Promoting Domestication and Commercialisation

Lesser known non-timber forest products (NTFPs), particularly Passiflora edulis and Telfairia pedata, have income generation potentials, which have not been fully explored. They are poorly studied and hence their economic potentials have been poorly addressed. This study addresses hidden potentials of lesser-known NTFPs specifically T. pedata and P. edulis in livelihood diversification and forests conservation in Mwanga and Lushoto Districts, Tanzania, by examining whether and how domestication of these species and commercialization strategies triggered local communities' tree planting attitudes. A structured questionnaire, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), oral histories, semi-structured interview, participant observation, botanical survey and review of secondary data were the main data collection methods employed in this study. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel computer programmes was used in data analysis. Domestication of T. pedata and P.edulis can be considered as an income generating activity due to the reasons such as read market, increasing demand, considering them as consumer goods, competitive price and cash crops.