Domestication and development of baobab and tamarind / Work package “ethnobotany & organic farming"

Both baobab and tamarind are plant species with high potential for arid and semi-arid areas in the developing world: they can provide food, medicine, wood and a number of secondary processed products for income generation that can help to meet basic needs of an increasing number of people in a context of decreasing land availability. The project aims at developing sustainable production systems of baobab and tamarind in four West-African countries based on characterisation, conservation and use of local genetic resources. This is expected to have a positive impact on food security and income generation in the countries included in the project. Issues of new crop/niche development are addressed through a holistic research approach and multidisciplinary research activities. The strategic overall objectives of the project that will be addressed are: evaluation and characterisation of germplasm collected in different ecological zones in Benin, Ghana, Mali and Senegal; eco-physiological characterisation of field and greenhouse-grown material; domestication of superior germplasm material; development of adapted cropping techniques; development of adapted plant material for introduction into (traditional and improved) agroforestry systems; evaluation of nutritional/medicinal composition of different plant parts; improvement of processing/transformation of the species’ products; and development of (inter-)national marketing strategy. The project combines activities of research, capacity building and transfer to bridge the gap between knowledge to successful application of the results by the end users. The work plan is divided into 6 work packages and a documentation and information dissemination work package. WP 1. Field characterization of plant material over different agro-ecological zones in the 4 countries and match macroscopic characterisation using ‘traditional’ descriptors with results of molecular fingerprinting; WP 2. Eco-physiological characterisation of plant material for understanding drought stress tolerance/resistance in situ and ex situ; WP 3. Domestication: determination of optimal germination conditions and maximum germination rates; WP 4. Development of improved cropping techniques: pruning, irrigation, fertilisers, etc.; WP 5. Characterisation of nutritional and medicinal properties of primary and secondary products; and WP 6. Production and marketing chain analysis, including socio-economics and SWOT analysis. Expected results 1. Morphological and genotypic characterization, inventory and presentation of genetic resources conserved ex situ in the different countries are completed. Superior germplasm of baobab and tamarind for further eco-physiological characterization and propagation/domestication studies is selected. The main pests/diseases/weeds involved are identified. 2. Drought tolerance of tamarind and baobab and their photosynthesis and water use efficiency behaviour are understood. 3. Dormancy breaking mechanisms for both species are known and documented. Participative propagation/multiplication techniques are defined, and used for subsequent sustainable planting. 4. Improved cultural techniques for cropping baobab and tamarind are developed, and used for subsequent extension and vulgarization. Water needs and water use efficiency of baobab and tamarind are known for different development stages. 5. Ethnobotanical profiles of baobab/tamarind are documented. Processing methods are known; data on quantitative chemical and nutritional characteristics are available. 6. The main problems affecting commercialization, marketing and price formation are documented and known; this result is needed to be able to develop sustainable marketing strategies for the different baobab and tamarind (by-)products.