Edible Plant Garden
Tooro Botanical Gardens has a collection of edible plants. Edible plants are those that produce parts that can be safely consumed by humans and other animals for sustenance. The edible parts include fruits, berries, vegetables, leaves, roots, seeds and even flowers.
The edible plant garden contains a variety of domesticated and wild plants. This section is meant to empower surrounding communities with crop production skill. The garden also serves as an education and demonstration center for learning and research towards the conservation and restoration of threatened local varieties.
The collection features plants that have been used for nutrition in western Uganda for generations and includes various species and varieties of bananas, fruit trees like mangoes, oranges, vegetables like different varieties of amaranth and berries like gooseberries among many other edible plants.
The conservation of edible plant is crucial for food security, biodiversity and human wellbeing. Tooro Botanical is at the frontline for conserving edible plants native to western Uganda. Action taken to protect edible plants include, education and awareness on sustainable farming practices, conservation of heirloom and indigenous varieties, and research into crop resilience to climate change and diseases. These measures and more will be essential for a resilient and food-secure future.
