ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF WILD AND SEMI-WILD EDIBLE PLANTS IN KOFALE SUB-DISTRICT OF WEST ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT Wild edible plants are neither cultivated nor domesticated but are accessible from various natural ecosystems and exploited for food. The purpose of this study was to document wild and semi wild edible plants in Kofale Sub-Districts, West Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. More specifically, cross-sectional study design was used. The purposive sampling techniques wereused to select key informants, and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the general informants. Six kebeles were selected purposively from 43 kebeles in the district based on accessibility,proximity and availability of vegetation.A total of 72 (51malesand 21 females) were randomly selected through simple random sampling technique.Ethnobotanical data was collected using a semi-structured interview, field observation, focus group discussions and market survey.Descriptive statistics, informant consensus, preference ranking,direct matrix ranking, fidelity level index and jaccard’s coefficient of similarity were used for data analysis. A total 44 Wild and semi-wild edible plants ecies were documented in the study area. These wild edible plants were belonging to 34 general and 27 families. Moraceae was the most popular family which contributed five (11.3%) species followed by Fabaceae which contributed 4(9.09%) species.Of these plant species, shrubs account for 18 (40.9%), followed by herbs 15 (34.1%). Regarding the edible parts, fruits account for 33 (75%) followed by leaves 4 (9.09%). Cordia africanaand Opuntia ficus indica are the most preferred wild edible plants in the study area.Cordia africana,Syzygium guineense and Carissa spinarum are species with multiple uses.Agricultural land expansion, fire wood collectionand charcoal production and other factors were the top prioritized threats affecting the abundance and diversity of wild edible plants.Hence, the finding recommends that the community that practice in situ and ex-situ conservation, public awareness raising,which requires participation the government's on sustainably use these resources to address food insecurityand forest management practices approach would help to protect wild edible plant in study area.