Food Trees Project: Background and general introduction

Food trees for diversified diets, improved nutrition, and better livelihoods for smallholders in East Africa: Kenya and Uganda

Stepha McMullin, Project Leader19th July 2017

Global Malnutrition

Source: http://www.who.int/nutgrowthdb/estimates/en/

Fruit consumption gaps

Fruit consumption, grams per person per day

Source: Ruel, M. T., N. Minot, and L. Smith. 2005. Patterns and determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in sub-Saharan Africa.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables

Past and projected fruit and vegetable consumption globally 2000 – 2030

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Latin Amer. + the Caribbean

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Asia

East Asia + Pacific

Eastern Europe + Central Asia

Middle East + North Africa

United States

World

Kg fruit and vegetables/person per year

20002000-2030 change

Figure 1, Modified from Msangi and Rosegrant 2011. Feeding the Future’s Changing Diets; Ruel et al. 2005. Patterns of fruit & vegetable consumption in SSA. Figure 2, Ruel et al. 2005. Patterns of fruit & vegetable consumption in SSA

WHO-

recommended

146 kg

Kenya: 114 kg (78%)

Fruit and vegetable consumption in Kenya

Country level data available for Kenya (1997)Source: Collated from Ruel, M.T, Minot,N and L.Smith. Patterns and determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in sub-SaharanAfrica. Background paper for the Joint FAO/WHO Workshop on Fruit and Vegetables for Health, 1-3 September 2004, Kobe Japan.

Source: ICRAF Fruiting Africa Data, Western Kenya, 2014

Production Dietary Gaps

Food production trends in sub Saharan Africa 2003/2009

Source: Herforth 2010

Fruit Tree Portfolios: year-round fruit harvest for food and dietary gaps

Developing fruit tree portfolios

The portfolio approach recommends the optimum number and combination of ecologically suitable tree species to provide for household food and nutrition gaps year round

Each month at least 1 fruit species is ready for harvest, even during the ‘hunger gap’ (green shade = harvest season)

Example from Eastern Kenya, Machakos County, Fruiting Africa Project, EC/IFAD

Hunger gap

Vitamin contents: +++ very high; ++ high; + good; (+) intermediate

(Pro)vitamin A and C supply possible year-round if the 10 species are grown on farm

2 IFT available during the food insecure months

The portfolio can be developed to include suitable and complementary vegetables, as well as annual and staple crops to provide for a ‘whole diet’ approach

Supply of nutrients year-round, access to food & nutrition during hunger gap (direct & indirect), income from surplus fruits

English names Scientific Names Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Maize** Zea mays

Potatoes** Solanum tuberosum

Yams Dioscorea alata

Millet Pennisetum glaucum

Cassava Manihot esculeta

Beans** Phaseolus vulgaris

Runner beans Phaseolus coccineus

Dolichos Lablab purpureus

Groundnuts Arachis hypogaea

Peas Pisum sativum

Malabar gourd Cucurbita ficifolia

Cowpeas leaves Vigna unguiculata

Black night shade Solanum nigrum

Pumpkin leaves Cucurbita maxima

Stinging nettle Urtica mqassaica

Cat thorn Scutia myrtina

Bush plum** Carissa spinarum

Bananas** Musa x paradisiaca

Avocado** Persea americana

Mangoes** Mangifera indica

Oranges** Citrus sinensis

Guava** Psidium guajava

Mulberry Morus alba

Pawpaw Carica papaya

Magic gwarra Euclea divinorum

Annona Annona reticulata

Grewia Grewia similis

Wild berry Rhus natalensis/vulgaris

Fruit tree and crop portfolio for Rumuruti, Laikipia County

Notes: Portfolios based on 4 FDGs and HH surveys on 150 farms, 83% of HHs had experienced food scarcity in the last 12 months, **most consumed crops/vegetables & fruits according to FDGs

Food Insecure Months Baseline DataFood Insecure Months FDGsHarvest Periods

Months of food insecurity (‘hunger gap’) identified, January + February

An agroforestry

approach: the

portfolio recommends

a combination of

ecologically suitable

tree species and crops

to provide for HH food

and nutrition gaps

year round

(+) is Low; + is Moderate; ++ is High; and +++ is Very HighNutrient content data not available

Specific food and nutrient gaps identified (food consumption data) - low fruit consumption, low Vit A rich fruits consumed, low diversity of fruit consumed

Protein

(g/100g)

Carbo.

