Africa indigenous fruit trees offer major benefits. But they’re being ignored
INDIGENOUS fruits have been collected from the wild for centuries for human consumption and other purposes. Across the African continent, indigenous fruit trees are valuable assets for local communities. ABIODUN OLUSOLA OMOTAYO, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, North-West University ADEYEMI OLADAPO AREMU, Associate professor, North-West University But the natural habitats of trees are being lost, mainly to widespread deforestation resulting from population growth. Industrial agriculture is also contributing to their loss. Indigenous fruit trees provide vital nutrients that may be scarce in other food sources. They are naturally adapted to local soils and climates, can enhance food and nutrition security and often…