Review on Dietary Contribution of Wild Edible Food Biodiversity to Food Security and Micronutrient Status of Children in Ethiopia

Abstract

Deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals are placed among the major public health problems. In Ethiopia, children aged 6–59 months are dramatically affected by vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, which accounts 61% and 54%, respectively. Nationally, the prevalence of anemia among children under two years was 56%. The objective of this review was to document current information regarding dietary contribution of wild edible food biodiversity to food security and micronutrient status of children in Ethiopia. Magnitude of under nutrition, low dietary diversity and food insecurity in Ethiopia is very high in rural communities where livelihood depends on backward farming system. The nutritional consequences of food insecurity experience include under nutrition depending on a broad range of contextual, economic and socio cultural factors. Although, Ethiopia is among the regions producing adequate wild edible food biodiversity in the Africa, it is reported that there is high prevalence rate of micronutrient deficiencies compared to prevalence in less productive regions of Africa. Therefore, all responsible bodies should be intensified and incorporated to reduce food insecurity and micronutrient deficiencies through nutrition education intervention. In the future, researchers should also conduct the nutritional composition, phytochemicals and antioxidants of each wild edible food biodiversity in Ethiopia.