Lesser Known African Indigenous Tree and Fruit Plants: Recent Evidence from Literatures and Regular Cultivation Culture

Abstract

Indigenous plant species native to Africa have numerous uses. They have a long and rich ethno-medicinal history with well-known native applications in different African countries. The effects of these indigenous underutilized crops in local traditional medicine differ. But they play an important role in enhancing food and nutrition security of the population. Tropical plant species have economic potential as they make great socio-economic impact on the livelihoods of rural dwellers. Despite their economic, food and nutritional values, these plants are still underutilized and have not been brought under regular cultivation culture due to inadequate information about their food values and their agronomic requirements for cultivation. Their potential values to the African food system could be enhanced if they are domesticated and prevented from going into extinction. Thus, the potential implications for long-term sustainable food security of these plants should not be neglected. Therefore, there is the need to recognize and enable indigenous foods from the indigenous plant species to serve as a key resource in ensuring healthy food systems in Africa. The inherent potential of the following tropical indigenous plant species African Walnut (Plukenetia conophora Muell Arg.), Saba (Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon), Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and Kapok (Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn.) are discussed in this review.

New Challenges and Future Perspectives in Nutrition and Sustainable Diets in Africa

“…In terms of fertilizer requirements, studies have shown that soil amendments such as poultry manure are sufficient to promote optimum growth and fruit production of African walnut. Application of 10 t ha −1 of poultry manure is sufficient to complement soil nutrients and enable proper development of morphological traits of the African walnut plant at early stages (Baiyeri and Olajide, 2022). This fertilization requirement supports green and sustainable cultivation of the African walnut plant and reduces the risk of inorganic chemical contamination of the soil and disruption of the soil ecosystem.…”

Underutilised food crops for improving food security and nutrition health in Nigeria and Uganda—a review

“…In terms of fertilizer requirements, studies have shown that soil amendments such as poultry manure are sufficient to promote optimum growth and fruit production of African walnut. Application of 10 t ha −1 of Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 07 frontiersin.org poultry manure is sufficient to complement soil nutrients and enable proper development of morphological traits of the African walnut plant at early stages (Baiyeri and Olajide, 2022). This fertilization requirement supports green and sustainable cultivation of the African walnut plant and reduces the risk of inorganic chemical contamination of the soil and disruption of the soil ecosystem.…”

“…Its potential for food security are embedded in the physicochemical characteristics of the plant and the nuts. African walnut plant is a perennial climber, which currently grows in the wild and utilizes other trees such as the cocoa and kola nut trees as support (Baiyeri and Olajide, 2022). As the plant is perennial, the fruits are produced annually between the months of June and September, thus ensuring the availability of the nuts on a yearly basis.…”

“…It thrives very well in tropical fertile moist and well-drained loamy soil. It adapts very well in woodlands, fallow fields, and forest areas (Baiyeri and Olajide, 2022). However, studies are yet to be conducted on it potential for growth and survival in temperate climate.…”

“…As the crops grow on a wide range of soil types, genetic studies following germplasm collections to select accessions that will be more tolerant to challenging climatic conditions will ensure optimum value is obtained from the crops. Reports have shown that these crops are threatened with extinction because of deforestation, socio-cultural shifts in dietary habits and urban migration (Baiyeri and Olajide, 2022). The government and industry stakeholders can therefore develop and promote agricultural land use policies that will favour preservation of farmlands as well as reward farmers efforts in terms of regulating competing imported crops and food products.…”