The socio-economic contribution of <i>Detarium senegalense</i> seeds to rural livelihoods in Togo (West Africa)

Abstract

Detarium senegalense J. F. Gmel., of the Fabaceae family, is one of the most used tree species in the natural forest area of Togo. The rural population uses several parts of the species to enhance their income. Detarium senegalense provides in particular a high economic valued seed. However, there are only few scientific studies on the contribution of the species to the income of rural households. The objective of this study is to contribute to the promotion of multipurpose tree species in Togo with particular emphasis on better knowledge of Detarium senegalense. The methodology used is based on semi-structured interviews as well as participatory observations. Detarium senegalense contributes to the economy and livelihood of the rural population through income generated by the collection and trading of seeds. Collectors and traders of the seed are mostly women. The average amount of seed harvested is 45.6 (± 25.3) kg per year per collector and revenue per year per collector is US $ 59 (± 58). Local people can have an important role to secure Detarium senegalense in the degraded natural forests of Togo. However, the sustainable management of this species in the future can only be secured through an active promotion of natural regeneration, enrichment planting and domestication.

West African food system resilience

“…Examples from across West Africa highlight how the food system continuum from farms to fallows and forests generates both food and income used to buy food. For example, in southern Niger the jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) and desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) value chains involved 3,044 people, particularly women, with an estimated 39 tons of jujube and 27 tons of desert date fruit collected in 2017 (Moussa et al 2020) and the ditax (Detarium senegalense) seed value chain in Togo generated $59 per year on average for harvesters (Dangbo et al 2019).…”

Influence of morphological characteristics of fruits and provenances on seedling emergence and early growth in Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. and Detarium senegalense J.F. Gmel. (Fabaceae) in Benin

“…As for D. senegalense , it is a multipurpose species, making it one of the most important fruit species ( Atato et al., 2010 ). Its fruits are intensively harvested and sold in local and international markets to the point that its survival is threatened ( Adomou et al., 2011 ; Dangbo et al., 2019 ; Dossa et al., 2020a ).…”