Plant species used in traditional smallholder dairy processing in East Shoa, Ethiopia.

Plant species used in traditional dairy processing were studied in three districts (Bosset, Ada, and Gimbichu) in Eastern Shoa, Ethiopia, from October 2007 to March 2008. A total of 300 smallholders were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires, and three focus group discussions were conducted, followed by plants specimen collection and identification. A total of 36 plant species, falling under 24 plant families, were identified. Nearly half of the identified plant species had more than one use types. Eleven plant species were/are used for washing (scrubbing) dairy utensils, ten plant species for smoking dairy utensils, 12 plant species in butter making, 15 plant species in ghee making, and five plant species for packaging (wrapping) butter and cheese. The plant species that had the highest overall citations from each use category were Ocimum hardiense, Olea europaea subspecies africana, Trachyspermum copticum, Curcuma longa, and Croton macrostachyus. The plant species used in the three study districts, representing different agro ecologies, showed some similarities, but levels of uses differed significantly (P < 0.05). Higher informant citations might indicate their better efficacy, however need to be further investigated to determine their effects on milk and milk product quality and to make sure that they are innocuous to human and animal health. Finally, as the present study tried to document natural products used in traditional dairy processing, it could be considered as part of the global efforts aimed at promoting organic food production.

Control of schistosomiasis in Adwa, Ethiopia, using the plant molluscicide endod (Phytolacca dodecandra).

Control of Schistosoma mansoni transmission in a town in northern Ethiopia was attempted using the natural product, endod (Phytolacca dodecandra), and its use compared with niclosamide. Within a five year period prevalence was reduced from 61.5 to 36.4% in the area where endod was used. Most of this decline was accounted for by the reduction in prevalence among 1-6 year old subjects. The practical use of endod as a molluscicide was demonstrated to have a performance which compared favourably with the commercial product, and although more expensive than niclosamide still at minimal annual cost (US + 0.06 per capita).