Ethnovariety Diversity, Endogenous Sustainable Management Strategies, and Socio-Cultural Services of Calabash [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] in Burkina Faso: An Ethnobotanical Study

Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) has long been an essential species for communities in Africa. Over the past decades, its production has gradually declined. Developing knowledge of existing ethnovarieties and the causes of their decline, as well of the socio-cultural services associated with the ethnovarieties and the chosen local management strategies, could contribute to their better valorization and conservation. This study aims to (i) map existing ethnovarieties, (ii) determine the endogenous management strategies, (iii) document the socio-cultural services associated with the ethnovarieties, and (iv) determine the causes of the decline. First, a non-probabilistic snowball sampling technique was used to identify the producers to be involved in the study. Then, semi-structured interviews involving 80 producers from 8 provinces across Burkina Faso were conducted using a questionnaire. Data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and R software version 4.5.0. The study revealed two types of calabashes: edible and non-edible ethnovarieties. For each type, several ethnovarieties were recorded according to socio-cultural and environmental factors. Most of the respondents were more familiar with non-edible ethnovarieties compared to the edible ones. Five socio-cultural services, including food and cultural uses, were identified. The decline of the species was associated with the relatively long production cycle of the plant, the fragility of the pericarp, the competition with alternative products, and socio-cultural restrictions limiting cultivation and knowledge transmission. Nevertheless, the persistence of certain ancestral practices still contributes to maintaining the species in local production systems. The results could help to develop contextualized strategies for the valorization, sustainable management, and in situ and ex situ conservation of calabash genetic resources in Burkina Faso and beyond.