Species name

Family

Local name(s)
Digla (Amargna)

General description
Teff-like seed. The plant has an enormous advantage of being fast growing. Within a month the crop can be harvested.

Edible part(s), preparation methods and palatability
Seeds are edible. This normally wild plant is being semi-domesticated in areas where the normal harvest is anyway insufficient due to soil and water constraints. The seeds are threshed, sifted and ground and the flour is used in many ways for injera, flat bread ('quecha') and 'Abyssinian porridge' ('ga'at'). It is also used to produce local alcoholic beverage called 'tela', but only accepted in times of food shortage. Everybody helps harvesting and is consuming these seeds and the products made of its flour. 

Agroecology
Found in the lowlands of the Tekeze River watershed. Where there are no bio-physical or climatic constraints and normal crop is sufficient, this plant is ignored or considered as inferior to the established crops such teff, maize and sorghum. In parts of the Tekeze River lowlands this teff-like plant has been semi-domesticated by farmers.

Propagation method(s) 
propagates by seeds. 

Sample location(s)
Siska Kebele, Zequala Woreda (Wag Hamra) 

Remarks
** 

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'Digla' seeds harvested in the Tekeze River lowlands, Zequala Woreda, Wag Hamra (Photo by Anna Barnett, Ethiopian Venture Project)