Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe

The marula tree can play a vital role to enhance the livelihoods within marginalised communities and aid forest management efforts. This research aimed to explore the utilisation and management of the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) in ward 3 of Beitbridge district, Southern Zimbabwe. A representat...

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Main Authors: Sithembelenkosini Mguni, Phibion Chiwara, Onalenna Gwate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2208933
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author Sithembelenkosini Mguni
Phibion Chiwara
Onalenna Gwate
author_facet Sithembelenkosini Mguni
Phibion Chiwara
Onalenna Gwate
author_sort Sithembelenkosini Mguni
collection DOAJ
description The marula tree can play a vital role to enhance the livelihoods within marginalised communities and aid forest management efforts. This research aimed to explore the utilisation and management of the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) in ward 3 of Beitbridge district, Southern Zimbabwe. A representative sample of 300 randomly selected households from five villages of ward 3 were interviewed telephonically and through the WhatsApp social media platform using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study observed that 95% of the sampled households harvested and utilised marula fruits to produce several products including jam, marula wine, nuts for consumption, and soda. In addition, marula makes a significant contribution to family income at (35%) when in season compared to other livelihood options such as livestock rearing and cropping. An average of 443 kg of marula fruits were harvested per season per village and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in quantities harvested across villages. Households involved in marula fruit trading increased by 27% in 20 years due t\o an improvement in the marula tree value chain in the district. Therefore, there is a distinct possibility for overutilisation of the marula tree products, which necessitates the need for the development of effective marula forest management plans.
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spelling doaj-art-f50c2c6f4eec40ae9af332b5e9d966bf2025-08-20T02:36:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862023-12-019110.1080/23311886.2023.2208933Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern ZimbabweSithembelenkosini Mguni0Phibion Chiwara1Onalenna Gwate2Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, Lupane State University, Lupane, ZimbabweDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, Lupane State University, Lupane, ZimbabweDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, Lupane State University, Lupane, ZimbabweThe marula tree can play a vital role to enhance the livelihoods within marginalised communities and aid forest management efforts. This research aimed to explore the utilisation and management of the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea) in ward 3 of Beitbridge district, Southern Zimbabwe. A representative sample of 300 randomly selected households from five villages of ward 3 were interviewed telephonically and through the WhatsApp social media platform using a semi-structured questionnaire. The study observed that 95% of the sampled households harvested and utilised marula fruits to produce several products including jam, marula wine, nuts for consumption, and soda. In addition, marula makes a significant contribution to family income at (35%) when in season compared to other livelihood options such as livestock rearing and cropping. An average of 443 kg of marula fruits were harvested per season per village and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in quantities harvested across villages. Households involved in marula fruit trading increased by 27% in 20 years due t\o an improvement in the marula tree value chain in the district. Therefore, there is a distinct possibility for overutilisation of the marula tree products, which necessitates the need for the development of effective marula forest management plans.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2208933Marula TreeNon-Timber Forest ProductsCommercialisationMarginalised Communities
spellingShingle Sithembelenkosini Mguni
Phibion Chiwara
Onalenna Gwate
Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
Cogent Social Sciences
Marula Tree
Non-Timber Forest Products
Commercialisation
Marginalised Communities
title Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
title_full Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
title_short Exploring the utilisation and management of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula tree) in the Beitbridge district of southern Zimbabwe
title_sort exploring the utilisation and management of sclerocarya birrea a rich hochst marula tree in the beitbridge district of southern zimbabwe
topic Marula Tree
Non-Timber Forest Products
Commercialisation
Marginalised Communities
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2023.2208933
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