INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE-BASED EVALUATION OF AMBACHI TUBEROUS PLANT AS A FUTURE FAMINE FOOD CROP FOR DARFUR STATE, SUDAN

Malnutrition and associated diseases are major challenges in the semi-arid Sahelian zone of Africa, where rainfall is <600 mm per annum. The objective of this study was to document indigenous knowledge on the significance and management of Ambachi ( Dioscorea hispida ) in East Darfur State, Sudan. A total of 101 respondents was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in Bahr Alarab Locality, located in East Darfur State. Additionally, key informants and group discussions were held with local leaders to supplement data collection. The results revealed that Ambachi plant is fairly plentiful in East Darfur state, and grows naturally in the wild. All respondents were knowledgeable about Ambachi plant\u2019s appearance, growth cycle, usage and storage processes. Generally, Ambachi tubers are stored in various types of natural and synthetic containers, and for varied periods of time. However, up to 78% of the respondents reported Shawwal (made of plastic material), as the most preferred container for storage of dry tubers. Virtually all households (99%) attested to consuming Ambachi-based foods particularly during famine periods. Up to 98% of Ambachi plant tubers are soaked before cooking to remove the bitter taste; and two thirds of interviewees were familiar with the cooking process of Ambachi foods. Lastly, Ambachi plant tubers are tradable in different local markets across the region; although it was mainly sold in Abu matareg market located in Bahar Alara locality.La malnutrition et les maladies associ\ue9es sont des d\ue9fis majeurs dans la zone sah\ue9lienne semi-aride de l\u2019Afrique o\uf9 la pr\ue9cipitation est inf\ue9rieure \ue0 600 mm par an. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de documenter les connaissances autochtones sur l\u2019importance et la gestion d\u2019Ambachi (Dioscorea hispida) dans l\u2019\uc9tat du Darfour oriental, au Soudan. Au total, 101 r\ue9pondants ont \ue9t\ue9 interrog\ue9s \ue0 l\u2019aide d\u2019un questionnaire semi-structur\ue9 dans la localit\ue9 de Bahr Alarab, situ\ue9e dans l\u2019\uc9tat du Darfour oriental. De plus, des informateurs cl\ue9s et des discussions de groupe ont \ue9t\ue9 organis\ue9s avec les dirigeants locaux pour compl\ue9ter la collecte de donn\ue9es. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que la plante Ambachi est assez abondante dans l\u2019\uc9tat du Darfour oriental et pousse naturellement \ue0 l\u2019\ue9tat sauvage. Tous les r\ue9pondants connaissaient l\u2019apparence, le cycle de croissance, l\u2019utilisation et les processus de stockage de la plante d\u2019Ambachi. G\ue9n\ue9ralement, les tubercules d\u2019Ambachi sont stock\ue9s dans divers types de contenants naturels et synth\ue9tiques, et pendant des p\ue9riodes de temps vari\ue9es. Cependant, jusqu\u2019\ue0 78 % des r\ue9pondants ont indiqu\ue9 que Shawwal (fait de mati\ue8re plastique) \ue9tait le conteneur le plus pr\ue9f\ue9r\ue9 pour le stockage des tubercules secs. Pratiquement tous les m\ue9nages (99%) ont attest\ue9 de consommer des aliments \ue0 base d\u2019Ambachi, en particulier pendant les p\ue9riodes de famine. Jusqu\u2019\ue0 98 % des tubercules de la plante d\u2018 Ambachi sont tremp\ue9s avant la cuisson pour \ue9liminer le go\ufbt amer ; et les deux tiers des personnes interrog\ue9es connaissaient le processus de cuisson des aliments d\u2018 Ambachi. Enfin, les tubercules de la plante d\u2019Ambachi sont commercialisables sur diff\ue9rents march\ue9s locaux de la r\ue9gion ; bien qu\u2019il ait \ue9t\ue9 principalement vendu sur le march\ue9 d\u2018 Abu Matareg situ\ue9 dans la localit\ue9 de Bahar Alara