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Two baobab (A. digitata) trees in a sisal field in Kilifi, Kenya, showing differences in phenology. Left tree is showing dry-season leaf retention
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Wild edible fruits hold great potential for improving human diets, especially in agricultural societies of the developing world. In Africa, a well-known supplier of such fruits is the baobab (Adansonia digitata L., Malvaceae), one of the most remarkable trees of the world. Several studies in different African countries have highlighted this indigen...
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Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an annual vegetable that belongs to the family Malvaceae or Mallow. It is a warm-season annual herbaceous vegetable crop and it is self-pollinated, mainly propagated by seeds with maturity duration of 90-100 days. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions around the wor...
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... Majority of Sudanese rural households dependent on forest products for income and livelihood support and these forest resources provide the main sources of revenue and employment in rural areas for the elderly, children and women [25,26]. Gathering fruits from natural stands become mainly for rural communities, which are declining because of agricultural encroachment, overexploitation, and climate change in many arid lands [27]. During times of severe food scarcity, wildfruits are well known to make significant aids to livelihoods and reducing famine [13,28,29]. ...
... Wild fruit collection and uses is becoming more common, and marketable, in Sudan's rural markets [28] (Fig. 3). Indigenous fruits can be dried and kept until they are required for consumption in the home or for sale [27]. Many studies have been carried out for non-wood forest product in different part of Sudan, the main species which provided or support household income by collecting fruits and other NWFPs were mentioned by various authors [13,19,[28][29][30][31][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42] such as Nabig from Ziziphus spina-christi (Sidir), laloab from Balanites aegyptiaca (Hegleig), gongoleis from Adansonia digitata (Tabeldi) and Geddeim from Grewia tenax (Geddeim), Dom from Hyphaene thebaica (Dom), and Daleib from Borassus aethiopum (Daleib), Aradieib from Tamarindus indica (Aradieib) and fruit of Boscia senegalensis (Mokhait) called famine food helped people in Kordofan and Darfur -Sudan survive during 1984-1985 famine [43,44] (Table 2). ...
... The NWFPs also play important role in the livelihoods of urban residents and migrants. Many studies have shown that rural women are greatly benefitted by selling NWFPs [12,27,38]. Women are typically incharge of feeding the family through food-crop cultivation while male are concentrated on cash-crop cultivation, and hunting. ...
... This is because many of the existing reviews focused on the impact of agroforestry on crop productivity, mainly plot level experimental or observational studies. There exist reviews on agroforestry in Africa that describe the benefits of specific trees, for example Piliostigma thonningii (Hailemariam et al., 2021), African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) (Houndonougbo et al., 2020), Allanblackia (Jamnadass et al., 2010;Schmidt et al., 2019), baobab (Adansonia digitata) (Gebauer et al., 2016) and Boswellia and Commiphora species (Hassan et al., 2019). Primary studies on carbon sequestration on the other hand report context specific results, depending on the site (climate, soil type) and the system (tree species, densities, age and management). ...
... A prominent example of a highly valuable tree is the baobab, which is an iconic landscape feature of most of the continent's drylands 7,8,9 . While the bark, pulp extract and leaves are used in the treatment of fevers, dysentery, and sores, the fruits, seeds and leaves are known for being rich in Vitamin A and C and a source of iron, calcium and zinc 8,10,11 . ...
The iconic baobab tree ( Adansonia digitata L. ) is an integral part of rural livelihoods throughout the African continent. However, the combined effects of climate change and increasing global demand for baobab products are currently exerting pressure on the sustainable utilization of these resources. Here we employ sub-meter resolution satellite imagery to identify the presence of nearly 2.8 (± 27.1%) million baobab trees in the Sahel, a dryland region of 1.5 million km ² . This achievement is considered an essential step towards an improved management and monitoring system of valuable woody species. Using Senegal as a case country, we find that 94% of rural households have at least one baobab tree in their immediate surrounding, and that the abundance of baobabs is associated with a higher likelihood of people consuming a highly nutritious food group: dark green leafy vegetables. The generated database showcases the feasibility of mapping the location of single tree species at a sub-continental scale, providing vital information in times where human mismanagement and climate change cause the extinction of numerous tree species.
