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Paper short abstract:

This film addresses the co-existence of enset, land and people as bio-culturally collaborative products. This film portrays the role of a traditional farmer and family members’ attention towards managing enset garden, a hope to survive for food and fodder.

Paper long abstract:

This film is a new initiative under cultural ecology. It focuses on Enset ventricosum, 'the cultural landscape’ and the people of Gamo highland, Ethiopia, as ‘part of the environment'. This film addresses the co-existence of enset, land and people as bio-culturally collaborative products. Further, this film depicts the role of a traditional farmer and family members’ attention towards traditional knowledge in maintaining the enset garden. Their contribution encompasses food production and protecting land and animal feed for generations. Enset is grown and maintained which serves as a symbol of status in society. Both male and female landraces provide the necessities of life. Matured male species of enset are preferred in food preparation while female species are mostly ornamental to the garden. The corm, stem sheaths are used in preparing Kocho regarded as traditional bread (fermented form) and Bulla (decanted form) from male species. Amicho is blended food prepared from female species (often the corm is small along with cabbage, potato, or beans etc) which is occasionally consumed.