gathering sites more often and gathered more orchid tubers than others (although not much different from HIV/AIDS-affected adult female gatherers).…”

“…HIV/ AIDS double orphans who emigrated from urban settings experience a social change in their day-to-day activities, while HIV/ AIDS double orphans residing in their natal rural communities and under guardian care maintain consistent surroundings. However, orphans of both types acquire knowledge through the complex inter-the same edible orchid species were in declining abundance (Challe and Price 2009;Challe and Struik 2008;Challe et al 2011). In previous studies, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS frequented the gathering sites more often and gathered more orchid tubers than others (although not much different from HIV/AIDS-affected adult female gatherers).…”

“…Illegal gathering is also a sensitive issue. Challe was able to gain the trust of the different communities with the support of the local authorities (see also Challe et al 2011). During her long presence in the area, she was able to triangulate the information obtained.…”

“…Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS were an important group who spent more time gathering orchids than the other studied types of gatherers. Additionally, Challe et al (2011) found that orchid gathering played a major role in the livelihoods of orphans, particularly those double orphans (i.e., orphans who have lost both parents) in or heading orphan-headed households. However, their lack of knowledge may contribute to over-harvesting (Challe et al 2011; Veldman et al 2014, 2017).…”