Challenges to Stimulating the Adoption and Impact of Indigenous Fruit Trees in Tropical Agriculture - Indigenous Fruit Trees in the Tropics: Domestication, Utilization and Commercialization - page 58

genetic structure at a regional level, with no wide-scale molecular work yet
undertaken that could help develop regional management programmes (Kadu et
al ., 2006). Without an awareness of useful traits in indigenous fruits and then the
dissemination of information both on desirable types or strains and on their
multiplication for farm planting, this variation cannot be used.
Farmer participatory surveys have been carried out in many countries to
identify and select planting material stock for multiplication (Azad et al ., 2007).
It has been found that women play a major role in selection of the desired
type(s) for multiplication and production (ICUC, 2003). The women's choices
depend on the utilization of the fruits, but they also consider characteristics
such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, ability to withstand wide
temperature ranges, and growth on marginal lands. Above all they give priority
to those fruit species which can be grown in mixed cropping systems.
Organizations such as the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the International
Plant Genetic Resources Institute, the International Centre for Underutilised
Crops (ICUC), and the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew) have been involved in
community participatory selection schemes for planting materials (ICUC,
2003).
In many cases tree species are multiplied by seed. However, desirable
characteristics cannot be adequately controlled or transferred to the offspring
through seed propagation. The benefit of known strains or cultivars with
consistent growth and yield has still to be emphasized in developing farming
systems and must be supported by training in methods of propagation and
supply of planting materials (using, for example, the series of manuals
published by ICUC and the Commonwealth Secretariat). The growing of
planting materials itself can also become a profitable nursery industry (Haq,
2002; Tchoundjeu et al ., 2006).
Hence the key aspects of improving the selection and domestication of
indigenous fruits are:

● Farmer participatory surveys to identify species of interest for a particular

group of producers and consumers. Farmer participatory research to
identify good mother stock and for sustainable production and processing
technologies so as to promote consumption at the household level. This
will empower the farmers to implement the domestication programmes for
themselves, to work on species of their own choice, and to develop their
own cultivars of those species based on their own selection criteria (with
guidance for ideotypes) derived from research. These farmers will be able
to protect their rights over the germplasm.

● Rapid methods for propagation of quality planting materials (whether it is

seed, seedlings or saplings, cuttings, marcotts or grafts). There is current
demand for planting materials and special efforts are required by resource-
poor rural farmers to multiply and supply them in order to maintain the
growth of indigenous fruit trees.