i Parkia biglobosa - School of Forest Resources & Environmental ...

Other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) derived from P. biglobosa are fish
poisons, a source of fiber, soap making, and indigo dyeing (Campbell-Platt 1980). In
small, low flow rate rivers or streams, a small section can be dammed and crushed pods
are added to the water. The stunned fish are harvested and with no adverse affects to
humans consuming the fish. The strong fibers in the pod are used to attach arrowheads to
the shaft, weaving nets for fish, strings for musical instruments, and basket weaving. The
woodash resulting from burning P. biglobosa is used both for soap making and for
dyeing the traditional indigo cloth (Hall et al 1997).
Process of Producing Dawadawa
The greatest economic value derived from Parkia biglobosa is the fermented
product of dawadawa made from the seeds. This section will describe the local process
of producing dawadawa. The seeds can be obtained from trees that are present on family
owned farmland. In April and May, the fruits are fully mature and women with long
sticks harvest the seedpods with a crook at the end to pull down the pods. Small, agile
children also climb the trees, harvesting the seedpods. The outer shells or husks of the
pods are now brown, smooth, and woody, each pod containing 10-18 seeds encased in a
yellow, sweet, farinaceous endocarp. Locally this is known as dobulong or dozim. To
separate the seeds from the sticky endocarp, the husks are removed and the seeds and
pulp are deposited into a wooden mortar. The pulp is pounded with a large pestle until
the seeds are separated from the endocarp. The endocarp is set aside and eaten as is, or
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