Ber and other Jujubes monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Cakes are made out of dried and fermented pulp in western Sudan (Dalziel,
1937), and in Zambia (Kalikiti, 1998). The Touareg nomads in Mali make flat
bread from dry fruit pulp (Chevalier, 1947) using wild species. In Niger ber
fruits are dried and pounded into flour as a famine food (Williams, 1998).
In Egypt nomads, especially the Allagi, consume fruits of Z. spina-christi
(Belal et al., 1998). In North Africa Z. lotus (indigenous) and Z. jujuba
(introduced) are used for fruits.
In Namibia, wild Z. mucronata Willd, is used for making a hot liquor, and
although illegal, provides a source of income for the rural poor (Hailwa, 1998).
3.2.3 Southwest Asia
Fruits of Z. spina-christi are gathered and eaten in many parts of Southwest
Asia e.g. Yemen, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (Non-Wood News;
Arndt, 2001). Cultivation is practised in many parts, for example, in Shabwah
Governate of Yemen, households keep an average of 25-50 trees in and around
their irrigated fields for bee keeping, fruit production and other uses (KIT,
2002).
Sun-dried fruits are powdered and mixed with water to make cakes similar to
gingerbread.
3.2.4 South America
Introduced Z. jujuba fruits are used to make a liqueur called ‘crema de
ponsigue’ (Morton, 1987).
Of the 7 species of Ziziphus indigenous to the New World, Z. mistol Grisels
was found in the Andes of Argentina and Paraguay to be used for making
‘mistol jam’. On the whole the New World species are not of economic
potential.
3.3 Fodder
Nearly every part of Ziziphus plants can be utilised. The leaves and twigs of
most species can be used as nutritious fodder for livestock. Due to the high dry
weight protein content, leaves are an important source of protein for animals
(Arndt, 2001; Dalziel, 1937; Dastur, 1952; Ngwa et al., 2000). Leaves of Z.
mauritiana and Z. jujuba are readily eaten by camels, sheep, goats and cattle
(for goats see Tewatia and Khirwar, 2002).
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