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

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...

Leakey Prof. Roger Leakey was a former Director of Research at the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF 1993-1997) and Professor of Agroecology and Sustainable Development of James Cook University, in Cairns, Australia (2001-2006). He is Vice President of the International Society of Tropical Foresters and is Vice Chairman of the International Tree Foundation. He holds a number of Fellowships in learned societies, universities and international research centres. In 2006-09 he was a Coordinating Lead Author in the Global Report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) which examined the impact of agriculture on the environmentally, socially and economically sustainability of rural development worldwide over the last 50 years. The author also initiated what has become a global programme to start the domestication of wild fruit and nut trees that traditionally were the staple diet of people before the advent of modern agriculture