Abstract
Rural communities worldwide supplement food and income through wild edible fruits. However, the paucity of scientific inquiry on the perceptions and uses of wild edible fruits, value-addition, and marketing prompted this study. It interviewed respondents from 274 households in Tabora rural, Sikonge, and Uyui districts in the Tabora region of Tanzania. Descriptive and quantitative analyses were undertaken, and results showed that wild edible fruit activities are perceived to be for women, children, and less-educated people. Furthermore, the findings indicated that 100% (n = 274) of the respondents use wild edible fruits as food, and 48.6% (n = 133) use them both as food and medicine. Also, the findings showed that 16.8% and 28.3% of the respondents could process, and were marketing wild edible fruits, respectively. A significant difference was seen between gender and fruits marketing (ρ = 0.095), and between education and fruits gathering (ρ = 0.05). The potential of wild edible fruits is not fully realised, as little is done to gather, process, consume, or sell them. Hence, sensitisation and training programs are recommended at all levels. Moreover, a comparison analysis of the nutritional benefits of cultivated and wild edible fruits is recommended, including a cost- benefit analysis of Tanzania’s wild edible fruits to reinforce their importance.
Recommended Citation
Mbise, Mirau N.
(2025)
"Captured and Enhanced Potentials of Wild Edible Fruits in Tabora Rural, Uyui and Sikonge Districts, Tabora in Tanzania,"
Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences: Vol. 14:
No.
1, Article 4.
DOI: 10.56279/rnjsse67
Available at:
https://commons.udsm.ac.tz/jhss/vol14/iss1/4