Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

fair price schemes will come into being and the value of cultivation will be
realised.
Such concerted development at the local level will only be successful when
backed by continued provision of improved planting materials and attention
to quality aspects of products including product development, diversification
and marketing.
The current situation therefore shows great promise for wider and better use
of tamarind in a variety of situations: agroforestry, including much more
testing of suitable intercrops in the early years of tamarind growth; in village
co-operatives; and in small and medium sized plantations as a commercial
crop.
Even though there are some limitations, tamarind could be better used in
intercropping by improving tree architecture or changing spatial
arrangements, as it will fit into various niches on small farms. Presently,
sweet tamarind plantations are intercropped with annual crops in Thailand.
Although desirable ideotypes have been proposed these are at a preliminary
stage of development. When such ideotypes are developed they could have
a direct impact on tropical agroforestry systems.
Another important aspect of tamarind is its food and medicinal value, which
could safeguard food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty and improve
health and the standard of living of rural populations. Tamarind is available
when other food supplies are low, thus contributing significantly to the
nutrition of low-income rural households. Certain communities which
consume cassava, yams or plantains as their chief source of carbohydrate,
need more protein in their diet. Tamarind seed protein contains highly
favourable amino acids and could complement methionine + cystine levels
in the diet, to alleviate protein malnutrition which is widely prevalent in
developing nations.
Although medicinal values are claimed for various preparations made from
tamarind leaves, pulp, flowers or both, only the antiascorbic and antioxidant
properties of the pulp, laxative action of the fruit juice, and diuretic
properties of the leaf sap are well established.
11.2 Research and technology needs
11.2.1 Understanding the genetic variation
Very little is known about the genetic variation of tamarind. Due to its
outbreeding nature and exceedingly wide distribution in the wild or
naturalised state no concerted effort has been made to strategically sample
populations and analyse patterns of variation. This could be done by taking
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