Poster presented at International Conference Nutrition and Food Production in the Congo Basin. Brussels (Belgium), 30 Sep-01 Oct  201

Damme, Patrick van

Termote, Céline

English

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  Wild Edible Plant Use in Tshopo District, DR Congo Termote Céline1,2, Van Damme Patrick1 1Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Department of Plant Production, http://www.tropicallab.ugent.be 2 Nutrition and Marketing Diversity Programme, Bioversity International, Italy, www.bioversityinternational.org  Dietary assessment  To assess the contribution of WEPs to dietary quality, the usual dietary intake of 363 urban and 129 rural women was assessed within the period of highest WEP availability (Aug.- Sept. 2009). Contrarily to what was expected, only 15 WEPs were found to occur in a marginal number of 24h recalls. The most noteworthy contribution came from the semi-wild safou fruit (Dacryodes edulis). Total energy intake of the women was rather low, with a high percentage energy coming from fats. Micronutrients of major concern were niacin, folate, vitamin B-12, iron, zinc and calcium with more than 75% of women having intakes below the recommended dietary allowances.                                                                                                                     Background and objectives  Tshopo District has an enormous agricultural potential, but food security remains precarious. Despite the enormous richness in biodiversity and cultures, wild edible plants (WEP) have little been poorly studied in Tshopo District, c.q. DRC. The objective of this study, carried out by the University of Ghent in collaboration with the University of Kisangani (2006-2011), was to contribute to the valorization of WEPs for better nutrition security, higher and more diversified farmers’ incomes and sustained cultural well-being.  Ethnobotany An ethnobotanical inventory (2006-2008) within 3 ethnic groups (Turumbu, Mbole and Bali) in 3 different territories of the district (Isangi, Opala and Bafwasende) documented 166 WEP species and 2 varieties from which 198 plant parts are used for 228 different food uses. Preferences in taste and commercial, nutritional and cultural value of WEPs were discussed during participatory ranking exercises. Ethnobotanical data on WEPs for the other 11 major ethnic groups in Tshopo District are being analyzed. Market survey  WEP markets in Kisangani city were analyzed (2007-2008) in relation to number and characteristics of sellers, species and quantities offered, prices and periodicity. Only 15 WEPs were seen to be sold on Kisangani markets by a small number of ‘ad hoc’ traders, who easily switch to other products. Although a certain form of organization was found in the fumbwa (Gnetum africanum) trade with Kinshasa as main destination, other WEP markets in the region remain underdeveloped. Based on the nature of species sold as well as on the socio-economic characteristics of our interviewees, four types of traders were identified : subsistence traders (spices cluster), traders diversifying in number of WEPs sold (fruits and spices cluster), traders diversifying in number of income activities (other vegetables cluster) and specialized traders (fumbwa cluster).  This typology provides valuable insights for further market chain organization and development.    Anonidium mannii Wild fruit Megaphrynium macrostachyum Wild vegetable Treculia africana seeds rich in proteins Transport of Gnetum africanum Wild vegetable WEPs on the Kisangani markets: Aframomum spp., Cola acuminata, Piper guineense, Garcinia kola Democratic Republic Congo Tshopo District Turumbu Bali Mbole (Sept.-Oct. 2007) (Dec. 07- Jan. 08) (Ma.