Volume 6, Issue 2, February – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456-2165 IJISRT21FEB513 www.ijisrt.com 692 Perception, Traditional Knowledge, Uses, and Status of Gum Arabic Production from A. Senegal Tree in Rural Households of Amibara and Liben District, Ethiopia Mister Abebe *, Abeje Eshete1, Zewidu Yilma1 1Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI) P.O.Box: 24536 (Code 1000) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Abstract:- Exploring perception, traditional knowledge uses, and status of gum arabic production from A. Senegal tree is crucial to present the existing situation and prospects in rural households of Amibara and Liben district of Ethiopia. Data was collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and household surveys. The household survey data were collected from 441 randomly selected households. Descriptive statistics like mean, frequency, and percentage were used to present the study results. The findings illustrate that the respondents' perception of gum arabic uses is slight since 90.7% of the sampled households responded to the reasons for not engaging in gum collection is I did not know the benefit before. About 58.3% of the sampled households are not engaged in gum collection. The sampled households indicated that 94.8% of them use natural oozing collection method than tapping for the production of gum arabic. The sampled households responded that the relative abundance of gum and resin trees in the study area and productivity (quantity harvested per unit area) change status are notably decreasing (55.6%) and notable decreasing (56.9%) respectively. Traditional knowledge and uses of gum arabic in Amibara and Liben districts of rural households range from medicinal values and uses to cosmetics and other uses. The results of the study also indicate that about 75.5% of the sampled households responded that there is no market availability of gum arabic in the area and the reasons for facing market problems were lack of buyers, transportation, and lower quality product, high competition from my competent ranked respectively. On the other hand, 89.3% of the sampled households have no credit access. Therefore, the promotion and commercialization of gum arabic in Amibara and Liben districts of Ethiopia both for the economic benefit of the community and sustainable management of the fragile ecosystem is recommended with applicable policy articulation, research and development interventions; to make Ethiopia penetrate the international market of gum arabic and to improve its market share too. Keywords:- Acacia Senegal, Gum Arabic, Perception, Production, Marketing. I. INTRODUCTION Dry forests are complex ecosystems that are not entirely apprehended and perceived. Scientific knowledge to better manage dry forests and sustain the livelihoods of people that depend on these ecosystems remains scanty as research to inform policy and practice is still very limited (Lawry et al., 2015). Ethiopia’s dry forests cover about 55– 60% of the country’s drylands (WBISPP, 2004). Numerous studies suggested that the forests and woodlands in Ethiopia’s drylands offer good opportunities for improving rural livelihoods and reducing poverty; in spite of the general perception that drylands are resource-poor areas (Lemenih and Kassa, 2011; Worku et al., 2011; Gindaba et al., 2007; Lemenih et al., 2003). Ethiopia is soundly gifted with over 60 gum and resin bearing species from Acacia, Boswellia, and Commiphora species that are known to produce gum arabic, frankincense, and myrrh, respectively (Tadesse et al., 2007). Gum arabic is the oldest and best known of all-natural gums and is a major gum in commerce produced from the stems and branches of A. senegal, A. seyal, and A. polyacantha (Chikamai, 1996). Amibara and Liben districts from Afar and Oromia regions respectively are also the resource areas of gum arabic from Acacia Senegal where this study was carried out. Gum arabic or gum acacia, a natural tree gum exudate produced from Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal species and has an important part of commerce since precedent. Gum arabic bearing species trees grow broadly through the Sahel belt of Africa situated in the north of the equator up to the Sahara Desert and from Senegal in the west to Somalia in the east (Mariod, 2018). On the map of the Gum belt in Africa, almost all parts of Ethiopia covered this shows Ethiopia is the main source area of gum arabic source tree Acacia Senegal (Assoumane et al., 2009). Gum arabic collection is in the dry season and harvesting does not overlap with pastoral or agricultural activities thus being a vital additional source of income for rural collectors i.e. diversify the livelihoods of the rural households and can be used as a risk aversion strategy of the rural households in face of crop failure, the sudden death of livestock, or other threats to household survival (Chrétin et al., 2008; Freudenberger, 1993). The chemical composition and