Potentials of baobab: A complement to cocoa production

Abstract

Baobab is a priority pan-African tree species that can be put on a similar pedestal as cocoa. The wild and indigenous baobab has the potential for similar importance in tropical agriculture as the exotic commodity crop cocoa, whose beans are exported for the international chocolate industry. Considering the advantages associated with baobab cultivation, the tree could be one of the cash crops cultivated in West Africa. Domestication and cultivation of the plant will improve biodiversity which can drive many livelihoods and important strategies in solving food and nutrition insecurity, poverty, export and sometimes environmental degradation. However, domestication of baobab has only been in progress for a few years, thus the tree remains virtually wild across its range. Successful domestication of baobab tree has the potential to complement cocoa cultivation and this will enhance diet and market diversification, contributing to growth of local economies to enrich and sustain livelihoods of rural poor. This review compared the resilience and suitability of baobab and cocoa growing conditions, overall usefulness, nutritional composition and vulnerability to pests and diseases. In addition, the genetic and morphological variation was reviewed for the suitability of baobab to be domesticated. These two important economic plants are of comparable antiquity and when cultivated, can better complement each other in most Sub-Saharan Africa countries – a major driver in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords

• Adaptation
• Cash crop
• Domestication
• Food security
• Nutrition security