There are around 3000 species of wild fruit tree in Africa, representing an enormously important, and largely untapped, natural resource. For proof of the difference that these fruits can make to the health and welfare of rural communities, you need look no further than the participatory tree domestication programme managed by the World Agroforestry Centre in West and Central Africa. This booklet describes the remarkable progress made by the programme in Cameroon, where farmers and scientists have worked together to develop and domesticate superior varieties of African plum, bush mango, kola nut and several other species. Instead of having to search for the fruits and nuts of these trees in the wild, as their forebears did, farmers are now planting them on their land. Thanks to the domestication programme, farmers can now pay school fees for their children, something many could not afford in the past. They also have a much healthier diet, and sufficient income to improve their homes and buy mobile phones and other consumer goods. In short, the domestication programme has helped thousands of families to lift themselves out of poverty.
Tag: plant domestication
Intensifying vegetable production in smallholder agroforestry systems in West Java
Most smallholder farmers in Indonesia cultivate both annual and perennial crops on farms of limited size, frequently 1 ha or less. Traditionally, these systems evolved to produce agricultural and tree products for home consumption, with the surplus being sold locally. The development of infrastructure and market economies has opened commercial opportunities for smallholder farmers. However, many smallholders still face challenges related to crop production and marketing: landholdings do not reflect economies of scale; suboptimal management practices produce commodities that do not meet market specifications; and farmers have limited understanding of market information and marketing channels. Additionally, farmers lack access to professional assistance that could enable them to enhance their production and marketing capacity. Working with communities in West Java, the authors implemented a number of studies to identify how vegetable production could be intensified in smallholder agroforestry systems where additional land for agricultural expansion did not exist. Baseline studies and rapid market appraisal were conducted to identify existing conditions and possible opportunities. Focus group discussions were held to identify smallholders’ and traders’ interest in expanding smallholder vegetable production and marketing. Understory vegetable production trials were conducted under three light intensity levels representative of common agroforestry systems. A cross-visit was held to provide exposure and intensive capacity building to smallholders regarding market-oriented production of select vegetable commodities. A consumer preference study was implemented to inform smallholders and traders regarding market prospects. Findings indicate that opportunities exist for smallholders to intensify production and marketing of vegetables in their existing agroforestry systems. However, to take full advantage of those opportunities, smallholder farmers would require technical, marketing, and material assistance
Indigenous miombo fruit trees-health and wealth for the Sukuma people
A survey was conducted in Maswa District, Tanzania, in 1995, to collect information on the production and uses of miombo fruit trees. The following indigenous trees were mentioned by at least 10% of the respondents: Adansonia digitata, Azanza garckeana, Canthium burttii, Diospyros fischeri, Ficus natalensis, Grewia fallax, Tamarindus indica, Vitex mombassae, Vitex payos and Ximenia caffra. The Kiswahili and Sukuma names, and the various flower, fruit, leaf, bark, root, stem and branch uses were recorded. Recommendations for a domestication programme of indigenous fruit tree species are provided.