... The baobab fruit is a rich source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, and magnesium [45][46][47]. Apart from the fruits, different parts of the baobab tree have been found to be valuable for a variety of traditional uses, including medicine, food, craft items, and cosmetics [48][49][50]. ...
Wild edible fruits from the forest have often been regarded as poverty food; however, there has been a notable shift in recent years as these wild edible fruits have gained increasing recognition for their significance in global food security, especially in agricultural societies such as Senegal. This paper contributes to the debate on how the forest plays a role in diets and nutrition security using the example of wild fruit (Baobab) found in the Boundou Region in Senegal. The livelihood strategies of people in this region have been subject to external influences, such as climate shock and restrictions enforced as the area became a protected area in 2009. These external influences have resulted in the loss of pasture use and the prohibition of hunting. Restriction of access to these previous commons (pasture, wildlife) diminishes the resilience of the local population. However, a new alternative of seasonal usage of wild fruit, specifically baobab, for commercial purposes has emerged as everybody in the community has unrestricted access to collecting these wild edible fruits within the protected area, which is uncommon in other protected areas. The commodification and commercialization of these wild fruits bring essential cash income to many households, thereby improving food security.
... Wild edible fruits have also improved household food security under normal conditions (Broegaard et al. 2017) and during crop insufficiency (Erskine et al. 2015). Moreover, the wild edible fruit plants have multiple uses, such as cosmetics (Gebauer et al. 2016), medicine (Dreher 2018;Adnan et al. 2022;, spices and condiments (Sutrisno et al. 2021;Syamsuardi et al. 2022a), crafts (Hazarika and Singh 2018), fiber (Karun et al. 2014), and fuel (Klimas et al. 2012). ...
Sumatra Island is recognized as the distribution center of tropical fruit species in Indonesia. However, increased human activity threatens the existence of edible wild fruit plants in nature. The study aims to assess the diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit plant species in Sumatra, Indonesia. The study was conducted in four provinces: West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and Bengkulu. For the sampling, a modified line transect method was used. A total of 331 wild edible fruit plant species at four studied sites in Sumatra consisted of 73 families. The highest number of fruit plant species was recorded in West Sumatra Province, i.e., 176 species, followed by Jambi (172 species), Riau (121 species), and Bengkulu (76 species). The diversity of wild edible fruit plant species was higher in West Sumatra Province (3.85) but lower in Riau Province (3.25). Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Baccaurea lanceolata (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea macrocarpa (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea polyneura Hook.f., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T.Anderson, Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.fil. ex J.Anderson, Mangifera foetida Lour., Mangifera laurina Blume, Mangifera odorata Griff., and Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. were the most frequently recorded wild fruit plant species in all of the study area. However, 74 wild edible fruit plant species were recorded only in West Sumatra, 45 in Riau, 79 in Jambi, and 9 in Bengkulu. Among the 331 wild edible fruit species in the present study, 1 taxon was classified as endangered (0.30%), 9 taxa (2.72%) as vulnerable, 11 taxa (3.32%) as near threatened, and 139 taxa (41.99%) as least concern, and 171 taxa (51.67%) as Data Deficient.
... Only about 50 fruit tree species have been extensively domesticated and are commercially grown worldwide (Leakey and Tomich, 1999). Africa has the wildest edible fruit species (1200) compared to tropical America and Asia (Gebauer et al., 2016). The diversity of wild edible fruits in Africa implies significant horticultural potential and important genetic resources that, once domesticated, might be used to integrate new commercially useful species and cultivars into existing farming systems. ...
