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Exploiting locally available resources for food and nutritional security enhancement: wild fruits diversity, potential and state of exploitation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia

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Abstract

This paper features the composition of wild fruits, their exploitation and their potential contribution to improved food and nutritional security in three districts of the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Data were gathered through structured, semi-structured and key-informant interviews which were administered to the heads of 92 randomly chosen households. Focus group discussions and direct field explorations by the researchers were also undertaken. The results revealed that altogether 44 wild fruit species are available for use in the study areas. The fruits are rich in valuable nutrients and are accessible year-round with significant overlap at times of acute food and nutrient scarcity. Nevertheless, owing to the peoples’ cereal-based dietary habits, cultural perceptions and attitudes, the current state of fruit utilization is very low. Consequently, the potential nutritional contribution of wild fruits to the people’s diets remains largely unexploited. In order to remedy this situation, a wider and sustained acceptance of wild fruits as important dietary components must be fostered.

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Acknowledgements

This paper forms part of a PhD thesis of the first author funded by the Austrian Exchange Service (Österreichischer Austauschdienst) which is gratefully acknowledged. We are also highly indebted to the Institute of Forest Ecology of Boku University for hosting the first author for his PhD studies and our greatest thanks are due to the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute for offering him the opportunity of the study and logistic and financial support for some of the activities. We give special thanks to farmers, district agricultural and rural development offices and the several individuals who have been helpful in many ways during the fieldwork. We are also indebted to the two anonymous reviewers and the editor-in-chief who provided us with invaluable comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Research Directorate Division, Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Mengistu Tiruneh Fentahun

  2. Department of Forest and Soil sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, Boku University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan Street 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria

    Herbert Hager

Authors
  1. Mengistu Tiruneh Fentahun
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  2. Herbert Hager
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Correspondence to Mengistu Tiruneh Fentahun.

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Fentahun, M.T., Hager, H. Exploiting locally available resources for food and nutritional security enhancement: wild fruits diversity, potential and state of exploitation in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Food Sec. 1, 207–219 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-009-0017-z

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