Traditional Management Practices and its Use of Tamarind (Tamarindus Indica L.) By Berta Community in Assosa Zone Northwest, Ethiopia

Tamarindus indica L. (Tamarindus) belongs to the family leguminous (Fabaceae) and is one of the indigenous fruit tree species that traditionally contributes to food security, traditional medicine and ecosystem stability in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to document traditional uses and management practices of Tamarindus indica among the Berta community in the Assosa Zone. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews and observation were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics were made to analyze the data using SPSS version 20 and Ms-excel software 2019. Among the study area overall, twelve main Indigenous uses (use categories) of Tamarindus indica were identified in each study district among selective study kebeles; including food, beverage, ethnomedicines for humans, ethnoveterinary uses, aesthetic uses, environmental amelioration, commercial, fodder, and for hanging beehives provided shade in homes, public place, for crops and livestock as well as cultural uses. Fruit pulp (30.4%) plant parts were the most commonly used tamarind product. The majority of respondents reported that deforestation, no planting, gold mining, fuel wood, lack of management, illegal cutting, and timber harvesting and forest fire threats to the tree population in the study area. Results can be used to support the sustainable use of Tamarinds indica in the study area, including in-situ and exsitu conservation from planting around the home area, commercialization and organization of market channels. Furthermore, the benefits from the Tamarindus indica tree need to be promoted to fully utilize its potential in improving the livelihoods of rural communities in the Assosa Zone.