ZARI un-locks hidden potential of monkey oranges
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By Gloria Siwisha
The Zambia Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI) has taken a step towards harnessing the potential of indigenous fruits with a field day held at Msekera Research Station in Chipata focused on un-locking the economic benefits of the monkey orange, locally known as ‘vizimbiri’.
The event showcased a four-hectare monkey orange genebank established in 1998, which preserves 88 families of the fruit collected from Petauke, Kalulushi, Serenje, and Kasama districts.
ZARI Director Patrick Chikoti said in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Agricultural Research Officer for regions I & II Moffat Khosa that the genebank plays a critical role in conserving genetic resources, promoting nutrition, and protecting biodiversity in Southern Africa.
Forestry Department Principal Forestry Officer Catherine Zulu called for the domestication of indigenous fruit trees to allow for commercialization as well as enable communities have access to food and nutrition especially off-season when field crops are usually in short supply.
Meanwhile, tree scientist and Malawi Land Alliance (CIFOR –ICRAF) country representative Dr. Isaac Nyoka has urged stronger collaboration between Msekera Research Station and Zambian universities to advance research and value-addition for the indigenous fruit.
Both acting EPJSLP’s MRV Technical Officer Brian Mutasha and Biocarbon Partners (BCP) agriculture field officer Mainza Munyati said the genebank presents opportunities for sustainable Landscape management, carbon trading, job creation, and improved livelihoods, in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda.
The Eastern Province Jurisdictional Sustainable Landscape Project (EPJSLP) and COMACO, were among the organisations that attended the event, which was held under the theme: strengthening health systems and closing the last mile for every child.
More in the following report……………..