By:Agnes Shekupe Shivute
“Why are you planting baobab seedlings when they grow naturally and need no nurturing?” asked a villager. It turned out to be a longer-than-expected conversation. Baobab, bird plum, jackal berry, marula and makalani palm trees are the top five indigenous trees I observed contributing the most to rural livelihood in North and North Central Namibia subsistence farming communities.
It goes beyond household consumption. This is pretty much the same in some other rural communities. The conservation of these trees is however practically evident.
Women and children pick bird plum berries and sell them as it is or make booze out of them.
The dry fruits from the makalani palm are also used to make a strong drink, which are sold locally throughout the year with the advantage of a long shelf life.
I have heard of women preparing a brew with jackal berry fruits, a thirst-quenching brew by the assumption I am yet to let down my oesophagus. Juice is pressed from the fresh marula fruit and the dried kernel is pressed for oil.
The ultimate taste is experienced when you dip your marathon chicken in what we call ‘ondjove’, cooked marula oil. The excitement is that the festive season is around the corner and no marathon chicken will go down our throats without being dipped in marula oil whether it is a wedding, a family occasion, or just a normal lunch or dinner.
Personally, I apply the uncooked oil on my hair, and do they not say that is your crown as a woman? I kid you not but I have had my hair touched more than my hand for a handshake. You guessed right, It is not a pleasant experience unless it is somebody’s son with whom I have had fantasy discussions of hosting a feast where a number of cows will be slaughtered, full stop! Please donot touch my hair, friend, you are shifting the confidence of my crown.
There are plenty of examples I can ponder on about the uses of these plants and the value addition thereof. Most if not all tree planting programmes aim at carbon sequestration. Of course, it is a climate change action but do we really consider the trees that are benefiting communities? Do we consider restoration altogether within communities? Indigenous plants within communities are being cut down to extend farmland, some are becoming old and there is a yield reduction while some are struck by lightning and succumbed.
These are the same trees that can act as carbon sinks besides contributing to the betterment of rural communities’ livelihoods. These are the same trees that can be sown and as soon as their roots are set minimal to no aftercare is needed.
The exotic plants we prefer require more water, and more care and are likely to show more pest infestations. The statement is not saying- do not plant exotic plants, it is simply emphasising that more attention should be paid to indigenous plants too.
A friend recently shared a video with me whereby 1500 baobab trees are being planted to restore a million kilometre of degraded land across the Sahel by 2030.
This is a beautiful strategy, resilient trees for a great cause, the great green wall. Climate change action does not need to be just tree planting- it should be planting the right trees within ecosystems.
The right trees are well adapted to the environmental conditions in the chosen area, and the right trees do not require frequent watering and at some point no watering at all. It is a bonus if the tree produces fruits that are edible by humans or animals.
Lately, more local businesses are of indigenous harvests. That in itself is a reason to protect, promote, produce and plant more indigenous flora! It is reasonable to ask whether the current number of plants can accommodate the quantity we aspire to produce Or is it a matter of planting now and waiting for 20 more years to harvest the quantity we desire?
Value addition has hit the charts of interest, machinery is now more accessible. However again it is reasonable to ask whether the available quantity of plants is of the preferred quality. We can challenge ourselves to enter the open markets any time of the year and notice the presence of indigenous plant harvests and value-added products being sold.
The only halls we know in villages are trees, indigenous trees to be specific. This is where our meetings are held. As per usual tradition, I am accompanied by a few close friends sitting under the Diospyros mespiliformis (Jackalberry) tree somewhere in an open area where we reflect, plan, advise, debate and make jokes.
I, as the organiser, will not be allowing them to sing; they should listen to music because if they wanted to sing they would have been artists, we should rather dance. Let us protect, promote, produce and plant indigenous flora. Email: aggyshivute@gmail.com