(g/100g)

Vit. A

(ug/100g)

Folic acid

(ug/100g)

Vit. C

(mg/100g)

Iron

(mg/100g)

Zinc

(mg/100g)

+++ +++ ++ + +++ +++

+ ++ (+) ++ + ++

+ ++ + + + + +

+++ +++ +++ +++ +++

(+) +++ (+) + ++ (+) ++

+++ +++ +++ (+) +++ +++

+ (+) ++ + + ++ +

+++ +++ +++ +++ +++

+++ ++ +++ +++ +++

++ + +++ ++ ++ + ++

++ (+) ++ +++ ++ ++ ++

++ (+) ++ ++ +

++ (+) +++ ++ + ++ +

++ (+) +++ (+) ++ ++

(+) + + +++ ++

(+) ++ + + + (+) +

+ (+) + ++ + + ++

(+) ++ +++ ++ ++ (+) (+)

(+) + ++ + +++ (+) (+)

++ + ++ ++ +++ (+) +

+ + (+) (+) ++ ++ +

(+) + +++ ++ +++ (+) (+)

+ ++ + + +

Fruit trees already on farms, in production but there are gaps

Frequency Mean abundance

English name Species name Origin (plots with spp.) on farms with spp. Recommendation

Tickberry Lantana camara

Pawpaw Carica papaya Exotic 65% 16 (commercial) increase frequency

Mango Mangifera indica Exotic 92% 29 (commercial) check varietiesBanana Musa x paradisiaca

Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Exotic 10% 4 promote

Mulberry Morus alba Exotic 24% 2 promote

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Waterberry Syzygium spp. Exot/indig. 23% 1.5 promote

Custard apple Annona reticulata Exotic 13% 2 promote

Guava Psidium guajava Exotic 31% 4 promote

Pomegranate Punica granatum

White sapote Casimiroa edulis Exotic 19% 1.5 promote

Wild medlar Vangueria madagascariensis

Lemon Citrus limon Exotic 50% 5 (commercial) increase frequency

Orange Citrus sinensis Exotic 39% 11 (commercial) increase frequency

Chocolate berry Vitex payos Indig. 6% 6 promote

Avocado Persea americana

Passionfruit Passiflora edulis Exotic 14% 5 promote

Jacket plum Pappea capensis

Desert date Balanites aegyptiaca Indig. 18% 11 increase frequency

Bush plum Carissa edulis

Some species are not yet frequent or abundant on farms

Need to promote cultivation of certain species, particularly the indigenous spp.

Some species dominant on farms, potential for varietal diversity (nutrient content, harvest/maturation)

Machakos County, Data from Fruiting Africa Project, EC/IFAD, for Machakos County, Lower Eastern Kenya

Innovation Hubs for distribution of quality tree planting material, demonstration plots and farmer training on agroforestry and tree management

Communication tools with integrated agriculture and nutrition information for dissemination to farmers, extension agents and interested partners

An agroforestry approach: fruit tree and crop portfolios, year-round harvest for food and nutrition gaps

Community Agroforestry Innovation Hubs

Group nurseries in Machakos County, Eastern Kenya. Pictures: S.McMullin

e.g Nutrition-sensitive value chain: Fruits

Input ProductionPostharvest

/StorageProcessing

/ExportRetail/ Market

Varieties with

highest

nutrient

content, e.g.

vitamin A

Early and late

maturing

varieties to

extend the

harvest period

Portfolios of

diverse fruit

spp. year-

round fruit

production

Picking fruits

at the right

ripening

stage with

the highest

nutrient

content

Cold storage

to maintain

nutrients

Reduce

waste + loss

Improved

processing

techniques

to maintain

the nutrient

content

Better

packaging to

support

nutrient

retention

Product Dev.

Enhanced

marketing

pathways to

get the

product to

consumers in

short time to

retain nutrients

Awareness

creation

among

consumers

Consumer

Access

Domestic & Int

Optimal soil

fertility to

produce

nutrient-rich

fruits

Tree mgt &

cropping

systems

Kehlenbeck et al. 2012

The Right Trees for the Right Place

A. Trees for Products

B. Trees for Servicesfruit firewood medicine income Sawn wood fodder

Soil fertility Carbon erosion watershed shade biodiversity

C. Trees for right place… Simple as ABC !?

vegetationmap4africa http://www.vegetationmap4africa.org/Vegetation_map.html

New version with web-based, Google Earth and mobile maps

Thank you