Improving Rural Livelihoods through Domestication of Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Parklands of the Sahel - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 189

Detar has several other uses in rural communities. The leaves are used to
thatch roofs and the wood is used for fuel, construction poles and tool handles
(Kouyaté, 2005). Seeds are dried, ground and used as a fragrance. In addition,
necklaces are made from the dried seeds, which are considered to have an
aphrodisiac effect because of their pleasant fragrance (Kouyaté, 2005). Mosquito
repellent is prepared from the roots while medicines are prepared from the seeds,
fruits, leaves, roots and bark. In Burkina Faso, for example, fruits are used in the
treatment of meningitis (Bationo et al ., 2001). Leaves and roots are also used to
treat diseases of farm animals.
10.2.3 Néré ( Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.)
Néré is common in natural savannahs and is widely cultivated in the parklands
(Teklehaimanot, 2004). Néré occurs naturally from Senegal to Uganda (Hall et
al ., 1997). Farmers manage néré in the parkland because of its valuable non-
wood products and its capacity to improve soil fertility. In the parklands, néré is
associated with a range of crops, especially large leafy vegetables, but also with
groundnuts and cereals such as maize and millet.
Néré seeds are valuable and are ground into a spice or condiment locally
called 'soumbala', which is an important source of protein that is added to soups
and stews throughout the Sahel. Hall et al . (1997) discuss néré as a commodity
of local and regional trade in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Benin, Burkina
Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Nigeria. Fresh soumbala is sold as balls of brown
paste in the local markets. Seeds are also sold for commercial processing, which
significantly increases their value. Surveys indicate that dried seed sells for about
600 F CFA/kg in Bamako and 500 F CFA/kg in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Fruit pulp sells for about 200 F CFA/kg in Bamako (M.M. Sidibé, unpublished
data). In 1997, the annual revenue earned from the sale of néré products was
approximately 27,300 F CFA per household in Burkina Faso (Teklehaimanot,
2004).
Ouedraogo (1995) reported that the seeds are rich in protein, lipids,
carbohydrates and phosphorous while the fruit pulp is high in carbohydrates
and vitamin C. Fresh fruit pulp has a high sugar content and is fermented into
a beverage (Kater et al ., 1992). The flowers are also consumed.
Néré, which is a leguminous tree, is a valuable source of fodder (Sabiiti
and Cobbina, 1992). Its branches are usually lopped by farmers and fed to
livestock, especially in the dry season, when good-quality feed is scarce.
Moreover, fruit exocarp, seeds and leaves are applied as an organic fertilizer.
Medicines for human diseases are one of the principal uses of néré in the
Sahel. All parts of the plant are used to cure many diseases, including malaria
and stomach disorders. Moreover, different parts are used to treat diseases of
farm animals, such as poultry lice, trypanosomes and mouth ulcers of
ruminants. It is also used in traditional ceremonies (Teklehaimanot, 2004).