Ming’oko consumption boosts poverty in Mtwara

By Aloyce Menda

Ming’oko, an indigenous root tuber plant famous in the southern coast parts of Tanzania is just a solution for survival but can not reduce the extensive poverty in the region. Ming’oko tubers are consumed as food by locals and are classified by plant scientists as a non-wood food forest product (NWFFP).

Under the auspices of the Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA), three scholars have accomplished a comprehensive research on the role of ming’oko on poverty alleviation in Mtwara. “The general objective was to analyze the role and place of edible non-wood forest food products in poverty alleviation in Tanzania”, says a final report of the research.

The research findings were presented during the 10th REPOA’s annual workshop held in Dar es Salaam, from April 07 to 08 this year. Dr. A. Mwajule, Dr. E. Liwenga and Dr. H. Ndangalasi conducted the research in Tandahimba and Mtwara Rural districts of Tanzania. The researchers established that exploitation of edible non-wood forest food products (ming’oko in particular) does not contribute to poverty alleviation. Instead over exploitation of ming’oko could lead to environmental destruction.

Traditionally, ming’oko was a product normally consumed during food scarcity periods. However, the researchers realized that in recent years ming’oko exploitation has increased due to its multiple uses.

“It is used as a coping strategy to counteract food shortages and also used as a source of cash to cater for various households basic needs,” observed the researchers. They concluded that the product is of great importance for survival of the poor households in Mtwara.

The researchers were prompted to study ming’oko as an alternative source of food because preliminary observations had shown that the ming’oko exploitation increases. “A number of people could be seen along the Mtwara-Newala and Mtwara-Masasi roads selling large bundles of ming’oko. However, the contribution of ming’oko to food security, poverty alleviation and their implication on environment was not clearly addressed,” said the researchers during their presentation.

Professor Adolf Mascarenhas, said during the research presentation that Mtwara is one of the wealth regions of Tanzania as far as natural resources are concerned but he fails to understand why people in the region are the poorest in Tanzania.

Professor Mascarenhas, is a founder researcher with REPOA and since its establishment in 1995 he has played a key role by supporting researches on linkage between poverty and the environment.

During the two-day annual REPOA workshop of April 07 to 08 this year, 34 accomplished and progressive researches were discussed by various scholars. Among these 14 were tabled in the group of researchers on Resource Management, 10 were discussed in the Socio-Political group and another 10 were scrutinized by researchers in the Economic and Management group.

This research on ming’oko was presented and discussed in the Resource Management group.
ENDS