Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana
Despite the growing interest in the miracle plant worldwide due to its numerous applications, the threats and the wild harvest of the species hamper its sustainable utilisation. Moreover, traditional knowledge so far documented on the species is limited to a narrow geographical coverage of its natur...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2253 |
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| author | Dèdéou Apocalypse Tchokponhoué Sognigbé N’Danikou Nicodème Vodjo Fassinou Hotegni Daniel Nyadanu Rémi Kahane Alfred Oduor Odindo Enoch Gbènato Achigan-Dako Julia Sibiya |
| author_facet | Dèdéou Apocalypse Tchokponhoué Sognigbé N’Danikou Nicodème Vodjo Fassinou Hotegni Daniel Nyadanu Rémi Kahane Alfred Oduor Odindo Enoch Gbènato Achigan-Dako Julia Sibiya |
| author_sort | Dèdéou Apocalypse Tchokponhoué |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the growing interest in the miracle plant worldwide due to its numerous applications, the threats and the wild harvest of the species hamper its sustainable utilisation. Moreover, traditional knowledge so far documented on the species is limited to a narrow geographical coverage of its natural distribution range, which is West and Central Africa. This study analysed the use variation and knowledge acquisition pattern of the miracle plant among West African sociolinguistic groups and deciphered the drivers of populations’ willingness and readiness to engage in cultivating the species. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 510 respondents purposively selected from nine sociolinguistic groups in Benin and Ghana using the snowball sampling approach. Information was collected on respondents’ socio-demographic profile, miracle plant ownership, plant parts used and preparation methods, knowledge of the species bioecology, perceived threats on the species, willingness to cultivate, maximum acreage to allocate to the species and maximum price to pay for a seedling. Descriptive statistics, generalized linear models, classification and regression tree models were used for data analysis. The miracle plant ownership mode depended on the age category. Sociolinguistic affiliation, level of schooling, migratory status and religion significantly affected the number of trees owned. We recorded 76 uses belonging to six use categories. The overall use-value of the miracle plant significantly varied according to the respondent sociolinguistic affiliation, main activity and religion. Men were the main source of knowledge and knowledge is mainly acquired along the family line. Knowledge related to food and social uses was mostly acquired from parents and people of the same generation, while magico-therapeutic and medicinal use-related knowledge were inherited from parents and grandparents. Sociolinguistic affiliation, awareness of taboos and market availability were the most important drivers of respondent willingness to cultivate the miracle plant. While the respondent’s level of schooling and perception of plant growth rate determined the maximum acreage they were willing to allocate to the species in cultivation schemes, their main activity, sociolinguistic affiliation and knowledge of the species time to fruiting drove the maximum purchase price they were willing to offer for a seedling of the species. Our findings provide key information for the promotion of miracle plant cultivation in the study area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:08:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98ff0099281545c299b6975f998d83b7 |
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| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:08:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-98ff0099281545c299b6975f998d83b72023-11-23T01:02:26ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-10-011011225310.3390/plants10112253Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and GhanaDèdéou Apocalypse Tchokponhoué0Sognigbé N’Danikou1Nicodème Vodjo Fassinou Hotegni2Daniel Nyadanu3Rémi Kahane4Alfred Oduor Odindo5Enoch Gbènato Achigan-Dako6Julia Sibiya7School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaLaboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science (GBioS), School of Plant Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 526, BeninLaboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science (GBioS), School of Plant Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 526, BeninCocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), Akim Tafo P.O. Box 8, GhanaResearch Unit HortSys, Department Persyst, CIRAD, Campus de Baillarguet, CEDEX 5, 34398 Montpellier, FranceSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaLaboratory of Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science (GBioS), School of Plant Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi 01 BP 526, BeninSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South AfricaDespite the growing interest in the miracle plant worldwide due to its numerous applications, the threats and the wild harvest of the species hamper its sustainable utilisation. Moreover, traditional knowledge so far documented on the species is limited to a narrow geographical coverage of its natural distribution range, which is West and Central Africa. This study analysed the use variation and knowledge acquisition pattern of the miracle plant among West African sociolinguistic groups and deciphered the drivers of populations’ willingness and readiness to engage in cultivating the species. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 510 respondents purposively selected from nine sociolinguistic groups in Benin and Ghana using the snowball sampling approach. Information was collected on respondents’ socio-demographic profile, miracle plant ownership, plant parts used and preparation methods, knowledge of the species bioecology, perceived threats on the species, willingness to cultivate, maximum acreage to allocate to the species and maximum price to pay for a seedling. Descriptive statistics, generalized linear models, classification and regression tree models were used for data analysis. The miracle plant ownership mode depended on the age category. Sociolinguistic affiliation, level of schooling, migratory status and religion significantly affected the number of trees owned. We recorded 76 uses belonging to six use categories. The overall use-value of the miracle plant significantly varied according to the respondent sociolinguistic affiliation, main activity and religion. Men were the main source of knowledge and knowledge is mainly acquired along the family line. Knowledge related to food and social uses was mostly acquired from parents and people of the same generation, while magico-therapeutic and medicinal use-related knowledge were inherited from parents and grandparents. Sociolinguistic affiliation, awareness of taboos and market availability were the most important drivers of respondent willingness to cultivate the miracle plant. While the respondent’s level of schooling and perception of plant growth rate determined the maximum acreage they were willing to allocate to the species in cultivation schemes, their main activity, sociolinguistic affiliation and knowledge of the species time to fruiting drove the maximum purchase price they were willing to offer for a seedling of the species. Our findings provide key information for the promotion of miracle plant cultivation in the study area.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2253<i>Richardella dulcifica</i>cultural importancetraditional knowledgeNUSknowledge acquisitionreadiness to cultivate |
| spellingShingle | Dèdéou Apocalypse Tchokponhoué Sognigbé N’Danikou Nicodème Vodjo Fassinou Hotegni Daniel Nyadanu Rémi Kahane Alfred Oduor Odindo Enoch Gbènato Achigan-Dako Julia Sibiya Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana Plants <i>Richardella dulcifica</i> cultural importance traditional knowledge NUS knowledge acquisition readiness to cultivate |
| title | Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana |
| title_full | Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana |
| title_short | Use Patterns, Knowledge Diversity and Drivers for the Cultivation of the Miracle Plant [<i>Synsepalum dulcificum</i> (Schumach & Thonn.) Daniell] in Benin and Ghana |
| title_sort | use patterns knowledge diversity and drivers for the cultivation of the miracle plant i synsepalum dulcificum i schumach thonn daniell in benin and ghana |
| topic | <i>Richardella dulcifica</i> cultural importance traditional knowledge NUS knowledge acquisition readiness to cultivate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2253 |
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