Domesticating Priority Miombo Indigenous Fruit Trees as a Promising Livelihood Option for Small-Holder Farmers in Southern Africa

Abstract

Most countries in Southern Africa are experiencing acute malnutrition, food insecurity, and low income among the rural and peri-urban population, and these culminate in deforestation and loss of biodiversity. The Miombo woodlands are known to have over 75 indigenous fruit trees (IFTs), which bear edible fruits. The fruits are rich in minerals and vitamins, sold for cash income and constitute important food sources during famines and or emergencies. This paper provides an overview of some efforts to domesticate the IFTs identified by farmers and users as priority species, as an important step to provide opportunities for resource-poor farmers to cultivate and generate income from sale of fresh and processed products, and to conserve the genetic potential of these species. The approach used involves four basic steps: 1) identification of priority species by communities and other users, 2) participatory selection of superior trees and naming them in situ, 3) propagation and cultivation of trees as fruit orchards, and 4) dissemination and adoption. Uapaca kirkiana, Parinari curatellifolia, Strychnos cocculoides and Sclerocarya birrea have been identified by farmers and stakeholders as priority species for domestication in the southern Africa region. Germplasm of Uapaca and Sclerocarya were collected, exchanged among countries, and tested in multilocational provenance trials. Over 5000 farmers in four countries are involved in on-farm testing of IFTs in the field and homesteads. A new domestication strategy is developed for the participatory domestication of Uapaca kirkiana, using the rapid clonal selection approach. A strong network of stakeholders and farmers has shown strong enthusiasm, commitment, and participation in the domestication of IFTs. Creation of an enabling environment through policy reforms and market development will be essential to achieve socioeconomic empowerment of the resource poor farmers in the region through domestication, utilization and commercialization of fruits and products. There is need for product development research, private sector involvement and strong policy support, in order to have tangible impact. BACKGROUND The world today faces urgent food and nutritional crisis, and the FAO Shah and Strong (1999) report has estimated as many as 840 million people face chronic or perpetual hunger and 19,000 of the 40,000 infants and children die of malnutrition (World Health, cited by CGIAR, 1999). A major preoccupation of the development and scientific communities in the last 50 years has been how to resolve the conflict between increasing demands for food and the degradation of the environment. The major challenge in the new century is in devising ways of integrating scientific breakthroughs with indigenous knowledge to develop tangible livelihood interventions that are applicable on farms, so as to ensure food and income security at the household levels and future prosperous small farming enterprises. Food security implies access to foods for a productive and healthy life (Shah and Strong,...

Local processing and nutritional composition of indigenous fruits: The case of monkey orange (Strychnos spp.) from Southern Africa

“…(6,54) In country-specific results, S. cocculoides was ranked first in Zimbabwe and Tanzania, where interviewed households preferred the fruit tree for domestication as a food source. (55) …”

Early recognition of graft compatibility in Uapaca kirkiana Müell Arg. clones, provenances and species

“…The total annual rainfall ranges from 560 to 1600 mm, with a ten year-mean of 930 mm (Akinnifesi et al 2004 …”

“…U. kirkiana is the most preferred indigenous fruit tree earmarked for wider cultivation in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Maghembe et al 1998). It is widely utilized as food during seasonal food shortages (Maghembe and Seyani, 1991;Akinnifesi et al 2004Akinnifesi et al , 2006. However, lack of improved planting materials (propagule sources) which result in low fruiting ability, inferior fruit load and fruit traits and limited propagation skills have been major bottlenecks to spontaneous cultivation by smallholder farmers in southern Africa (Akinnifesi et al 2004).…”

“…These provenances show wide genetic diversity and variations in geographical adaptation (Akinnifesi et al 2004). The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) has also shown genetic variation within U. kirkiana provenances (Agufa 2002).…”

Three Traditional Fermented Baobab Foods from Benin,Mutchayan, Dikouanyouri, andTayohounta: Preparation, Properties, and Consumption

“…Indigenous fruits are essential for food security, health, social and economic welfare of rural communities (Akinnifesi et al, 2004). Among them, baobab is one of the most important for local populations in Africa.…”