Balanite Uganda’s endangered wonder tree
Apr 20, 2008
THE desert date, scientifically known as Balanites aegyptiaca is a highly valuable tree mainly found in the savannahs of tropical Africa. Its deep tap roots make it drought-resistant, thus enabling it to thrive in deserts. Its thick bark protects it from bush fires and it can withstand seasonal floo
By Clement A. Okia
THE desert date, scientifically known as Balanites aegyptiaca is a highly valuable tree mainly found in the savannahs of tropical Africa. Its deep tap roots make it drought-resistant, thus enabling it to thrive in deserts. Its thick bark protects it from bush fires and it can withstand seasonal flooding, strong winds and shallow and compacted soils.
In Uganda, the desert date is common in West Nile, Teso and Karamoja sub-regions, where it is known by various local names such as; logba or Lugba (Lugbara and Madi), Thoo (Alur), Ecomai (Ateso), and Ekorete (N’gakarimojong).
Along the River Nile in Adjumani and Moyo and in most swamps in Katakwi, Amuria and Karamoja, balanite trees make up more than a third of the total tree population. This high concentration is economically viable for setting up small or medium scale enterprises based on balanites products.
For many of the people in Karamoja, Teso and West Nile, balanite trees are essential because they provide important nutrients and vitamins to diets that are dominated by cereals. Their fruits ripen during the late dry season and early wet season (December–March), when stocks of cereal crops are usually low.
They provide a source of income through the sale of fruits, leaves and oil extracted from the seed kernels.
Balanite trees also play a crucial role in minimising the effects of hot climate and in facilitating crop and pasture growth beneath their crowns.
The date-like fruits of the balanite tree have a bitter-sweet, yellowish-red pulp. The ripe fruits are eaten raw or sun-dried and can be safely stored and sold as desert dates. Its pulp is rich in sugars, vitamins and a range of essential minerals.
The fruit pulp can be soaked in water to create a tonic, which can be fermented to make alcohol.
The tree’s wood is hard and heavy. It produces firewood which burns with almost no smoke, and yields good quality and highly priced charcoal.
For the Karimojong, balanite seeds are important because the kernel extracted from within the seed is rich in oil (60%) and protein (30%).
The oil is comparable to olive oil, and is highly priced. The oil consists largely of linoleic and oleic acids, and is classified as unsaturated, the type most desirable in foods. People in Adjumani say unlike the shea nut tree oil, balanite oil does not solidify when stored and can be added to cooked food.
Communities which eat the kernel are reported to have low incidents of vitamin A deficiency. Balanite oil is highly valued among the Madi and Karimojong. There is a large untapped market in West Nile and neighbouring Sudan.
A litre of balanite oil in rural Adjumani costs between sh3,000 and sh4,000. A kilo of leaves in Katakwi costs between sh400 and sh800.
However, the supply is limited due to difficulty in cracking the hard seed to extract the seed kernel. The oil extraction process has been relegated to elderly women as the men and young people regard it as time consuming with limited returns.
Less than 5% of the seeds are collected for oil extraction.
The kernel also produces tasty, high quality butter.
The seed kernels are also a raw material for pharmaceuticals. The solid remaining after the oil is removed contains diosgenin and yamogenin, essential for the production of steroids, which are on high demand throughout the world.
Some of these steroids include cortisone, birth control pills, oestrogen and anti-inflammatory agents.
In the early 1980s, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation made a plea for balanite development in the Blue Nile province of Sudan to produce 1,200 tonnes of diosgenin, to meet less than half the world’s demand.
Bio-diesel can be produced from balanite seed kernels. The bio-diesel obtained is reported to have a composition of triglycerides of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with a very high content of linoleic and oleic acids, and it further contains saponins, acting as surfactants, which reduce the rate of corrosion and improve the performance of an engine.
The protein-rich young leaves and shoots are an excellent vegetable. Balanite leaves are widely used in Teso, where they are considered a dependable dry season and famine food. The leaves are commonly sold in local markets, especially in Katakwi and Amuria districts.
They are one of the major sources of income for collectors and traders, who are mainly women and children.
The leaves are also valued for livestock feed, especially because they are in bloom even in the dry season, when grass has withered.
The leaves also make very good mulch and the flowers provide important forage for honeybees.
This reliable, resilient tree could be the solution to famine in areas prone to drought and famine.
In addition, extracts from the fruit and bark have been found to contain saponins which are deadly to the snail which causes bilharzia. They also kill the water flea that harbours the guinea worm.
Because the saponins are non-toxic to humans, balanites have been recommended in irrigation and as an additive to drinking water.
The balanite tree is also of medicinal value. The fruits of the balanite tree have been used in the treatment of liver and spleen diseases.
Gum from the wood is used to treat chest problems, while the bark and roots are used as laxatives and for colic. The bark is also used to treat malaria, sore throats, sterility, mental diseases, epilepsy, yellow fever, syphilis and toothaches.
Despite the role of the balanite tree in diversifying income generation and sustaining rural livelihood, it has received little recognition from the development and research community.
This is because of lack of information and reliable methods for measuring their contribution to farm households and the rural economy; limited markets, lack of production incentives related to markets and technology.
A report by a panel of experts from various African countries, released in January 2008 included balanites among the 24 indigenous fruit trees chosen for their potential to boost nutrition, environmental stability and economic development if given the right scientific and agricultural support.
In 2007, researchers from Bangor University, UK in collaboration with those from Makerere University and the National Forestry Resources Research Institute, developed a research project on the balanite tree.
The research focuses on understanding local use, management and conservation of balanite trees; quantities available in Uganda, its processing and marketing and the nutritional value of the fruit and leaves.
The local communities are also helping in selecting good quality balanite trees from the wild and growing them on farms to increase fruit and leaf production.
