Local knowledge and use of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Marula</i> [<i><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">Sclerocarya</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN"> <i>birrea</i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN" lang="EN">(A. Rich.) Hochst<span style="mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt" lang="EN-GB">.] in South-central Zimbabwe </span></span></span>

Abstract

The aim of this study was to document indigenous knowledge related to the use of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sclerocarya birrea</i> (A. Rich.) Hochst. subsp. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">caffra</i> (Sond.) Kokwaro (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Marula</i>) in South-central Zimbabwe. One hundred and sixteen participants from 4 villages were interviewed between December 2011 and January 2012. Local communities in South-central Zimbabwe derive many benefits from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Marula</i>. The main product harvested by the participants was the fruit. The ripe fruits were eaten raw (100%), kernels were eaten raw (100%) or roasted (33.6%), fruit juice fermented to produce children’s beverage (22.4%) or traditional beer (35.3%), making jam (14.7%), oil processing (8.6%) and added to maize, millet and sorghum porridge (4.3%). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Marula</i> has also medicinal uses and the leaves and fruits were browsed by livestock. <span style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-ZA">This study calls for<b> </b>large-scale cultivation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Marula</i> not only in South-central Zimbabwe, but also in neighbouring countries where the species occurs naturally and has the potential to positively affect local peoples’ livelihoods.

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