Accelerated Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Fruit and Nut Trees to Enhance Better Livelihoods in the Tropics: Lessons and Way Forward - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 413

domestication must be clear from the beginning. In most studies, the selection
and cultivation of IFTs is driven by two major forces - consumption and
markets. Because people are an integral part of the agroecosytem, it is
important that farmers have good knowledge of the IFTs they are cultivating
and the prospects for their livelihoods.
With the growing recognition that scaling-up can only succeed when there
is full farmer ownership and buy-in, the attributes of the indigenous fruit trees
promoted must be distinct enough to convince growers of their benefits. This
requires assessing the attributes of the IFTs in terms of food, nutrition and
health for the local communities and for the market. Leakey and Page (2006)
have illustrated the use of a web-diagram for visualizing tree-tree variation in
morphology and fruit traits found in wild and on-farm trees. With an increased
understanding of the multi-trait variability in products of importance to farmers
and to markets, it is possible to develop a hierarchy of market-driven ideotypes,
which maximizes 'harvest index' through the creation of single-purpose
cultivars of multipurpose IFTs, especially when such traits are rare or found
only in individuals in wild populations (Leakey and Page, 2006). For instance,
D. edulis contains 66% more fat than groundnuts, and has been recommended
as a high-fat food by the FAO. It provides staple food for 3-4 months of the
year for many rural inhabitants in humid West Africa. P. biglobosa has a crude
protein content higher than that of beef, as well as providing 42% of the
recommended daily requirement of zinc (Schreckenberg et al. , 2006).
For market-led IFT initiatives, the market attribute must be substantial
enough to compete with or outperform conventional sources to make a dent in
the market. For instance, camu camu is being promoted in Latin America for
the extremely high vitamin C content in its pulp (2.7-2.8 g of ascorbic acid per
100 g). This is 30 times higher than the equivalent weight of oranges (Penn,
2006). This extremely high vitamin C content in camu camu has generated
great interest in national consumption and export markets, as it has antioxidant
properties (Chapter 6). Recent prospecting by INPA in Brazil has also identified
large variations in vitamin C from camu camu ranging from 0.8 to 6 g/100 g
skin pulp (Chapter 6). About 150 accessions have been collected by INPA in
Brazil and hybrids are being developed (Chapter 8). The production rate is also
very high, about 12 t/ha, with the potential to generate substantial returns
(Penn, 2006). In another initiative, guarana ( Paullinia cupana ) has been
commercialized in Brazil for its high caffeine content in the seeds.
In West Africa, V. paradoxa is valued for its production of solid fat or butter,
while V. nilotica produces a liquid oil rich in olein possessing therapeutic
properties (Chapter 11). This has been shown to be superior to the oil palm
( Elaeis guineensis ). However, a new investigation has also identified
Allanblackia spp. to be extremely rich in solid fat. Indigenous fruit trees that will
make a dent in the export market in the 21st century will of necessity need to
have proven attributes that would attract investors, farmers and marketers.