The ManicaPost
Sharon Chigeza Post Correspondent
The maiden tour of Manicaland by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) newly appointed representative to Zimbabwe Dr Patrick Kormawa was an eye opener to the versatility of the baobab tree found in Chimanimani.
The iconic baobab tree is in native to hot dry areas of Zimbabwe, particularly the Chimanimani area of Manicaland.
Science and geography have explained the strange shape of the tree as being related to its unique water storage mechanisms, while the traditional folk story credits the hyena for foolishly planting the tree upside down.
So resilient is this tree that it can withstand regular bark-stripping by wildlife such as elephants, which feed on the succulent bark. People in dry parts of Chimanimani traditionally take advantage of this adaptation to strip its bark for medicine and for weaving mats and baskets.
This, however, has some adverse effects on the tree.
The Chimanimani community has fast adopted the baobab fruit’s food status and market value to boost food security and income.
Over 400 households are benefiting from a baobab processing plant located in the Gudyanga area.
Dubbed the Baobab Delight, the project is funded by the European Union (EU) with FAO as the lead partner and Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) as the project implementer.
In an interview with The Manica Post on the sidelines of the tour, FAO Forests Forces Project co-ordiantor Mr Maxwell Phiri said the project’s main objective is to improve food security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management.
“The baobab project’s main objective is to improve food security of vulnerable rural communities through participatory sustainable forest management and valorisation of forest products, diversified livelihoods strategies and enhanced capacity to deal with shocks such as droughts and erratic rainfall.
“This is expected to be achieved through a mix of four distinct strategies, which are participatory sustainable forest management, valorisation of forest products, diversification of livelihoods strategies and the building of innovative partnerships,” he said.
Baobab Delight was developed through Gudyanga Baobab Enterprise which was established through the support of the Forest Forces Project in 2015. The group is composed of five members from three wards, namely Nyanyadzi (Ward 8), Hot Springs (Ward Six) and Gudyanga (Ward 20).
They collect the revered baobab fruit for processing into freezits and cosmetic oil, via exclusive processing mills and an automated liquid packaging machine donated by FAO.
Mr Phiri said the product line has improved significantly and the new product development was still in progress.
“The first product developed was the baobab fortified drink termed bao-mix cools. These are produced in 200ml sachets and are sold locally to resellers. The other developed products are baobab pulp and baobab coffee, which are being sold to Four Seasons and locals.
“Baobab entrepreneurs are also hopeful that the oil press gets connected so that they start producing baobab oil as the market for oil is lucrative,” said Mr Phiri.
Gudyanga village head Mr Hama Gudyanga applauded the support received from the funders saying the plant was mitigating effects of the drought in the area.
“We have traditionally been accustomed to harvesting fruit and making rugs and mats out of the tree bark for sale to local and export market since time immemorial. The aspect of value addition of products has of late been of great significance in the area given its nutritional and financially off-spins,” said Mr Gudyanga.
The versatility and nutritional status of baobab is fast growing and its increased local and export market value is bringing relief to the community, whose climate and infertile soils make crop farming impossible.
Baobab fruits are mainly harvested by women and their processing is easily fitted into daily household routines, thereby making it a female-friendly crop. The extra income generated from baobab powder sales is contributing significantly to household economies at a time when agricultural produce is not widely available for sale.
