African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry Centre 1 Allanblackia Integrated Domestication Strategy West and Central Africa Asaah ICRAF-WCA/HT

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African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreAfrican Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry Centre

Allanblackia Integrated Domestication StrategyWest and Central Africa

Asaah ICRAF-WCA/HTBP 16317 Yaounde, Cameroon

Tel: (+237) 223 75 60; Fax: (+237) 223 74 40Email: [email protected]

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Topics for discussionBackgroundMain Components of DomesticationAllanblackia DomestigramPartnerships Management and CoordinationLessons LearntDevelopment of a national strategy

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Background

Of the 9 recorded species of Allanblackia, 4 occur in this region:

3 occur in Cameroon; A. floribunda (Nigeria), A. gabonensis and A. stanerana & A. parviflora (Ghana).

Fruiting A. floribunda tree

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Main Components of Domestication

Some specificity of agroforestry trees for domestication - Allanblackia Species with threatened habitats and populations Limited knowledge on propagation Limited knowledge on management Incomplete knowledge on nutritional qualities No formal varieties Traditional use based on wild harvest Timid promotional campaigns Limited product development Limited market information systems

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Review and collation of available literature on Allanblackia species.

Determination of natural distribution and zones of abundance of each species.

Development of germplasm collection and conservation strategies.

Assessment of genetic diversity through molecular, biophysical & chemical characterisation studies.

Development of suitable clonal propagation methods. Determine integration/diversification requirement of the

species. Training and technical backstopping of stakeholders in

the Allanblackia domestication initiative.

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Allanblackia Domestigram

CS of propagator

Characterisation studies

Molecular studiesChemical studiesPhenotypic studies

Ideotypes selection

Sexual propagation Vegetative Propagation

Seedlings

Grafting Cuttings/Marcots

Other trees

Improved propagules

Participatory evaluation

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Partnerships

ICRAF-WCA Farmer Groups CBOs NGOs NARS Universities Private sectors

In Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon

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Key elements in partnerships

Partners should be strategic On technical, policy and NRM domains.

Partnership appraisal to assess how partners fit into the strategy and

what mutual and complementary benefits could arise from such partnerships.

Definition of specific roles and potential contributions of partners e.g. Allanblackia domestication initiative

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Farmer Groups & CBOs 1. Indigenous knowledge,2. Seed collection, 3. Propagate and plant Allanblackia

NGOs 1. Facilitates stakeholder collaboration, 2. Production & distribution germplasm

for incorporation into farming systems,3. Promote best practices for

sustainable wild harvesting & biodiversity conservation

4. Promote development & investment opportunities to create additional income at producer level

NARS 1. Development of propagation techniques,

2. Development of agroforestry systems

3. Conduct ecological studies to establish the abundance and a baseline for sustainable harvesting

4. Extension of best practices of Allanblackia domestication

Partners Roles and Responsibilities..1

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Universities and Research Institutions

1. Development of propagation techniques

2. Development of Allanblackia cultivars

3. Development of agroforestry systems

Private sector 1. Facilitates the development of marketing networks and supply chain

2. Facilitates resource mobilization for Allanblackia domestication initiative

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Co-ordination and Management Proper co-ordination and management is

important to leverage the benefits from such synergies with multiple partners.

ICRAF Cameroon & Novella projects in, Ghana and Nigeria are facilitators of the Allanblackia domestication initiative in west and central Africa.

However, ownership and sustainability of the programme in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria is ensured by NARS staff seconded to support the programme implementation.

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Organize stakeholders annual planning and evaluation meetings aimed at developing: an integrated strategy for sustainable

extraction,commercialization of Allanblackia seeds from natural stands in the short term, and

production of quality germplasm of Allanblackia for integration into farming systems in the long term.

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Outcomes of planning meetings include: Specific roles and contributions of partners in the

implementation of the Allanblackia domestication initiative established;

Key stakeholders evaluate past activities and orientate future work as required.

Partners and stakeholders present and consolidate yearly work plans and budgets.

Elements for writing of yearly progress reports derived, gaps for further research identified and directions for further orientation of the domestication initiative and resource mobilisation strategies defined.

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Organise technical backstopping

Crucial for partners in the different countries playing a prominent role in empowering communities and farmer groups on Allanblackia domestication.

Partners have to develop pilots in villages which will constitute future Allanblackia knowledge (Resource) centers in communities for dissemination of best practices of Allanblackia domestication

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Allanblackia knowledge centers are being developed in Cameroon with partners who participated in germplasm collection, production, & biophysical characterization,

Nigeria with partners who participated in a national tree domestication training course with emphasis on Allanblackia in July 2006.

Tanzania following an Allanblackia domestication training course organized in July 2006 and

Later in Ghana after similar plan training course.

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Highlights of Training in Tanzania

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Structure of Knowledge Center 10 non mist propagators, germination beds, quality seeds/seedlings of AB and a number of priority species, stock plants plots established of AB and other priority species, at least 10 selected female trees cut down for mass multiplication

through vegetative propagation, plants of AB and other priority species produced by sexual or

vegetative propagation techniques, demonstration plots of AB integrated with other priority species

and training materials on (nursery techniques, propagation methods,

guidelines for tree integration and management etc..).

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Integration models for Allanblackia

Allanblackia is not isolated but integrated in the domestication process of working trees (fruits, medicinal, culinary, fodder, fuel wood, timber…) on working landscapes (agricultural and degraded forest landscapes).

Preliminary work done in Cameroon on Allanblackia integration under partial shade in secondary forest and under direct sunlight indicates that Allanblackia seedlings will required partial shade just like other local fruit trees.

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Models for Integration in mixed agroforestry systems

1 farm = 1,000,000 AB trees 100 farms = 10, 000 AB trees each 500 farms = 2,000 AB trees each 1,000 farms = 1,000 AB trees each 5,000 farms = 200 AB trees each 10,000 farms= 100 AB trees each 100,000 farms= 10 AB tree each

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Lesson learnt and gaps

1. An integrated domestication strategy to guide the Allanblackia domestication initiative has been developed and is in place. Various components of the strategy e.g. development of suitable propagation methods, characterization studies and integration models are being implemented at varying levels in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.

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2. Biophysical characterization methods have been developed, and descriptors for the predication of nut traits from fruit traits (fruit size=high number of nuts) identified. These results will gradually be applied in the selection of mother trees for germplsam and fruit collection in the different countries.

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3. Solid and strategic partnerships developed, however, there should be a clear definition of roles and responsibilities among and between partners in the Allanblackia domestication initiative.

4. The need to facilitate the creation of Allanblackia knowledge centers in communities that will play the key role of dissemination of knowledge on best practices of Allanblackia domestication.

5. Develop a sustainable funding mechanism for Allanblackia domestication initiative.

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Development of a national strategy specific to Cameroon

Since domestication is a farmer driven and market led process, it is important that mechanisms to put in place to establish a supply chain for Allanblackia seeds in Cameroon.

In the absence of an alternative wide scale local use for the seeds, the non-existence of the supply chain is a disincentive for Allanblackia cultivation in Cameroon and all awareness efforts on the species might not make a difference in the eyes of farmers.

Documents

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry Centre 1 Allanblackia Integrated Domestication Strategy West and Central Africa Asaah ICRAF-WCA/HT