The role of wild food plants in household food security: a case study of Lushoto District

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dc.contributor.authorLuflenge, Lulu
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-06T10:27:47Z
dc.date.available2025-02-06T10:27:47Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.descriptionA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts in rural development
dc.description.abstractThis study explores the various wild food plants and their role in household food security in Kweminyasa. Mahange, Funta and Balangai villages of Lushoto district. Data were collected through questionnaires checklist, focus group discussion and informal discussion. The SPSS programme was used for analyzing quantitative data, . where descriptive statistics and cross tabulation were done. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative information. Plant specimen identification was done by the help of botanist, taxonomists and checklist. Useful species were identified in the study villages, which included 6 species of mushroom, 17 species of vegetable and 13 species of edible fruits. The values of crude protein ranged from 1.18 to 5.6%, while crude fibre was from 2.1 to 39.4%. Ash content ranged from 0.02 to 8.6 percent and moisture content ranged from 64.9 to 87.9%. The results of nutrient composition further showed that the mean value of vitamin C ranged from 3.10 to 27.2 mg/100 in fruits and 1.60 to 10.60 mg/100 in wild vegetables. The mineral contents were; calcium (45.0 to 863.5 mg/lOOg), magnesium (48.8 to 430.8 mg/lOOg), iron (1.7 to 44.4 mg/100), potassium (221.6 to 984.7 mg/lOOg), and sodium (32.0 to 296.4 mg/lOOg). The study revealed that households in the surveyed villages had a high reliance on wild food plants not only for livelihood (consumption and sale). It was noted that women were the main actors in the collection, processing and preservation of the wild food products. The nutritive value of most wild food plants was good and sometimes better than domesticated expensive foods and could thus substitute the expensive domesticated food items. More research is needed to explore the nutrient comparison of wild and domesticated species and their nutrient bioavailabilty by checking presence of antinutritional factors in them that interfere with absorption of nutrients. Detailed studies need to be conducted to document and protect local knowledge on wild foods that could easily be lost.
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6549
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSokoine University of Agriculture
dc.subjectWild food plants
dc.subjectHousehold food security
dc.subjectFood security
dc.subjectLushoto District
dc.titleThe role of wild food plants in household food security: a case study of Lushoto District
dc.typeThesis

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