Indigenous knowledge and traditional agroforestry practices and their implications for food security: the case of Wollega Zones, Western Ethiopia

This study focuses on traditional agroforestry and indigenous knowledge in contributing to food security in the western part of Ethiopia, mainly the Wollega Zones. The study used both secondary and primary data to identify the types of traditional agroforestry practices and indigenous knowledge in the areas. The descriptive result revealed that home gardens, spark land, and coffee-based agroforestry have been practiced traditionally. In Wollega zones, fruits like mango, papaya, orange, avocado, lemon, lime, beans (Abbaa comma), Dinnicha Oromoo, and various spices are widely planted as they supplement the household's major source of food and income generation opportunities. Traditional foods like Qoccoo Oromoo, Goodarree, Ancootee, and sweet potatoes are also widely cultivated vegetables as the major source of supplementary food in society. The study also showed that indigenous traditional agriculture is less dependent on outside inputs, has the potential for sustainable production, and has coping mechanisms and condition-specific adaptability. However, despite this, such traditional practices have been overlooked by extension and government experts, and there is no specific technical assistance for these locally available products. In order to solve the problem of food insecurity, it is advised that the government and all stakeholders give these practices serious consideration.