Homegarden-based Indigenous Fruit Tree Production in Peninsular India - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 93

which are grown and marketed on a small scale (Table 5.1). The range of species
available in homegardens producing saleable products is seemingly large and
accommodates choice by those who are able to fulfil the conditions of labour
availability, market demands, systems of tenure and variations in soils and climate.
The net income generated from homegardens is correspondingly variable.
Although data on financial aspects are not readily available, income from
homegardens broadly ranges between 21.1 and 29.5% of the total income for
Indonesian and Vietnamese gardens (Soemarwoto, 1987; Trinh et al ., 2003). The
number of individuals per species of fruit trees in a homegarden also varies
depending on each individual farmer's need for cash income generation vis-à-vis
consumption requirements. In general, when the fruits are used for home
consumption, the number of plants per garden is low. Conversely, with market-
orientated production, a relatively large number of plants is cultivated with
increasing levels of input. Size of the gardens, family needs, geographical location
and species composition are other important factors.
5.6 Underutilized Tropical Fruit Trees
Although considerable research has been done in India on a few selected fruit-
and nut-yielding tree species such as coconut, arecanut ( Areca catechu ) and
mango (Arora and Rao, 1998; Parthasarathy et al ., 2006), little or no formal
research has been carried out on many of the so-called 'Cinderella trees' - the
hitherto wild species - to assess their potential for genetic improvement,
reproductive biology or suitability for cultivation. In a few cases, e.g. the earlier
domesticates such as Emblica officinalis , Garcinia gummi-gutta (Abraham et al. ,
2006), Tamarindus indica (Hanamashetti et al ., 2000), Moringa oleifera
(Ramachandran et al ., 1980), Syzygium cuminii (Patel et al. , 2005), Aegle
marmelos (Misra et al. , 2000; Gupta and Misra, 2002) and Azadirachta indica
(Singh et al ., 1999), a limited amount of research has been carried out. None
the less, this is mostly anecdotal and deals with the evaluation of morphological
and phenological variations of certain managed and natural populations.
Scientific and managerial research for genetic improvement for an array of
species including Acacia sinuata (soapnut), Sapindus emarginatus (soapnut
tree), Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula , which are normally harvested
by the tribal people, are lacking. Therefore, more attention should be focused
on the under-researched species for which considerable genetic diversity exists
in the homegardens. This is of special significance if the indigenous fruit-tree
production programmes are to move forward.
5.7 Wild Fruits for Maintaining Food, Nutritional and Livelihood
Security
In addition to the homegarden-grown fruits and vegetables, the local people
also collect an array of wild fruits for food and medicinal purposes (edible