Use of wild plants for food in Kenya,s arid and semi-arid lands

Abstract

Dryland communities rely and depend on biodiversity for their basic livelihood needs particularly in meeting requirements for food, wood and fibre for structural work, tools and equipment manufacture and various socia-cultural needs. However, recent report on wealth distribution in Kenya has shown that the ASALs are areas of endemic poverty and under development. Consequently, it is apparent that development of ASALs is crucial in the country's efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Granted that the people in the ASALs have a unique and special relationship with the surrounding ecosystems, success in developing these areas will depend to a large extent on making the best use of biodiversity especially the plant genetic resources (PGRs). However, the biodiversity in Kenya's ASALs remain undocumented, unanalyzed and hence taken for'granted by communities, planners and leaders. This allows room for destructive and non-sustainable use of these valuable resources. This study documented the wild food plants used by different dryland communities, circumstances promoting different levels of use, harvesting approaches and food preparation practices. Information was gathered through perusal of secondary data and field studies to interview key informants in six ASAL districts. The various food products from indigenous plants and their preparations were revealed by the survey including a variety of fruits, beans, oils, vegetables, flour and starches, roots and tubers, bush meat, beverages, confectioneries, and food additives. The ecological aspects in regard to reproductive biology, biotic and abiotic function, prevailing threats, trends in exploitation and conservation initiatives from the perspective of the local communities were also documented. The study found that use of wild plants for food in the ASALs is an important livelihood issue but also has a potential for commercialization to play a bigger role in the development of the regions. However, partnership with other actors for purposes of enabling the community fully exploit this potential is necessary. The intervention should focus mainly on determination of the ecological functions of key wild plants, selection and domestication of superior germplasm, optimizing processing, value adding and marketing of the food products. Key words: Livelihood basic needs, indigenous plants, wild plants, endemic poverty, Millennium Development Goals, ecosystem, biodiversity, plant genetic resources, PGR, germplasm, food preparation, food product, selection, domestication, value adding, marketing