A new public private partnership in Zimbabwe hopes to unlock the commercial potential of 10 wild plant species, including Baobab and Marula, to benefit rural families living in drought-prone areas.

The pulp of the Baobab fruit contains more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk and more antioxidants than Chinese 'superfruit' Goji berry.

The nuts of the Marula tree are used to produce marula oil and butter which is added to food, and in producing the cream liqueur, Amarula.

New Agriculturist reports that funding from USAID and the European Commission is assisting public and private sector organizations join forces in commercializing products from Baobab, Marula and a number of other wild species for local and global markets.

The first step for the partnership has been to identify species with the highest potential for commercialization. The development of marketable products follows, then the creation of local, regional and global markets. Once markets are assured, certified organic and fair trade value chains are built with local collectors and farmers who are ready to cultivate new, high value crops.

The partnership is currently working with 3,200 wild collectors and farmers, 80 per cent of whom are women.

The successful commercialization of underutilized species relies on many factors, including concentrated investment in product development, trial marketing, consumer awareness, and production and yield trials. There is also a need for appropriate legislation in relation to the harvesting of wild plants.

The organizations involved in the partnership are:

• Hilfswerk Austria International (HWA) - an NGO with a mandate to improve livelihoods among Zimbabwe's rural smallholders
• Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe (BIZ) - a non-profit, membership based organization that comprises private companies and NGOs with an interest in developing the commercial potential of underutilised plants
• KAITE - a Zimbabwean company which promotes smallholder production of organic staple foods and high value crops for export.

Read the full story: Baobab and marula - Zimbabwe's top tips for success