The use of wild foods during periods of food shortage in rural Zimbabwe

Studies in various parts of Africa have shown marked increases in the use of the wild as a source of food in times of severe food shortage. This paper examines the utilization of wild foods by rural people in seven villages located in the low rainfall regions of Zimbabwe. These regions experienced repeated droughts and food shortages during the 1980s. It is shown that, unlike in other parts of the continent, there was no marked increase in the use of wild foods as a strategy to mitigate the shortages. Instead, wild foods are used mainly as a supplement to the diet even during periods of severe stress. This is attributed to a number of factors, particularly the availability of alternative sources of cash which can then be used to purchase food as well as recourse to government food transfer programmes.

Key words:

• Africa
• coping strategies
• drought
• edible wild foods
• famine foods
• food shortage
• Natural Farming Regions
• Zimbabwe.