Assessment of Indigenous Knowledge Associated with Identification of Germplasm, Production, Utilization and Conservation of Anchote [Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn.] in Western and South Western Ethiopia

Aim: Anchote is an underutilized indigenous root crop in Ethiopia but potentially produced as a food, socio-economic, cultural and medicinal crop in western and south western parts of Ethiopia. The study was conducted by using an ethno-botanical survey to assess and document the indigenous knowledge on germplasm identification, utilization and conservation of anchote on 200 household respondents using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Study Area and Duration: The survey was conducted in seven western and southwestern districts of Ethiopia in 2020 for three consecutive months. Results: From the assessments, most of the respondents had sufficient experiences and knowledge on producing and utilizing anchote. Socio-economic status of the households was found to be an important factor affecting the use, management and conservation while the difference in level of education had no impact. Anchote producers, mainly women households, identify the white and red fleshed genotypes by the color and size of their leaves; light green and lager leaf as white fleshed and deep green and/or medium sized leaf as red root fleshed anchote. It is produced as a sole crop in western areas (87.1%), but intercrop with maize (94.1%) at south western parts. The solely responsible for anchote conservation were women (99 %) especially elders and about 1 % were youth who use anchote as cash crop for their personal expenses of education and consumables. Majority of the producers (86%) use the root as main consumable part and plant it every year (81%); for food (98%), income source (87.5%), medicinal (97%) and cultural (97.5%) crop, respectively, and for animal fattening and feed dairy cows mainly as a calcium source (14%). Even though it is a highly valued cultural and medicinal crop, 74.1% of the respondents consume it as food more than once a week mainly during harvest seasons. Women conserve anchote seeds for the next planting period by treating with ash and store it in a closed container. The best roots are selected while harvesting depending on flesh colors and planted in a hole to serve as a seed source for seven to fifteen years at backyard, locally called ‘Baachoo/ Guboo’. Conclusion: The indigenous knowledge exhibited in this study on germplasm identification, production, conservation and utilization could be a significant step in bringing this underutilized root crop to the broader science arena.