Assessment of Wild Edible Plant Species in East Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

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Wild edible plant species are very important to improve food security and diversify household income sources. However, its identification and document of wild edible plant species limited. The study was conducted in four districts of East Hararghe Zone, to identify and document of wild edible plant species in the study area. Wild edible plant species surveys, and data such as wilderness, edibility or parts used, growth form, threatening factors, conservation measures were assessed. People perceptions were captured from a total of 170 informants using an informal interview, focus group discussions, and questionnaires and observation in the study area. Most species taxonomically known and for those unknown, were collected and identified with elder peoples. Descriptive methods of data analysis were employed to analyze data on wild edible plant species. The result showed that a total of 26 wild edible plant species were recorded in the study area. Four life forms: 65% species were as trees, 15% as shrubs, 8% as herbs, and 8% as climbers. Parts used fruits 83%, bark 5%, seed 4%, leaf 4%, stem 2.94 and root 2% were recorded. Most of wild edible plant species were consumed as raw fruit (80%) as supplementary food supply. Women and children are responsible in wild edible plants collection. Potential of existed wild edible plants in the study area were low and the current abundance of wild edible plant species was decreasing. The most threatening factors to hinder the development of wild edible plant species were agricultural expansion and deforestation. This study identified the most importance of wild edible plant species to local communities, particularly in the selected districts. Wild edible plant plays an important role in rural livelihoods by ensuring food, medicine, and sustained income. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on domestication of wild edible plants in home gardens, mixing with crops in the study area to enhance the wild edible plan species production for food security and dietary diversity in East Hararghe Zone. Further research also need to collect and conserve, propagation and management activities of the wild edible plants identified in the study area. Further study also carried out on nutritional contents of the wild edible plants. Finally, further study must be on strengthening botanical information, germplasm collection and genetic improvement, increasing the supply of high-quality planting materials, and promoting on-farm cultivation in the form of agroforestry systems to recognize the identifying and selecting preferred species.