Cultivation of African Walnut Tetracarpidium Conophorum Mull. (Arg) on Agricultural Plantation: An Approach to Conservation Agriculture in Nigeria

Folaranmi D. Babalola (Ph.D.)Forest Resources Management, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

folababs2000@yahoo.com, babalola.fd@unilorin.edu.ng

•Over 90% of the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty depend on forests for livelihoods (World Bank, 2007).

IUCN Photo Library © Jim Thorsell

The loss of biological diversity from clearing of forests for agriculture and plantation establishment has been emphasized.

IUCN Photo Library © Jim Thorsell

Cultivation of forest products on agricultural plantation has been recognised as a contribution to Conservation Agriculture

Aim of the study

•Determine contributions of forest products to Conservation Agriculture with special focus on African walnut.

African walnut Tetracarpidium conophorum (Müll. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalziel

•Family Euphorbiaceae;

•Perennial climber;

•Found in moist forest zones of sub-Sahara Africa;

•Cultivated principally for the nuts (cooked and consumed as snacks).

Some benefits of African walnut

•Nuts ▫Proved to cure male fertility problem

•Oil from nuts▫Used in formulation of wood varnish,

vulcanized oil for rubber and leather substitute.

•Leaves ▫used for the treatment of dysentery

(Ajaiyeoba and Fadare, 2006).

Methodology

Data collection

•Questionnaire to rural farmers and local marketers

•Farm visit

Map of the study area

Production of the walnut

Production of African walnut•Nut planted under indigenous trees

deliberately spared on agricultural lands and plantations

•Starts fruiting 2 years

•Fruits July – Sept

•Processing is at household level

African walnut is a climber which is planted under indigenous tree species within agricultural plantation e.g. cocoa

Climber of African walnut on crown of some indigenous trees on agricultural plantation (thereby conserving the trees)

Processing of the walnut

Matured fruits allow to drop from climber

Fruits Rot and nuts washed

Fruits Cut open with knife or cutlass and nuts

removed

Gathering of fruits Women, children (&

farmers)

•Decaying stages of African walnut fruit

Marketing of the walnut

Chart for marketing of the walnut

Bags of African walnut ready for transport

Village merchant

Marketing of African walnut

(Retail)

Application of African walnut to Conservation Agriculture

•Conserve indigenous tree species. ▫Prevent felling

•Decay fruit mesocarp improves soil fertility.

•High litter fall that improve soil fertility. ▫enhance function of soil microbs.

Mature fruits and climber of walnut

Climber with many leaves

Decaying Mature fruits and leaves

Issues for Development of the

walnut

Issues for development

•Producers: Small scale farmers at the local level

•Industrial utilisation: Not fully developed.

▫…hampering full scale production and exploration of inherent potentials.

Issues for devt…

•Lack of adequate storage facilities

▫Consumed within 1-2 days after cook

•Inadequate transportation ▫deplorable rural road networks.

Food for thought

•Let us recognize more and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge to CA.

•“When a knowledgeable old person dies, a whole library disappears”.

Acknowledgements

•International Foundation for Science (IFS), Sweden: ▫Research Fund

•Travel Sponsorship:▫Australian Centre for International

Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in partnership with Australian Government AusAID's International Seminar Support Scheme

Thank you for

listening