Dacryodes edulis is one of the important local fruit tree species of West and Central Africa. Thispaper reviews the activities of a regional programme to domesticate high-value indigenous fruittrees in the region. This programme is coordinated by the International Centre for Research inAgroforestry (ICRAF) and implemented in Cameroon in collaboration with the Institute ofAgricultural Research for Development (IRAD), National Agricultural Extension and ResearchProgramme (PNVRA) agents and NGOs and universities of the region. It is based on aparticipatory approach to domestication that is in marked contrast to that of food cropdomestication under the Green Revolution. The participatory process with farmers started withpriority setting between species, progressed to germplasm collection and the establishment ofvillage nurseries for clonal propagation of superior trees, and is currently involved in the selectionof superior trees for cultivar development. Work is also in progress on post-harvest processing,market development and the integration of cultivars into agroforestry systems.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2002.9752407Altmetric score:
Dimensions Citation Count:
Publication year
2002
Authors
Kengue J; Leakey R R B; Tchoundjeu Z
Language
English
Keywords
tree and stand measurement, domestication, farming, forest land, dacryodes edulis
Geographic
Cameroon
