Seeking a New Future for 'Lost' Fruits of Africa

Seeking a New Future for 'Lost' Fruits of Africa
Experts see a way to help fight malnutrition and support rural development. Transcript of radio broadcast:
01 September 2008

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

We have a question from a health worker -- and longtime listener -- in Nigeria. James Uwaifoh says there are many food crops that were grown in the past but not any longer. He wants to know if it would be possible for communities to grow these foods again. He says it could provide a way to reduce food shortages, hunger and nutrition disorders.

Well, a committee of scientists appointed by the United States National Research Council had the same thought. Earlier this year, they called attention to twenty-four African fruits that today are largely unused. The experts said these fruits are a resource that could help fight malnutrition and support rural development in Africa.

Their study was the last in a series of reports on "lost crops of Africa." Earlier reports dealt with grains and vegetables.

In Africa, the main tropical fruits now are bananas, pineapples and papayas. Colonial rulers imported these crops already improved from the Americas and Asia centuries ago. Over time, these displaced traditional fruits that had fed Africans for thousands of years.

Today Africa's traditional fruits are mostly raised in villages and home gardens. There are few large operations for cultivating them. The scientists suggest that horticultural science could improve the crops.

In terms of nutritional value, the report says fruits like carissa, marula and kei apple contain more vitamin C than the average orange. The fruit of the tamarind tree is high in B vitamins and calcium. And the fruit can stay good for months without cold storage.

Fruit from the baobab tree contains a sticky material that can be dried into a powder high in protein, vitamins and minerals. The powder can be mixed into a drink with warm water or milk. Or it can be beaten and dried into thin pancakes that can be stored for months or even years.

Most African fruits grow wild. Scientists know very little about them. The fruits have names like aizen, gumvine, sweet detar and ebony. Ebony trees are valued for their black hardwood. But they also produce a sweet fruit that can be eaten fresh or dried.

Researcher Mark Dafforn directed the study. He says the traditional fruits of Africa have proven their ability to survive droughts and floods. He believes farming them can succeed.

And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. Transcripts and MP3 archives of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.


----------------------------Google Translate

寻求一个新的未来，为'失去'的成果，非洲
专家们认为，一种方法，以协助扑灭营养不良和支持农村发展。全文电台广播：
2008年9月1日

这是美国之音特别英语农业的报告。

我们有一个问题，从卫生工作者-和长期的听众-在尼日利亚。詹姆斯uwaifoh说，有很多食物的作物生长，在过去，但没有任何更长的时间。他想知道是否有可能为社区成长，这些食品再次。他说，它可以提供一种方法，以减少粮食短缺，饥饿和营养障碍。

那么，一个委员会的科学家所委任的美国国家研究理事会有同样的思想。今年早些时候，他们呼吁重视2004年非洲的成果，今天主要是未使用的。专家说，这些水果是一个资源可以帮助扑灭营养不良和支持农村发展是在非洲。

他们的研究是去年在一系列的报告，关于“失去了作物的非洲” 。早先的报告处理谷物和蔬菜。

在非洲，主要热带水果，现在是香蕉，凤梨和木瓜。殖民统治者的进口这些作物已经改善，由美洲和亚洲的世纪前。随着时间的推移，这些流离失所的传统水果已美联储非洲人为千百年来。

今天，非洲的传统水果，大多提出了在乡村和家庭花园。有几个大的行动，培养他们。科学家建议，园艺科学可以改善作物。

在条款的营养价值，报告说，水果一样， carissa ，马鲁拉和基苹果含有更多的维生素C比平均为橙色。水果的罗望子树高， B族维生素和钙。和水果可以保持好几个月没有冷库。

水果从baobab树包含一个棘手的材料，可干成粉末高，蛋白质，维生素和矿物质。粉末，可以混合成酒后用温水或牛奶。或可以被殴打和晒干成薄煎饼，可存储数月甚至数年。

大多数非洲野生水果成长。科学家所知甚少。成果的名称一样， aizen ， gumvine ，甜detar和黑漆。黑漆树木的价值，为他们的黑色硬木。但他们也产生一个甜果可以吃新鲜或晒干。

研究员马克dafforn指示研究。他说，传统的成果，非洲已经证明他们有能力生存，旱灾和水灾。他认为，农业，他们能够成功。

这是该美国之音特别英语农业的报告，书面，由jerilyn沃森。誊本和MP3档案我们的报告是在voaspecialenglish.com 。我史蒂夫ember 。