Potential for Commercialization and Value Chain Improvement of Wild Food and Medicinal Plants for Livelihood Enhancement in Uganda
Loading...
Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Current Research Journal Biological Sciences
Abstract
Uganda is endowed with a wide diversity of wild plant species that can be commercialized for
livelihood enhancement and poverty reduction. These wild plants are increasingly becoming a valuable source
of livelihoods for many people through household use as well as trading as medicine, food and craft materials.
However existing literature on commercialization of wild food and medicinal plants in Uganda is largely
anecdotal and disjointed. In this review, we analyze available literature on importance of wild plants in
sustaining people’s livelihoods, value chains as production and marketing approaches in commercialization of
wild plants, the demand and supply for wild plants products and its implication for commercialization of wild
food and medicinal plants, ecological implications for commercializing wild plants and the potential for wild
plant commercialization to contribute to household income. The literature points to gaps in literature, which
necessitate further studies to assess the importance of wild plants in the daily life of households, market
potential of the wild plants and their contribution to the local people’s livelihoods.
Description
Keywords
Commercialization, Demand and supply, Household income, Poverty reduction, Uganda, Value chains, Wild food and medicinal plants
Citation
Akankwasah, B., Tabuti, J. R., Van Damme, P., Agea, J. G., & Muwanika, V. (2012). Potential for commercialization and value chain improvement of wild food and medicinal plants for livelihood enhancement in Uganda.