Mango trees as components of agroforestry systems in Mangwende, Zimbabwe.
Musvoto C., Campbell B. M.
Author Affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Agroforestry Systems 32 : 247-260
Abstract : The role of mango (Mangifera indica) was investigated within agroforestry systems in Mangwende, Zimbabwe, by means of a questionnaire survey of 121 households, conducted in six villages in November 1993, followed by an exercise based on participatory rural appraisal (PRA) in individual households in five of the villages. Some 82% of households had mango trees. Neither the degree of natural woodland depletion nor the wealth status of a household had an influence on mango planting. Most of the mango trees were planted in fields adjoining the homes, with fewer trees in gardens, the homestead, outfields and orchards. Mango trees provided fruit, firewood, poles, organic matter for soil amendment, living fence posts, shade, soil conservation and cattle feed (the rotting fruits). Wealthy and poor households managed mango trees in the same way. Trees were pruned primarily to increase fruit yields and to reduce competition with crops, although prunings were utilized for firewood and poles. The relative importance of different uses of mango trees did not differ among households with different numbers of mango trees or with different wealth status, with fruits universally acknowledged as the most important product. Some 94% of households sold mangoes from their farms, but mangoes earned farmers the least income, in comparison with the four most important crops grown in Mangwende (maize, groundnuts, sunflowers, vegetables). Two thirds of households intercropped mangoes with herbaceous crops. The mango crop associations were managed to optimize the yields of both intercrops and mangoes. Mango trees on croplands were widely perceived as having a positive effect on soil fertility and soil moisture, and a negative effect on crop yield. About one third of the households used mango litter for soil amelioration, while litter from indigenous woodland was used by most households, especially in gardens.