Cultural, economic, and symbolic value of the enset crop in Sebat-Bet Guraghe, Southwest Ethiopia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Enset, with its starch-rich corm and pseudostem, is a staple meal for over 20 million Ethiopians, although it is almost unknown outside of a small production zone in southern Ethiopia. As a result, to fill a gap, this study investigates the Gurage people of Ethiopia’s socially constructed indigenous knowledge in producing and consuming the enset plant and its economic, cultural, and symbolic representational value, which has received little attention from several authors. In achieving the study’s stated objectives, a qualitative research approach was used, allowing the researchers to investigate the lived experiences of the local people. Although secondary data sources were used to analyze the discussion in this study, primary data was predominantly used. This primary data was collected through observation, key informant interviews, casual conversations, and focus group discussions. We found that the Gurage people are somewhat different from other enset cultivating societies in enset cultivation and transplantation. According to the study’s findings, enset is a factor in wealth stratification. Despite the previous studies, we discovered that enset plays a significant role in socializing the study people in various ways. Based on the study’s findings, the researchers recommend a more in-depth study focusing on the medicinal, disease or frost tolerance, pest and pathogen incidence importance of the enset plant in Chaha Woreda.