Domestication of indigenous fruit trees of the Miombo in Southern Africa

The Miombo woodlands provide tree products to millions of rural dwellers in southern Africa. One of ICRAF's principal focus has been on indigenous fruit trees, as the miombo woodlands contain more than 50 species that provide food and nutritional security as well as opportunities to generate income. Traditionally, fruit trees are not cut down when patches of the miombo woodland are cleared for agriculture. The popularity of these fruits is reflected by the plethora of local names for each kind of tree. Today, the fame of the plum-sized fruit of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) has spread beyond the region because of the rapidly growing international demand for the liquor, Amarula. Given the popularity and importance of these fruit trees, it is somewhat paradoxical that the fruits are not commonly cultivated by farmers or seen in local supermarkets. Various socio- economic studies point to the competition that they face from domesticated exotic fruits such as mangoes. Exotic fruits are generally larger and often sweeter . Work on germplasm collection and evaluation, agronomic and horticultural evaluation including germination and propagation techniques has started in Kenya (ICRAF HQ), Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi under the SADC-ICRAF Agroforestry programme. Farmers in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia are also testing the species on- farm. The methods currently under investigation include direct sowing, vegetative propagation (shoot and root cuttings) and air-Iayering techniques. The use of genetic markers and DNA fmger printing is also being undertaken at ICRAF HQ in collaboration with several UK universities. The investigation and testing of a wide range of cultivars is intended to provide farmers with a choice and along with market information to identify the most productive methods that can also be disseminated more widely. Furthermore, ICRAF in collaboration with Hannover University, are studying the marketing and production opportunities for priority indigenous fruits. The next phase is to assess the feasibility of cottage (processing) industries. ICRAF is also working on strategies for dissemination and awareness campaigns through the current SADC- I CRAF Agroforestry project funded by CIDA. These activities will promote wider adoption and production by farmers. We are aware of the work by the private sector in processing indigenous fruits into several by-products such as wine and liquor. Mulunguzi winery in Malawi, the Mukutu Winery in Lusaka, Veld products in Botswana and the Amarula factory in South Africa are cases in point. To the rural farmers these industries provide a market for their fruits.