Scientific study on non-timber forest products with potential for use by humans has recently experienced a resurgence. Baobab is one of these non-timber forest products, and every part of the baobab has been shown by studies to be useful. Because the fruit products of the baobab tree contain enormous amounts of phytochemicals, these products have found uses in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Hence, this study examined, among other things, the role of the physical and mechanical properties of the baobab seeds in relation to design of equipment for processing as well as the phytochemicals found in the fruit products. It also discussed the traditional and orthodox uses of the baobab product. Along with vitamins and amino-acids found in the pulp, other minerals were also reviewed. High quantities of proteins, lipids, essential amino acids, and fatty acids, including linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids, as well as Omega 3, 6, and 9, are present in baobab seeds and the seed oil. Antinutrients present in baobab seeds have the potential to be harmful to human health when consumed. The study examined different processing techniques used to lessen these antinutrients present in the seeds. To fully realize the potential of baobab fruit products, areas for further research have been highlighted in this review.
... While trees in the SVC experienced elephant damage, we did not encounter any dead or fallen baobab in any of the sampled plots. This could be credited to the resilience of the baobab to damage (Gebauer et al., 2016). This, however, does not imply no baobabs have died from elephant damage within the conservancy, actually we saw two baobab trees knocked down by elephants outside our study plots during random drives. ...
The impacts of the expanding African elephant (Loxodonta africana) population in southern Africa leads to a shift in savanna vegetation community composition and structure. However, little has been done to understand the effect of elephants on the structure of keystone tree species like the baobab. We sampled two protected areas in Southeast lowveld of Zimbabwe to quantify the impact of elephants on the baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), one area with elephants (Save Valley Conservancy: SVC) and the other without elephants (Chipinge Safari Area: CSA). Data on elephant damage, baobab density, and structural variables (tree height, stem basal area, and canopy cover) were collected in seven 1 km2 plots. Baobab damage was classed into four categories, i) new, ii) old, iii) very old, and iv) none, to have a time series interpretation. Distances of every baobab tree from spatial variables, nearest management road, perennial water source and conservancy boundary were measured. Baobabs in the absence of elephants (CSA) were taller with higher basal area and canopy cover than those where elephants were present (SVC). Although SVC baobabs had smaller structural variables compared with CSA, their density was much higher 1.69 ha-1 compared with 0.94 ha-1 for CSA. More baobabs in the smaller size classes for SVC suggests that recruitment was higher than CSA. No elephant damage was observed in the CSA although 23 % of baobabs showed signs of very old harvesting of bark by humans. All trees in SVC showed signs of elephant damage in either trunks or canopies, with most of damage classed as very old. Baobab damage decreased with distance from roads and perennial water sources while it increased with distance from conservancy boundary. Our results demonstrate that elephants have a great impact on baobab structure but not necessarily recruitment as indicated by the presence of some baobabs in smaller size classes, suggesting that other factors may be more important in determining recruitment of this keystone species.
... There is an increasing interest from stakeholders in the domestication of African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) (Hendre et al. 2019;Mugangavari et al. 2021) for various reasons including the increased local and global demand for its products and the decreasing abundance of wild baobab trees (Gebauer et al. 2016;Lisao et al. 2018;Msalilwa et al. 2020). The baobab is recognized as a high potential multipurpose tree, which can be used in fighting food insecurity and malnutrition because of the highly nutritious edible fruit pulp, leaves and seeds (Stadlmayr et al. 2020). ...
... The baobab is recognized as a high potential multipurpose tree, which can be used in fighting food insecurity and malnutrition because of the highly nutritious edible fruit pulp, leaves and seeds (Stadlmayr et al. 2020). In addition, it can be used for medicinal purpose, for restoration of degraded lands, as raw materials for home handicrafts and industry among others (Gebauer et al. 2016). The many benefits the tree presents serve as incentive for some farmers willingness to plant the tree commercially (Mugangavari et al. 2021). ...
