Eating from the wild: Turumbu indigenous knowledge on noncultivated edible plants, Tshopo District, DRCongo

Ecol Food Nutr. 2010 May-Jun;49(3):173-207. doi: 10.1080/03670241003766030.

Abstract

Documenting and revalorizing the rapidly disappearing indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants is essential to promote health and preserve diversity. Focus group discussions were organized within three Turumbu villages to document wild foods known, availability, preparation methods, and uses. Preferences in taste and commercial, nutritional, and cultural value were discussed during participatory ranking exercises. Results show 85 species within 70 genera and 44 families. Fruits of Anonidium manni and Landolphia owariensis, and (unfolded) leaves of Megaphrynium macrostachyum and Talinum triangulare are most appreciated. Inventories and preference rankings should be completed with nutritional analyses and market studies to set priorities for participatory domestication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodiversity
  • Cooking
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Developing Countries
  • Diet* / economics
  • Diet* / ethnology
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Food Preferences / ethnology
  • Fruit / adverse effects
  • Fruit / economics
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutritive Value
  • Plant Leaves / adverse effects
  • Plants, Edible* / adverse effects
  • Plants, Medicinal / adverse effects
  • Rural Health* / economics
  • Rural Health* / ethnology
  • Seasons
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Vegetables / adverse effects
  • Vegetables / economics