Setting Priorities among Indigenous Fruit Tree Species in Africa: Examples from Southern, Eastern and Western Africa Regions - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 12

reducing the height of the tree; in Cameroon interest was mainly in bigger fruit
and earlier maturing trees. Nigerian farmers' interest in shorter trees probably
reflects the scarcity of land and thus greater competition of these trees with
crops in the crop fields and homegardens. The long period before maturity,
10-15 years, explains farmers' interest in reducing this period. Concerning D.
edulis , reduced height was an important consideration in Nigeria and Ghana
because the trees are frequently grown in homegardens. Bigger fruits were
desired in all three countries. Fruit size is especially important in southern
Cameroon, where farmers receive a high price premium for fruits being
exported to Gabon. Other important criteria included taste (some trees give
sweeter tasting fruit than others do) and early maturity (trees take about
5-7 years to bear fruit).

Choice of priority species

I. gabonensis and D. edulis had the highest overall ratings on value of
expected benefits from domestication (Table 1.5). I. gabonensis had the
highest financial value in Nigeria, ranked second in Cameroon, and was
extensively traded among countries in the region. In addition, it had high
researchability, a high expected rate of adoption, and it directly benefited
women. Dacryodes ranked first in Cameroon on financial value and second in
Nigeria and had similar ratings to I. gabonensis on other criteria, except that it
benefited males and females about equally. C. albidum , R. heudelotii and G.
kola each received an overall rating of medium. G. kola had a broader
geographical spread and range of products but relatively few farmers used it in
any particular region compared with C. albidum and R. heudelotii . C. albidum
rated higher on researchability and R. heudelotii had greater benefits for
women.
In 2006, 10 years after the initial priority-setting exercise was completed, the
list of priority species included the same five indigenous fruit species mentioned
above, plus several others (Table 1.6). One indigenous fruit species had been
added, three medicinal trees, one vegetable, two spices, and one species used
for edible oil. New species were added on the basis of farmers' interest and the

Table 1.5. Value of expected benefits from domestication, humid lowlands of West Africa.

% increase Gender Overall

Current annual Current annual in value Expected receiving value of

value of main value of other expected from rate of most expected

product products domestication adoption benefits benefits

Irvingia gabonensis High Medium High High Female High

Dacryodes edulis High Low High High About equal High

Chrysophyllum albidum Medium Low Medium Medium Male Medium

Ricinodendron heudelotii Medium Low Low Medium Female Medium

Garcinia kola Medium Medium Low Medium Male Medium

Adapted from Franzel et al. (1996).