African Baobab Fruits a novelty in Europe.

By, Uwe Paschen.

The Baobab Tree and fruits are famous in West Africa and known to be highly nutritious as well. Usually though they are feed to life stock, mainly because they are rather hard and do not taste that good either. However Human do eat them as well, especially in years of drought and despair.

One thing is certain they are healthy and rich even if they may not taste that good. I had to eat them as a child prepared in a sort of poor-itch like meal and Trust me I rather eat Mango's or Muesli if I am given a choice.

Now, in Europe they are served and sold as cereal Bars and drinks with Sugar and other additives that may not be so healthy for you in large quantities, yet they do certainly taste much better then what we used to have to eat as Kids.

Yet, Europe is embarking on the Baobab Fruit from West Africa and it seems to take. This may be a good alternative and it cannot hurt to eat healthy food, at the same time it does help African Farmers and economies to find export markets for their natural and local products, so it seems a win-win situation.

Some reports suggest that the harvesting of this fruit in South Africa alone would generate in excess of one Billion Dollar in Trade and give employment to more that two million house hold. This all sounds good and may be of great benefit to west and South African Countries. 

However it would greatly compromise the domestic use of the fruit for life stock feeding as well as food supplement for local population. Since the Baobab trees are scattered and not privately owned they are the food for all, Local Populations as well as Nomads and their herd of Sheep, Goats, Cattle and Camels. 

Even though the economic potential may seem great at first glance and in monetary value, the consequences of such a business venture may prove devastating for local populations and cause new conflicts as well as more poverty.

Some may say, well simply plant more Baobab Trees on Privately owned land. Not as easy as it sounds, for one the Baobab tree grows from about 10 years before baring any fruits and secondly the climate where the Baobab do grow and are established are arid, meaning dry with little rain falls and scares water so that irrigation for big stile farming is out of the question.

It is a good Idea, yet one more that may prove to be a disaster  if not well planed and though true, short term thinking in a Capitalist profit based society has proven many times already to be the cause of major problems and injustices in the long run.

Caution is highly advised in this new venture.

More news about this and sources at.

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE48T01R20080930

http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/09/29/2008-09-30T000436Z_01_LS662722_RTRIDST_0_AFRICA-BAOBAB-FACTBOX.html

http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html?art=122278387534698274