magazinelogo

International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture

ISSN Print: 2578-3467 Downloads: 209052 Total View: 2923792
Frequency: quarterly ISSN Online: 2578-3475 CODEN: IJFSJ3
Email: ijfsa@hillpublisher.com
Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2020.06.007

Trees on Farm Domestication Level, Opportunities and Challenges: A Case Study of Prunus africana in Western Kenya

Gachie P. K. 1,*, Koech E.K. 2, Njung'e J.T. 3, Simons A.J. 4

1 Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya.

2 University of Kabianga, Kenya.

3 University of Namibia, Namibia.

4 World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya.

*Corresponding author: Gachie P. K., Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya.

Published: May 12,2020

Abstract

Prunus africana, is widely known for its medicinal value. The tree has being overexploited for its bark highly valued remedy against prostate disorders. One way of conserving it, is through its domestication. There is a need to assess the potentials and constraints to its domestication. The objective of this study was to generate information to improve strategies for its conservation and domestication in Kenya. A survey was done on farms adjacent to Kobujoi and Kakamega forest reserves (western Kenya) using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results indicate that farmers in Kobujoi were more aware of P. africana uses than those in Kakamega. Firewood recorded the highest frequency of use in both areas while its medicinal use ranked third. In Kobujoi, the species competition with the agricultural crops was the main constraint while in Kakamega, certain discouraging customs and beliefs ranked highest. Lack of seedlings was also a common constraint.

References

[1] Albrecht, J. (1993). The seed handbook of Kenya. GTZ Forestry Seed Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.

[2] Orwa C, Mutua, A., Kindt R., Jamnadass R, Anthony, S. (2009). Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0 (http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sites/treedbs/treedatabases.asp).

[3] Maundu, P. and Tengnäs T. (eds) (2005). Useful Trees and Shrubs for Kenya. Technical Handbook No. 35. Nairobi, Kenya: World Agroforestry CentreEastern and Central Africa Regional Programme (ICRAF-ECA), 484p.

[4] FAO. (1996). Appendix 6. Forest genetics resources priorities in Africa. Report of the eighth session of the FAO panel of experts on forest gene resources, held in Rome, 28-30 June 1993, pp. 24-25. FAO, Rome.

[5] Cunningham, M., Cunningham, A.B., and Schippmann, U. (1997). Trade in Prunus africana and the implementation of CITES. German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn. p.52.

[6] Leakey, R. and Simons, T. (1997). Domesticationmany things to many people. In Agroforestry Today 9 (2):5. 

[7] Madofe, S., Andrew D., Mombo F. (2006). Developing a strategy for sustainable income generation from a valuable medicinal plant, Prunus africana in Kilimanjaro region. Final report, Research and Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) project. Morogoro: Sokoine University of Agriculture.

[8] Franzel, S., Ayuk, E., Cunningham, A.B., Asanga, C., Duguma, B. (2010). Bark for sale: The adoption potential of Prunus africana as an agroforestry tree for small-scale farmers in Cameroon. In: Cunningham, A. B. et al. Bark: use, management and commerce in Africa, Winter 2010, vol. 17, Advances in Economic Botany.

[9] Maina, P. and Mandila, M. (2019). Domestication and Survival of Selected Medicinal Trees and Shrubs in Chapereria Division West Pokot County Kenya. Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports, 3(2), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajarr/2019/v3i230082. 

[10] Rotich, J., Sirmah, P., Mengich, E., Okelo, P. (2017). Agroforestry trees in Kapsaret, Kenya: Socio-economic perspectives influencing availability, preference and utilization. International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 315-325, May, 2017.

[11] Bryce, J.M. (1967). The commercial timbers of Tanzania. Utilization section, Tanzania Forest Division, Moshi. p.139.

[12] Hankins, M. (1989). Renewable energy in Kenya. Motif Creative Arts Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya. p.118.

[13] Cunningham, A.B. (1995). An economic evaluation of Prunus africana cultivation for medicinal bark: A case study from Cameroon. Unpublished report. WWF/UNESCO/Kew People and Plants Initiative, Godalming.

[14] Suda, C. (1992). Literature review on the use of indigenous forest in Kenya. Nairobi: KIFCON

[15] Kokwaro, J.O. (1976). Medicinal plants of east Africa. East African Literature Bureau, Nairobi. p. 384. 

[16] Njoroge, G.N, Kaibui, I.M, Njenga, P.K, Odhiambo, P.O. (2010). Utilisation of priority traditional medicinal plants and local peoples knowledge on their conservation status in arid lands of Kenya (Mwingi District). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2010; 6(1):22-28.

