The role of wild plants in the native diet in Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is rich in indigenous oral plant lore. The use of wild plants in the native diet, in religious ceremonies as well as for magic and medicinal purposes is commonplace and widespread. This tradition is the result of depressed agricultural production due to primitive agricultural methods, frequent natural calamities such as desert locust and army worm infestation, frequent tribal fueds, etc., resulting in chronic food shortages for the rural agricultural population on the one hand, and the rich floristic wealth of the country on the other. Ethiopians possess a sound knowledge about proper diet and their problem is often the lack of an adequate and constant food supply. The knowledge, tradition, and opportunity of using wild plants (fruits, leafy vegetables, starchy roots, etc.) as supplements to their diets is thus wide. In general, wild plants are consumed more by young rural males than older ones in times of peace, and more are consumed by all ages and both sexes in periods of famine, wars and at the height of the dry season each year.