Wild Vegetable Species in Makawanpur District, Central Nepal: Developing a Priority Setting Approach for Domestication to Improve Food Security

Abstract

Makawanpur district in Central Nepal is considered a biodiversity hotspot of the country. Numerous wild plant species are traditionally used as vegetables and contribute to nutrition and food security of local communities. However, abundance and use of many of these wild vegetables have been decreasing, which calls for domestication and cultivation of priority species. This study aimed at documenting wild vegetable species and their use to develop a priority list for future domestication efforts. Wild vegetables were surveyed in three agro–climatic zones (500–2,200 masl) of the Makawanpur district in natural forest, homegardens, farmer’s fields, fallow land, and markets. Information about local names, plant parts used, seasonal availability, mode of consumption, primary consumers, and preference ranking for consumption and sale was gathered during forest/field walks and by semi–structured interviews of 144 respondents (including men, women, and children) of three ethnic groups. Priority setting was based on nine variables related to priorities for taste and sale, species’ occurrence in homegardens, wide use among ethnic groups, broad altitude range, harvest season, level of threat as perceived by respondents, children’s preference for consumption, and possibility for processing. A total of 89 vegetable species were identified. Forests and fallows were most important for collecting wild vegetables, which were mainly used for home consumption. Only 26 species were also sold in markets. Ethnic group, respondent’s age, and altitude of the location had a significant influence on the respondents’ knowledge of wild vegetables, while gender had no influence. The following six species were rated highest in the priority setting: Bauhinia variegata L., Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees & Arn. ex Munro, Bambusa tulda Roxb., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Dryopteris cochleata (Ham. ex D. Don) C. Chr., and Tectaria gemmifera (Fee) Alston. The developed priority setting approach was considered suitable, but it should also include further variables such as nutritional value and market potential of the species before it being recommended for further testing.