The Role of Indigenous Fruit Trees in Sustainable Dryland Agriculture in Eastern Africa - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 208

Tamarindus indica , Vitellaria paradoxa and Ziziphus mauritiana were among the
top five priority fruit tree species identified through farmers' input and the
priority-setting exercise carried out by ICRAF (Bonkoungou et al ., 1998).
Similarly, in southern Africa, according to Maghembe et al . (1998), Adansonia
digitata , Sclerocarya birrea , Tamarindus indica and Ziziphus mauritiana were
among the top-ranking species according to farmers' preferences.
11.3 Role of Indigenous Fruit Trees in Dryland Agriculture
11.3.1 Species profiles
The eight priority tree species (Table 11.2), with the exception of two species,
occur in all five countries. The two exceptions are Cordeauxia edulis , which is
found only in Ethiopia, and Vitellaria paradoxa , which is found in Ethiopia,
Sudan and Uganda.
11.3.2 Contribution to household and rural economies
Both fruit pulp and seed of all the above eight species are edible and very
nutritious, with high levels of energy, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals (Table
11.3), and they make important contributions to the household and local
economies (Hall and Walker, 1992; Beentje, 1994; Saka and Msonthi, 1994;
Hall et al ., 1996, 2002; Glew et al ., 1997; Ajiwe et al ., 1998; ICUC, 1999;
Leakey, 1999; Maundu et al ., 1999; Pareek, 2001; Sidibe and Williams, 2002;
Teklehaimanot, 2003). The fruits of all these species are highly valued by local
communities. Farmers retain all the above trees on their farms primarily for their
fruits to meet their household needs for food and income. These trees also occur
on rangelands and are an important source of fodder for livestock and
micronutrients and vitamins for livestock herders. All eight species are, however,
underutilized in Eastern Africa compared with their utilization elsewhere. For
example, Adansonia digitata is being domesticated in the Sahel by ICRAF and
partners (ICRAF, 1997), as well as exploited commercially and industrially in
India (Pareek, 2001), Sclerocarya birrea is being domesticated in Southern
Africa (Akinnifesi et al ., 2006), Tamarindus indica in Thailand and India (ICUC,
1999), Vitellaria paradoxa in West Africa (Lovett and Haq, 2000; Sanou et al .,
2004) and Ziziphus mauritiana in India (Pareek, 2001). Populations of all eight
species are also in decline and there are few attempts to domesticate them in
Eastern Africa.
Adansonia digitata (baobab)
This is a multipurpose tree best known for its swollen trunk. The most important
benefit of baobab is derived from its fruits. Seeds are eaten fresh, dried or roasted.
The pod contains a very nutritious pulp, which is rich in vitamin C, calcium,
potassium, phosphorus, iron and protein (Table 11.3). It is mixed with water to