Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants of Kara and Kwego semi-pastoralist people in Lower Omo River Valley, Debub Omo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

A study of the Lower Omo River Valley, Ethiopia, identified 38 wild edible plant species used by Kara and Kwego semi-pastoralist communities as dietary supplements or famine foods. The plants, primarily trees (50%) and shrubs (29%), were consumed for their fruits (59%), leaves (33%), roots (8%), and seeds (3%). No significant differences in species richness, growth forms, or plant parts used were found between the two groups. Most plants were gathered during specific seasons, with 41% serving as substitutes for cultivated vegetables when scarcity struck. The research highlights the cultural significance of wild edible plants in food security strategies, while also noting gaps in nutritional and toxicological data that warrant further investigation.

Teklehaymanot, T., & Giday, M. (2010). Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants of Kara and Kwego semi-pastoralist people in Lower Omo River Valley, Debub Omo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-6-23