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