Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of Parkia biglobosa in Northern Benin

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Dec 2011

Background African locust bean tree (Parkia biglobosa) is a multipurpose species used widely in arid Africa by local communities. The present study focused on ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of P. biglobosa in Northern Benin, where the species widely grows. The use values according to the various ethnic groups in the study area have been evaluated in detail for P. biglobosa. Methods From 13 ethnic groups, 1587 people were interviewed in the study area using semi-structured questionnaires. Principal Component Analysis was applied to analyze the use value and the use patterns of P. biglobosa for the different ethnic groups. Results All interviewees in the study area knew at least one use of P. biglobosa. The various uses identified were medicinal (47%), handicraft and domestic (3%), medico-magic (1%), veterinary (1%), cultural (1%), food (25%) and commercial (22%). The various parts involved in these types of uses were: fruits [shell (2%), pulp (22%) and seeds (36%)], bark (17%), leaves (9%), roots (3%), flowers (1%) and branches (10%). The ethnic group consensus values for P. biglobosa parts showed that the seeds are used the most. The interviewees diversity value (ID) and equitability value (IE) indicated that knowledge concerning P. biglobosa use was distributed homogeneously among the ethnic groups. Conclusions P. biglobosa is well-known and used in different ways by the local populations in the study area. Local knowledge on the species is diversified and influenced by ethnic group. Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of the species were evident in this study.

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Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of Parkia biglobosa in Northern Benin

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of Parkia biglobosa in Northern Benin Kourouma Koura 0 Jean C Ganglo 0 Achille E Assogbadjo 0 Clment Agbangla 1 0 Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi , Cotonou (01 PO Box 526) , Benin 1 Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi , Cotonou (01 PO Box 526) , Benin Background: African locust bean tree (Parkia biglobosa) is a multipurpose species used widely in arid Africa by local communities. The present study focused on ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of P. biglobosa in Northern Benin, where the species widely grows. The use values according to the various ethnic groups in the study area have been evaluated in detail for P. biglobosa. Methods: From 13 ethnic groups, 1587 people were interviewed in the study area using semi-structured questionnaires. Principal Component Analysis was applied to analyze the use value and the use patterns of P. biglobosa for the different ethnic groups. Results: All interviewees in the study area knew at least one use of P. biglobosa. The various uses identified were medicinal (47%), handicraft and domestic (3%), medico-magic (1%), veterinary (1%), cultural (1%), food (25%) and commercial (22%). The various parts involved in these types of uses were: fruits [shell (2%), pulp (22%) and seeds (36%)], bark (17%), leaves (9%), roots (3%), flowers (1%) and branches (10%). The ethnic group consensus values for P. biglobosa parts showed that the seeds are used the most. The interviewees diversity value (ID) and equitability value (IE) indicated that knowledge concerning P. biglobosa use was distributed homogeneously among the ethnic groups. Conclusions: P. biglobosa is well-known and used in different ways by the local populations in the study area. Local knowledge on the species is diversified and influenced by ethnic group. Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of the species were evident in this study. Parkia biglobosa; quantitative ethnobotany; use value; use pattern; Benin - Background In the Sahelian and Sudanian zones of West Africa, woody perennial parklands are very important for food security, especially during food shortage and drought periods [1]. Within these parkland systems, Parkia biglobosa species has important socio-economic and cultural values for local people. Moreover, it is a food species whose importance is well recognized both regionally and internationally [2]. In Benin, P. biglobosa is an important tree species which generates non-timber forest products [3,4]. It is a basic and therapeutic food and is a source of wealth [5]. The pulp of the fruit pods is rich in sucrose and the seeds are rich in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, thus constituting an important source of energy [6]. P. biglobosa is rated fifth important among thirty-one woody medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Benin [4]. It is rated fourth from a list of eighteen priority food woody plants to preserve [7]. In association with crops, the species help to enrich physico-chemical soil characteristics which in turn help to increase crop yields. It has been noted in Benin, that this species population is ageing. In addition, the natural regeneration of the species is very low [8,9]. Studies have indeed shown a decrease in the distribution of the species in Benin [10]. Due to the socio-economic and cultural importance of this species, communities tend to over utilize the plant species without taking into account the regeneration potential of the species [4,11]. A number of studies have been conducted on P. biglobosa in the West African sub-region and particularly in Benin. In West Africa, previous research has focused on the distribution of the species populations, phenology, reproductive system, vegetative multiplication, biology and ecology of reproduction [2]. In the parklands in Benin, P. biglobosa was morphologically and structurally characterized and fruit production was assessed on the basis of floristic inventory and measurement of reproductive organ sizes [9]. From microbiological and physico-chemical points of view, it was noted that P. biglobosa seeds could be fermented for the production of afitin, iru and sonru (local names for condiments from the seeds of P. biglobosa) [12,13]. Volatile and aromatic compounds were also identified in these condiments in order to obtain, products of aromatic characteristics demanded by consumers. The place and role of this tree in the daily life of rural communities has been investigated [2,10,14,15]. Several research studies have been carried out on use values and use patterns of different species (such as Adansonia digitata, Khaya senegalensis, Milicia excelsa, Caesalpinia bonduc, Sclerocarya birrea) elsewhere [16-21] and in Benin [22-29]. However, little scientific information is available on quantitative descriptors of P. biglobosas utilization, especially the use v (...truncated)


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Kourouma Koura, Jean C Ganglo, Achille E Assogbadjo, Clément Agbangla. Ethnic differences in use values and use patterns of Parkia biglobosa in Northern Benin, Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 2011, pp. 42, 7, DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-7-42