Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
14 Opportunities for
Commercialization and
Enterprise Development
of Indigenous Fruits in
Southern Africa
C. H AM , 1 F.K. A KINNIFESI , 2 S. F RANZEL , 3
D. DU P.S. J ORDAAN , 4 C. H ANSMANN , 5 O.C. A JAYI 2
AND C. DE K OCK 6
1 University of Stellenbosch, South Africa ; 2 World Agroforestry Centre,
Lilongwe, Malawi ; 3 World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya ; 4 University of Pretoria,
South Africa ; 5 Agricultural Research Council, Stellenbosch, South Africa ;
6 Speciality Foods of Africa Pvt Ltd, Harare, Zimbabwe
14.1 Introduction
In recent times, there has been an increasing demand for natural agricultural
products globally due, among other reasons, to food safety concerns and an
increasing awareness of the impacts of agricultural production methods on the
environment. Southern Africa is no exception, as the demand for organic
products is increasing, especially among the upper and mid-income groups.
During a consumer test in South Africa on kei apple ( Dovyalis caffra ) fruit juice,
86% of the consumers responded positively to the idea of a marketing strategy
based on an indigenous product with no artificial flavourings or preservatives
(Moelich and Muller, 2000). With more than 200 edible indigenous fruit tree
species (Fox and Norwood Young, 1982), southern Africa has the potential to
offer a wealth of new food products to the global market. Indigenous plant
products form an integral part of the livelihoods of rural people in Africa.
The fruits of many indigenous plants are consumed mostly as snacks,
except in times of famine when such fruits become the principal source of food
and, as a result, fulfil a much more substantial role in the daily diet of rural
people (Akinnifesi et al ., 2006). Snacks are especially important for children
who need to eat more frequently than adults, and wild fruits and nuts are
important sources of the micronutrients that are often deficient in cereal-based
diets commonly consumed in the region (Ruffo et al ., 2002).
 
 
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