Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
These included: (i) ethnobotanical surveys; (ii) species and priority ranking and
ex ante
impact assessment; (iii) the economics of production; and (iv) market
assessments.
A region-wide ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Malawi, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique during 1989-1991, as the first step in
understanding species diversity and the role of trees on farms, with respect to their
establishment and management, location and arrangement, market opportunities,
uses and functions in farmer fields (Karachi
et al
., 1991; Maghembe and Seyani,
1991; Kwesiga and Chisumpa, 1992). These surveys have identified more than 75
indigenous fruit trees that are an important resource for rural communities as
sources of food and income. The fruits were collected from the forests and
consumed locally and also traded in local and roadside markets. Fox and Young
(1982) indicated that the fruits of more than 200 of the 1000 indigenous trees
growing in southern Africa are edible.
Using the general principle developed by Franzel
et al.
(1996) for species
prioritization, several other species prioritization surveys were triangulated to
identify the species, their dynamics and ecological niches. In 1996-1997,
farmers' species preference was assessed in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and
Zimbabwe (Kadzere
et al.
, 1998). A total of 451 households were interviewed in
four countries from 20 districts, comprising 128 households in Malawi, 70 in
Tanzania, 135 in Zambia and 118 in Zimbabwe. The results showed that the
most preferred species for domestication in the region were
Uapaca kirkiana
,
Parinari curatellifolia
,
Strychnos cocculoides
,
Anisophyllea boehmii
,
Azanza
garckeana
,
Flacourtia indica
,
Syzygium guineense
,
Strychnos pungens
,
Physalis
peruviana
and
Uapaca nitida
. The first three species were also identified as
regional priority species based on their highest preference by users. The fourth
in importance was
Anisophyllea boehmii
for Zambia, but it is limited to the
northern and copperbelt provinces in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of
Congo and the area adjacent to Lake Malawi in Tanzania.
Vitex mombassae
was
the third most important in Tanzania, mainly popular in Tabora region. Similarly,
Azanza garckeana
was the fourth most important in Zimbabwe and
Flacourtia
indica
was the fourth most important for Malawi.
For the first time, detailed setting of priorities was undertaken in
Mozambique, involving a survey of 156 households (76 female) in four
provinces (Maputo, Gaza, Manica, Tete). The results showed that 60 indigenous
fruit trees were consumed and traded by rural communities. Community
members were able to process
Adansonia digitata
,
Ziziphus mauritiana
and
Strychnos cocculoides
into different products, such as beer, called 'buadwa', and
flour for making porridge, called 'bozo'.
Ziziphus mauritiana
and
Sclerocarya
birrea
were also used for fodder. As regards indigenous knowledge, only 28% of
the respondents had knowledge of processing. Planting of indigenous fruits as
well as medicinal plants among farmers was not common because 97% of the
the respondents said that they had no knowledge of how to grow them.
Based on these results, the regional spearhead species (species which drive
the domestication programme) were identified as
Uapaca kirkiana
,
Strychnos
cocculoides
and
Sclerocarya birrea
(Akinnifesi
et al.
, 2006). The key reasons
for selection of these species are that they are the species most preferred by
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