Uses, management and economic potential of Irvingia gabonensis in the humid lowlands of Cameroon

Irvingia gabonensis is one of the most preferred tree species by farmers in the humid lowlands of Cameroon. The kernel of the species figures prominen tly in international trade in West Africa. Although there exists empirical data on the volume of international trade of the kernel, no data are availa ble at the farm-level. The species generally grows in the wild and very lit tle efforts have been made to domesticate it. As part of a prioritization e xercise a held survey was undertaken to quantify, at the farm-level, the ec onomic importance of the species. Uses, management and farmers' improvement objectives were also identified. The results of the survey indicate that I rvingia gabonensis is propagated rather by transplanting wildings than by p lanting of seedlings and is found mostly in tree crop fields (e.g. cocoa an d coffee). The kernel or seed is highly traded and is also transformed into a paste which is used in the preparation of sauces. Irvingia wood is used for timber, its dead branches for firewood and the bark is used as medicine . The farm-level annual value of production for Irvingia averages US$ 93.00 -US$ 15.00 from fruits and US$ 78.00 from seeds - per grower/collector in s ome regions. Desired improvement objectives include increasing fruit size, improving the taste of fruits, increasing yield, reducing tree height and t ime to bearing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.