Main Description

It has been recognized that an important factor in improving the viability of rural livelihoods in developing countries is the promotion of sustainable agriculture. As opposed to relying solely on cash crops, this can be more easily achieved through the domestication of various indigenous fruit trees that can be cultivated and owned by smallholder farmers. Through multi-functional and integrated farming systems, these tree crops can support environmental and social sustainability by providing food as well as promoting economic growth. Twenty years ago, little was known about the biology, ecology or the social impact of indigenous fruit trees on rural populations. Since then, new concepts and approaches have been developed, case studies have been produced and the potential and feasibility of their domestication and commercialization has been explored. This focused study on the tropics brings together a comprehensive review of this research.

Readership

Academics, students and researchers in agroforestry, horticulture and forestry.

Main Contents

PART 1: SETTING THE SCENE
1. Setting priorities among indigenous fruit tree species in Africa: Examples from southern, eastern and western Africa regions
2. Towards domestication strategy for indigenous fruit trees in the tropics
3. Challenges to stimulating the adoption and impact of indigenous fruit trees in tropical agriculture
PART II: INDIGENOUS FRUIT TREE DOMESTICATION IN ASIA, LATIN AMERICA and OCEANIA
4. Domestication of trees or of forests: development pathways for fruit tree production in southeast Asia
5. Homegarden-based indigenous fruit tree production in peninsular India
6. Native fruit tree improvement in Amazonia: an overview
7. The domestication of fruits and nut trees species in Vanuatu, Oceania
PART III: REGIONAL DOMESTICATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
8. Creating opportunities for domesticating and commercializing miombo indigenous fruit trees in Southern Africa
9. Domestication, utilisation and marketing of indigenous fruit trees: Experiences from West and Central Africa
10. Strengthening rural livelihoods through domestication of indigenous fruit trees in the parklands of the Sahel
11. The role of indigenous fruit trees in sustainable dryland agriculture in Eastern Africa
PART IV: THE BIOPHYSICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONTEXT OF MIOMBO FRUIT TREES
12. Marketing of indigenous fruits in southern Africa
13. Economics of on-farm production of indigenous fruits
14. Opportunities for commercialization and enterprise development of indigenous fruits in southern Africa
15. The feasibility of small-scale indigenous fruit processing enterprises in Southern Africa
16. Product development: nutritional value, processing and utilization of indigenous fruits from the miombo ecosystem
19. Germplasm, propagation and nursery management of miombo fruit trees
20. Pest management in high commercial value indigenous fruit trees
PART V: LESSONS FOR COMODITIZING INDIGENOUS FRUIT TREES AND NUTS IN THE TROPICS
21. Accelerated domestication and commercialization of indigenous fruit and nut trees to enhance better livelihoods in the tropics: Lessons and way forward

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