-Apr. 2008) (June-July 2008) TOTAL Marché Central 31  10 (5) 9 (3) 11 (7) 61 (46) IAT 22 5 (4) 4 (3) 8 (7) 39 (36) Tshopo 11ième  10 4 (2) 1 (0) 1 (0) 16 (12) Kabondo Foyer  9 4 (3) 1 (0) 1 (0) 15 (12) Djubu-djubu 6 0 1 (1) 0 7 (7) Libanga 4 0 1 (1) 1 (1) 6 (6) TOTAL 82 23 (14) 17 (8) 22 (15) 144 (119) persons only present in the respective period  71  (87%)  13  (57%)  7  (41%)  15  (68%)  106  (73.6%) Cluster 1 spices  only Cluster 2 fruits and spices Cluster 3 other leafy vegetables; kasu/mabongo Cluster 4 fumbwa Total Number of traders 35 22 37 22 119 fumbwa (Gnetum africanum) 0 0 1 22 23 mboka muchungu  (Solanum americanum) 0 0 7 0 7 bilolo (Solanum distichum) 1 0 17 0 18 kasu (Tetracarpidium conophorum) 0 19 6 0 25 mabongo (Landolphia spp.) 0 20 16 0 36 bombi (Anonidium mannii) 0 15 0 0 15 tonga (Synsepalum stipulatum) 0 11 1 0 12 lilinda (Chrysophyllum lacourtianum) 0 16 0 0 16 tobele (Dacryodes osika) 0 4 1 0 5 bokomu (Myrianthus arboreus) 0 7 0 0 7 soso (Aframomum spp.) 4 5 4 0 13 angbongbolia (Cola acuminata) 15 12 1 0 28 ngadjadja (Garcinia kola) 10 6 0 0 16 pilipili (Capsicum frutescens) 24 1 2 0 27 ketchu (Piper guineense) 26 14 3 0 43 Conclusion and recommendations Despite the precarious nutrition security, urban as well as rural inhabitants in this biodiverse region do not valorize their knowledge on WEPs to complement their diets.  Promotion of WEPs alone will not solve all underlying causes of nutrition insecurity and poverty in the region, but WEPs could at least contribute more to diets and incomes then they currently do. A lot of WEPs with proven nutritional qualities, such as Gnetum africanum and Treculia africana, are present in the region. Lack of nutritional and health information on WEPs was frequently mentioned as constraints for WEP consumption. Before relevant traditional knowledge is lost, further research is needed on local understanding of WEPs and their dietary use to capture the potential of biodiversity and ameliorate diet adequacy. Furthermore, it should be possible to identify, embrace and build upon local socio-cultural values to enhance WEP consumption and trade. Nutritional education messages should be based on sound scientific knowledge, while being able to stimulate local positive behaviors.  We recommend The integration of WEPs into strategies for sustainable rural development in Tshopo District is recommended, e.g. through promotion of homegardens and integration of WEPs in these systems. Research into agrobiodiversity and agroforestry starting from local needs and indigenous knowledge, and backed up by sound scientific research is indispensable to create innovative, resilient agricultural models able to produce healthy foods in a sustainable way while at the same time conserving biodiversity for future generations.  Acknowledgements  We are grateful to all our informants for their kind participation in the study. Research was performed within the framework of the PAS project: ‘Valeur Nutritionelle, économique et socio-culturelle des Plantes Alimentaires Sauvage du District de la Tshopo’ (VlIR MPRDC 2007), a collaboration between the University of Kisangani (UNIKIS) and the University of Ghent (Ugent). The first author obtained a grant from Vocatio and the Belgian Leopold III fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation to finish data collection.  Special thanks go to our local collaborators: Prof. Dhed’a Djailo Benoît, Prof. Marcel Bwama Meyi, Paluku Muvatsi, Jean-Bosco Ndjango, Frank Molimozi, Paluku Musenzi, Jean-Jacques Ilunga, Jean-Jacques Masango, Rosine Detchuvi, Yenga Botwete Godé, Justine Tshimbila Tshidibi, Angèle Mbombo, Mamy Ntambwe, Evelyne Kenza, Marie, Noah Herland and many others. The staff of the herbarium in Meise (Brussels) also deserves a word of thanks. Weighing and calibrating local foods Woman preparing ‘gbedegbede’ leaves Safou (Dacryodes edulis) Number of WEP traders per market and per interview period Cluster membership of the 119 WEP traders based upon occurrence (trading a specific WEP or not)  

Wild edible plant use in Tshopo District, DR Congo

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Wild edible plant use in Tshopo District, DR Congo

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