The Codex of Business Writing Software for Real-World Solutions 2.pptx
Medicinal Trees in Smallholder Agroforestry Systems by Jonathan Muriuki 25 january 2011
1. Medicinal trees in smallholder agroforestry systems: Assessing some factors influencing cultivation by farmers East of Mt. Kenya Jonathan Muriuki Kiura
2. Presentation summary The research problem Research concept and objectives Study area and methods Results and discussions Conclusions and recommendations 2
3. The problem Majority of Africa population is poor and ravaged by treatable diseases but can’t afford modern medicine
4. An example of malaria – quick facts Source: World Malaria Report 2008
6. Traditional medicine, mainly herbal, has been substantially managing African health but is under threat Medicine Plant Knowledge Phyto-medicines rely on two elements, plants(of which over 60% are perennial trees and shrubs) and theknowledgeassociated with their use. Either alone is useless. 6
7. Herbal medicine relying on wild plants collection is not viable because biodiversity in Africa is threatened by agriculture, urbanization etc and forests lost to below 10% in many countries (e.g. 1.7% in Kenya at present) 7 Extent of forest and other wooded land in Eastern Africa compared to Austria by 2005
8. With increasing trade and TM use, medicinal plant resource depletion is abundant and cultivation has been recommended as a possible solution But that is very easy for herbs (annuals) if appropriate germplasm and products markets are accessible. For trees and other long rotation woody perennials that poses a big challenge due to having to wait long and as long as wild resources are available and perceived to be a common good 8
9. 9 Conservation through use under cultivation - What would be the ideal trend of growth in material supply as knowledge of use improves?
10.
11. How does ecology influence use and cultivation of medicinal tree species?10 Main hypothesis The level of medicinal tree cultivation (Mc) is a factor of germplasm availability (g), species ecology (e – climate, soil and competition), local disease burden perception with appropriate knowledge on use of medicinal trees (k), and availability of market for medicinal tree products (m). Mc = f(g, e, k, m, α)
12. Conceptual framework 11 General Conceptual Frame on farmer adoption of an agricultural practice Adapted from FAO (2001)
13. Motivates especially if not extractive harvesting Seedling quality as well as access and cost may demotivate Other Products Timber, food, ethno veterinary, etc Access to inputs Household Consumption Germplasm (g) Self treatment knowledge (k) Smallholder production sub-system Wild sources Medicinal trees (C) Alternatives Clinical Medicine Production Technology Income If alternative perceived better then only this path taken Cultivation ecology (e) Sold to Markets (m) Niche defines quality and interaction with crops (opportunity cost to land and labour Human Capital Demotivates depending on access and abundance Motivation to plant Fig. Conceptual framework showing some factors expected to influence cultivation of medicinal trees by smallholder farmers 12
14. Objectives 13 To collate the perspectives of farmers and herbalists on the factors influencing their preference and cultivation of tree species with medicinal value To assess the influence of local disease burden perception and knowledge of herbal treatment on the efforts by farmers and herbalists to cultivate medicinal trees To explore the contribution of farm grown herbal material to medicinal tree product markets and its effect on medicinal tree cultivation To explore how germplasm access by farmers and on-farm tree nurseries influence medicinal tree cultivation To explore motivational drivers of cultivation and the scope for herbalists’ and traders’ utilization of farm produced medicinal tree products
48. Farmers’ sources of knowledge on use of medicinal plants for disease treatment 24 Most information passed through genealogy and herbalists contribution is low!
49. Who speaks about importance of medicinal tree cultivation to farmers? 25
50. So knowledge of medicinal tree species varies with socio-demographic categories 26 Number of species known increased with age, district harshness, and use but decreased with education level attained by respondent Key: Gender -1(Female), 2 (Male); Age in years – 1 (<25), 2 (25-35), 3 (35-45), 4 (55-65), 5 (>65); Level of education attained – 1 (not schooled), 2 (primary level), 3 (village polytechnic), 4 (secondary), 5 (post secondary); District – 1 (Embu), 2 (Mbeere), 3 (Meru Central); First responseto ailment - 1 (find a medicinal plant), 2 (buy an over the counter drug), 3(consult a medical clinic or hospital), 4 (consult a herbalist)
68. Demand for medicinal species lower than timber and higher than fruits and fodder in Meru; lower than fruits and fodder in Mbeere and fruits in Embu
69. Demand for medicinal seedlings higher than supply in nurseries – but not all species
70. Need investment in diversifying germplasm in both private and herbalist nurseries36
82. Not much difference in abundance in smallholder farms in the three districts but smallholders generally plant less20 Species richness Smallholder farms Mbeere Embu Meru 20 Sites
83. 30 top species Renyi profiles 42 Mbeere Embu Meru H-alpha H-alpha H-alpha Forests and districts Herbalists and districts Farms and districts 25 Mbeere Embu Meru Species richness H-alpha H-alpha Forests and distance RP Forests and distance SAC Combined >5 km from village <5 km from village
90. There were no specific niches that mimicked forests that herbalists preferred to plant medicinal trees
91. More herbalists and traders preferred medicinal trees sourced from forests but not necessarily farm niches that mimicked forest situations
92. Upto 67% of the current traders and herbalists can switch preference to farm grown herbal material if forest trees were not very accessible45
93. General conclusions Farmers maintain medicinal tree species on farms for household health insurance – only one tree is enough per household The more trees known the more conserved Herbalists not engaged in conservation advocacy and young and educated farmers least informed Herbalists cultivation is increasing as a response to scarcity – good entry to ensure diversity in farms Trade in medicinal trees’ products is growing and could stimulate cultivation Strategies needed to support nurseries in dry areas as current abundance will disappear fast Empirical measurements supported survey responses 46
94. Recommendations - actions Involve herbalists and tree nursery operators in extension on medicinal trees information Further development of markets and link to farmers Policy incentives to promote cultivation and discourage wild collection Germplasm conservation and production linking herbalists and nursery operators Policies to develop arid areas as future sources of medicinal tree material Further research on influence of various cultivation approaches on medicinal tree active component concentration 47