... Following the acceptance of baobab pulp as a novel food product by the European Union (European Union, 2008) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there has been increased evidence of baobab products in both local and international markets. For instance, in the European markets, over 300 products containing baobab have been recorded (Gebauer et al., 2016) while in Africa, Darr et al. (2020) documented >78 baobab products in Malawi retail markets. Moreover, baobab products in Kenya remain rare, and only a few informally processed are traded (Jäckering et al., 2019;Kaimba et al., 2020). ...
In the wake of climate change, failing of conventional food systems, and low agricultural productivity, baobab tree is central to the livelihoods of many individuals in ASALs. In Kenya, the baobab is a high-priority tree with high economic value than use value. However, products derived from the tree remain rare and only a few are traded. This paper sought to establish the determinants of awareness and attitudes of retailers toward baobab products. Descriptive statistics, Zero-truncated Poisson model, and Exploratory factor analysis were employed to assess awareness levels, attitudes, and their underlying determinants. Data was collected from 352 retailers in rural and urban markets. Descriptive indicated a low product awareness across markets. Further, attitudes of retailers towards baobab were positive and relatively homogeneous. Out of the 13 statements, 10 scored positively on the Likert scale. The model revealed that gender, age, education, years in retailing, and group membership positively influenced awareness, while distance to the market and income from other sources had a negative influence. Exploratory factor analysis generated five factors that explained 57.93% of the total variance. “Source of employment”, “livelihood and survival”, and “nutritive value and freshness,” had the highest factor loadings respectively. The study, therefore, recommends the need to develop strategies that could promote awareness of baobab products. This includes; designing appropriate educational and training programs that focus on gender disparity, youth, and nutritional value. Likewise, governments and the private sector should invest in baobab value chain and infrastructure to enhance market employability, access and availability of products.
... Baobab is a large, majestic, multipurpose tree with medicinal and cosmetic properties, numerous food uses of various plant parts, and bark fibres that are used for a variety of applications (Sidibe and Williams 2002;Chadare, et al. 2008;De Caluwé et al. 2009;Gebauer et al. 2016). Wild tree fruits constitute an important part of household diet and are a source of income for rural farmers, thus contributing to the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger (Wilkinson 2006;Christine et al. 2010;Faye et al. 2010;Kamatou et al. 2011;Sanogo et al. 2015). ...
... Phenotypic differences between populations in numerous important traits (trunk shape, bark colour, Table 6 Results including F probability of a significant relationship and percentage of trait variance explained from pairwise regression analyses between possible explanatory variables (latitude, longitude and mean annual rainfall) and predicted means of measured traits of Adansonia digitata at Samanko clonal-trial leaf colour, fruit taste and fruit shape and colour) are marked among different populations from different regions. This has been partially attributed to differences in climatic and edaphic conditions (Assogbadjo et al. 2008a;De Smedt et al. 2012;Assogbadjo and Loo 2013;Wickens 1982;Gebauer et al. 2016). However, evidence for genetic subpopulation differentiation in A. digitata comes from an AFLP DNA marker-based study (Assogbadjo et al. 2006 and2008b). ...
The results of a Adansonia digitata provenance and clone trials situated in Sadore (Niger) and Samanko (Mali) indicate genetic variation at both provenance level and among clones. There were significant differences among provenances at Sadore in both survival and height by age 10. Differences in survival were very marked, and suggest that provenances ranged from very poorly- to well-adapted to the Samanko site. However, height was weakly and negatively correlated to survival; possibly the trees may have grown slightly taller because of less competition. West African provenances have a tendency towards faster growth than those of East African origin, and the provenances from drier locations tend to be better adapted. While early variation among 4 year-old clones of leaf development, an important production trait, was indicated, future observations at later ages on fruit traits will be required to make valid selection decisions. The reported 10 year-old provenance variation in tree survival and growth suggest valuable gains could be made by selection of the best provenances. Further trials across a wider range of sites, representative of target planting sites are recommended. Both genebanks contain valuable genetic plant materials worth maintaining for further research and development.
