Knowledge, diversity, utilization and nutritional contribution of local wild vegetables for Wagogo tribe in the semi-arid region of Dodoma, Tanzania

Abstract Background : Wild vegetables are important components of the community’s food and nutrition security, particularly in semi-arid regions of Tanzania, such as Dodoma. Despite their importance, a gap exists in the dynamics of wild vegetable utilization from urban forest sources among community groups, in terms of abundance and diversity, resulting in limited information on the nutritional contributions of wild vegetables across the village population. This study aims to investigate the types of wild vegetables used by community groups in urban forest areas of Dodoma and to examine whether community group variability, including location, gender, and age groups, influences traditional knowledge regarding the diversity and inequality of these vegetables. Methods : The study employed a cross-sectional design involving a sample of 64 households selected from two villages, Ng’ong’ona and Mapinduzi, and adopted ecological indicators such as abundance, diversity, and inequality indices for the analysis. Results : The study found that location (4.3), age groups (4.2), and gender (4.1) influenced the utilization of wild vegetables, as indicated by average citations. There was minimal inequality in vegetable knowledge across gender, age groups, and locations, as indicated by a Gini index of 0.2, suggesting knowledge distribution across community groups. Further, Cleome gynandra (34), Corchorus trilocularis (30), Amaranthus graecizans (26), Ipomoea pandurata (18), and Cleome hirta (14) were the most abundant and cited wild vegetables. In contrast, the diversity of wild vegetables used was highest among females (2.8), followed by youth (2.7) and Mapinduzi villagers (2.6). Taste, tradition, and accessibility were gauged as moderately motivating factors for community members to use wild vegetables. Conclusion : The study has identified a promising trend in knowledge of, diversity in, and use of wild vegetables, as well as their nutritional contributions, among the Wagogo tribe in Dodoma. It recommends sustaining such uses by promoting wild vegetables in nutrition policy, raising awareness among youth in schools and community health platforms, and identifying trade opportunities.