This study is intended to provide results which can be used to enhance the livelihood of rural communities in the drylands of Uganda.
The writer is a lecturer, Makerere University and PhD student, Bangor University, UK
THE desert date, scientifically known as Balanites aegyptiaca is a highly valuable tree mainly found in the savannahs of tropical Africa. Its deep tap roots make it drought-resistant, thus enabling it to thrive in deserts. Its thick bark protects it from bush fires and it can withstand seasonal flooding, strong winds and shallow and compacted soils.
In Uganda, the desert date is common in West Nile, Teso and Karamoja sub-regions, where it is known by various local names such as; logba or Lugba (Lugbara and Madi), Thoo (Alur), Ecomai (Ateso), and Ekorete (N’gakarimojong).
Along the River Nile in Adjumani and Moyo and in most swamps in Katakwi, Amuria and Karamoja, balanite trees make up more than a third of the total tree population. This high concentration is economically viable for setting up small or medium scale enterprises based on balanites products.
For many of the people in Karamoja, Teso and West Nile, balanite trees are essential because they provide important nutrients and vitamins to diets that are dominated by cereals. Their fruits ripen during the late dry season and early wet season (December–March), when stocks of cereal crops are usually low.
They provide a source of income through the sale of fruits, leaves and oil extracted from the seed kernels.
Balanite trees also play a crucial role in minimising the effects of hot climate and in facilitating crop and pasture growth beneath their crowns.
The date-like fruits of the balanite tree have a bitter-sweet, yellowish-red pulp. The ripe fruits are eaten raw or sun-dried and can be safely stored and sold as desert dates. Its pulp is rich in sugars, vitamins and a range of essential minerals.
The fruit pulp can be soaked in water to create a tonic, which can be fermented to make alcohol.
The tree’s wood is hard and heavy. It produces firewood which burns with almost no smoke, and yields good quality and highly priced charcoal.
For the Karimojong, balanite seeds are important because the kernel extracted from within the seed is rich in oil (60%) and protein (30%).
The oil is comparable to olive oil, and is highly priced. The oil consists largely of linoleic and oleic acids, and is classified as unsaturated, the type most desirable in foods. People in Adjumani say unlike the shea nut tree oil, balanite oil does not solidify when stored and can be added to cooked food.
Communities which eat the kernel are reported to have low incidents of vitamin A deficiency. Balanite oil is highly valued among the Madi and Karimojong. There is a large untapped market in West Nile and neighbouring Sudan.
A litre of balanite oil in rural Adjumani costs between sh3,000 and sh4,000. A kilo of leaves in Katakwi costs between sh400 and sh800.
However, the supply is limited due to difficulty in cracking the hard seed to extract the seed kernel. The oil extraction process has been relegated to elderly women as the men and young people regard it as time consuming with limited returns.
Less than 5% of the seeds are collected for oil extraction.
The kernel also produces tasty, high quality butter.
The seed kernels are also a raw material for pharmaceuticals. The solid remaining after the oil is removed contains diosgenin and yamogenin, essential for the production of steroids, which are on high demand throughout the world.
Some of these steroids include cortisone, birth control pills, oestrogen and anti-inflammatory agents.
In the early 1980s, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation made a plea for balanite development in the Blue Nile province of Sudan to produce 1,200 tonnes of diosgenin, to meet less than half the world’s demand.
Bio-diesel can be produced from balanite seed kernels. The bio-diesel obtained is reported to have a composition of triglycerides of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with a very high content of linoleic and oleic acids, and it further contains saponins, acting as surfactants, which reduce the rate of corrosion and improve the performance of an engine.
The protein-rich young leaves and shoots are an excellent vegetable. Balanite leaves are widely used in Teso, where they are considered a dependable dry season and famine food. The leaves are commonly sold in local markets, especially in Katakwi and Amuria districts.
They are one of the major sources of income for collectors and traders, who are mainly women and children.
The leaves are also valued for livestock feed, especially because they are in bloom even in the dry season, when grass has withered.
The leaves also make very good mulch and the flowers provide important forage for honeybees.
This reliable, resilient tree could be the solution to famine in areas prone to drought and famine.
In addition, extracts from the fruit and bark have been found to contain saponins which are deadly to the snail which causes bilharzia. They also kill the water flea that harbours the guinea worm.
Because the saponins are non-toxic to humans, balanites have been recommended in irrigation and as an additive to drinking water.
The balanite tree is also of medicinal value. The fruits of the balanite tree have been used in the treatment of liver and spleen diseases.
Gum from the wood is used to treat chest problems, while the bark and roots are used as laxatives and for colic. The bark is also used to treat malaria, sore throats, sterility, mental diseases, epilepsy, yellow fever, syphilis and toothaches.
Despite the role of the balanite tree in diversifying income generation and sustaining rural livelihood, it has received little recognition from the development and research community.
This is because of lack of information and reliable methods for measuring their contribution to farm households and the rural economy; limited markets, lack of production incentives related to markets and technology.
A report by a panel of experts from various African countries, released in January 2008 included balanites among the 24 indigenous fruit trees chosen for their potential to boost nutrition, environmental stability and economic development if given the right scientific and agricultural support.
In 2007, researchers from Bangor University, UK in collaboration with those from Makerere University and the National Forestry Resources Research Institute, developed a research project on the balanite tree.
The research focuses on understanding local use, management and conservation of balanite trees; quantities available in Uganda, its processing and marketing and the nutritional value of the fruit and leaves.
The local communities are also helping in selecting good quality balanite trees from the wild and growing them on farms to increase fruit and leaf production.
This study is intended to provide results which can be used to enhance the livelihood of rural communities in the drylands of Uganda.
The writer is a lecturer, Makerere University and PhD student, Bangor University, UK