ABSTRACT
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), growing both domesticated and wild fruit species on farms diversifies the crop production options of small-scale farmers and can bring significant health, ecological and economic revenues (Keatinge et al., 2010; Weinberger and Lumpkin, 2005). Dozens of indigenous fruit tree species (IFTs), although relatively unknown in global markets, are locally of large importance for food/nutrition security and income generation. Akinnifesi et al. (2008) showed the high potential of many wild fruit species from different African regions for undergoing domestication followed by successful on-farm production. Fruit markets in SSA are estimated to grow substantially due to economic and human population growth and increasing urbanisation rates, e.g. by 5.7 per cent per year in Kenya (calculation of ICRAF based on Ruel et al., 2005). Women are often strongly involved in and benefit from fruit processing and trade, particularly with regard to indigenous fruits (Schreckenberg et al., 2006). With appropriate promotion, the contribution of fruits to the livelihoods and health of African farmers and consumers could be substantially increased.
