Tetrapleura tetraptera in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda: households uses and local market
Loading...
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Forests, Trees and Livelihoods
Abstract
Tetrapleura tetraptera is an indigenous fruit tree in Tropical Africa.
Scientific findings indicate its medicinal and nutritional properties,
vital for rural livelihood sustainability. Despite this reported scientific
potential, its uses in local communities have not received much
attention. This study assessed T. tetraptera local uses in selected communities
in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. Data were collected through
semi-structured interviews with a total of 420 user households and 30
traders. Reported uses of T. tetraptera were medicine, food, timber,
firewood, shade and cultural applications. When ranked by importance,
medicinal uses emerged highest in Ghana, Nigeria and
Uganda. Except for food uses that differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05)
between Uganda and Ghana, other T. tetraptera uses were not significantly
different across the three countries. Household sales exclusively
concerned the fruits, and were low, comprising only 16%, 15%
and 6% of respondent households in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda
respectively. Our results reveal the importance of T. tetraptera for
medicinal and food uses in local communities and its potential for
improving local livelihoods through its domestication
Description
Keywords
Tetrapleura tetraptera, Fruit tree, Local market, Uganda
Citation
Esther Kemigisha, Edmund.O. Owusu, Christianah A. Elusiyan, Francis Omujal, Mnason Tweheyo & Paul P. Bosu (2018): Tetrapleuratetraptera in Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda: households uses and local market, Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, DOI: 10.1080/14728028.2018.1498027