Lost Crops of Africa Volume III: Fruits (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 281-290
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From page 281... ...
It is remarkable for yielding three fundamentally different types of food: a snack, a staple, and a famine food. In a sense, icacina (pronounced ik-a-SEE-na)
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From page 282... ...
In the exploration of this possibility lie fascinating challenges to researchers, entrepreneurs, and other pioneer movers and shakers. Icacina perhaps doesn't deserve massive international efforts, but a few motivated "crop champions" could likely transform this plant and bring to more Africans a new resource and a new level of food security.
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From page 283... ...
This could be an outstanding life-support species for the Sahel and for the equally drought-fraught areas of Ethiopia, Somalia, and southern Africa. Upland Areas Potential here is unknown, but perhaps worth finding out.
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From page 284... ...
Owing to their size and the fact that they can penetrate far below the surface, they are difficult to dig out.4 In Senegal yields have been reported to average 2-3 tons per hectare; elsewhere in West Africa yields are reported to reach 20 tons per hectare. For a wild and untended plant, these are remarkable amounts.
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From page 285... ...
That will avoid having to reinvent ancient wheels of knowledge. Even though scientists may not know much about this plant, rural peoples know a lot.
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From page 286... ...
286 LOST CROPS OF AFRICA Publicity and Promotion This crop has unwarrantedly been dismissed as just a "famine food." It does serve that purpose, but much of the early literature is filled with misleading inferences that are still repeated to the crop's detriment. Needed now are actions to break through the "inferior food" image and give the plant the prestige it deserves.
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From page 287... ...
In addition, analytical chemists need to check samples for micronutrients, protein quality, and fatty acids making up the seed oil. Famine Food Trials Icacina helps those most at risk in drought times.
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From page 288... ...
Hausa: tankwara Sudan: Pané West Africa: basouna Description Icacina is a shrubby perennial showing considerable variation in form. At or before the beginning of the rainy season it throws out erect leafy shoots from a large underground fleshy tuber.
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From page 289... ...
ICACINA 289 Icacina mannii Often called mumu, this species is found from Congo to Senegal. Its fruits, seeds and tubers are all edible, at least after proper preparation.
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