[17] Otieno. E.N., Analo C. (2012). Local indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants in and around Kakamega forest in western Kenya. F1000 Research. 2012;1(40). DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.1-40.

[18] Kipkore, W, Wanjohi, B, Rono, H, Kigen, G. (2014). A study of the medicinal plants used by the marakwet community in Kenya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2014; 10(24). DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-10-24.

[19] Jeanrenaud, S. (1991). The conservation–development interface: A study of forest use, agricultural practices and perceptions of the rain-forest, Elinde forest, South west Cameroon. Report to UK Overseas Development Administration, London.

[20] Cunningham, A.B. and Mbenkum F.T. (1993). Review of sustainability of harvesting Prunus africana bark in Cameroon: A medicinal plant in international trade. People and Plants Working Paper, 2: 1-28. UNESCO, Paris.

[21] Nsom, C.L., Dick, J., (1992). An Ethnobotanical Tree Survey of the Kom Area. Unpublished Report Prepared for the Ijim Mountain Forest Project.

[22] Letouzey, R. (1978). Flore du Cameroun : 20. Rosacées Musée d'histoire naturelle, Paris.

[23] Dawson, I.K. and Fondoun J.M. (1996). Prunus africana collection report. ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya. 

[24] County government of Kakamega, (2015). Average farm sizes. https://kakamega.go.ke/economy.

[25] Harrison, S. & Herbohn, J. (2005). Small-scale Forestry 4: 471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-005-0029-2.

[26] Kiptot, E., P. Hebinck, S. Franzel, and P. Richards (2007). Adopters, testers or pseudo-adopters: Dynamics of the use of improved tree fallows by farmers in western Kenya. Agricultural Systems 94 (2): 509-519. 

[27] Stewart, K. M. (2003). The African cherry ( Prunus africana): Can lessons be learned from an over-exploited medicinal tree? Journal of Ethnopharmacology 89 (2003) 3–13.

[28] Chavangi, N.A., (1989). “Socio-economic issues in agroforestry.” Paper presented at Agroforestry Seminar, Thuci iver Lodge, November 1989. Nairobi: Ministry of Agriculture, 9 pp. 

[29] Ipara H.I. (1992). Socio-economic factors affecting the participation of women in agroforestry activities in Sabatia division in Vihiga, Kakamega District, Kenya. M.Phil. thesis, Moi University Kenya.

[30] Foley, G. and Geoffrey, B. (1984). Farm and Community Forestry. Earthscan Energy Information Programme. Technical report No. 3. IIED, London.

[31] Sunderland, T. and Nkefor, J. (1997). Conservation through cultivation a case study: The propagation of PygeumPrunus africana. Tropical Agricultural Association Newsletter, December: 5-13.

[32] Geldenhuys, C.J. (1981). Prunus africana in the Bloukrans River Gorge, Southern Cape. South African Forestry Journal, 118:61-66.

[33] Franzel, S., D. Phiri, and F.R. Kwesiga. (2002). Assessing the adoption potential of improved tree fallows in Eastern Zambia. Trees on the farm: Assessing the adoption potential of agroforestry practices in Africa, ed. Franzel, S. and S.J. Scherr. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

[34] Ajayi, O. C., Akinnifesi, F. K., Gudeta, S., and Chakeredza, S. (2007). Adoption of renewable soil fertility replenishment technologies in southern African region: lessons learnt and the way forward’, Natural Resource Forum 31, 306-317.

[35] Tengnäs, B. (1994). Agroforestry extension manual for Kenya. ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya. pp. 177.

[36] Hall, J., E. O’Brien, and F. Sinclair (2000). Prunus africana: A monograph, in Publication No 18. School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales Bangor: Bangor. p. 104.

[37] Ndam, N. and Ewusi B. (1999). An assessment of Prunus africana situation in Cameroon, Kenya and Madagascar. Unpublished report.

[38] Lodoen, D. (2000). Back from the brink. Ecoforum, Short Rains: The East African Environment and Development Magazine, 24 (4): 40-41.

[39] Cunningham, A.B., Ayuk, E., Franzel, S., Duguma, B. and Asanga, C. (1998). An economic evaluation of medicinal tree cultivation: Prunus africana in Cameroon. People and Plants Working Paper 6, UNESCO, Paris.

How to cite this paper

Trees on Farm Domestication Level, Opportunities and Challenges: A Case Study of Prunus africana in Western Kenya

How to cite this paper: Gachie P. K., Koech E.K., Njung'e J.T., Simons A.J. (2020) Trees on Farm Domestication Level, Opportunities and Challenges: A Case Study of Prunus africana in Western Kenya. International Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 4(2), 156-165.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2020.06.007