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written by- J R W Aluma,J R S Kaboggoza & S A Mubaala |
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Tree Tales from Uganda |
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farmers’ experiments across the world prove that people can survive in adverse ecological conditions because of the practical value of innovations. The farmers of Kazigo village in Iganga District, Eastern Uganda, have made several tree related innovations, including propagation, seed collection, coppicing and bark cloth production etc.
The Ficus Trees
‘Mugaire’ is the generic name of the ficus species. The main species are Ficus natalensis, Ficus thonningii and Ficus persifolia. The ‘mugaire’ trees are planted in compounds, home gardens, grave yards and worship sites. They provide shade especially for coffee and banana plant.The trees are good soil improvement agents as crops grown under them are better in all respects.
The main product is ‘bark cloth’. The leaves of F. natalensis and F. thonningii serve as fodder. ‘Mugaire’ planted for religious functions can only be cut by the grandchildren and are very carefully looked after.
Processing of ‘Mugaire’ for making bark cloth.
According to Matiya Matavu who specializes in making bark cloth, bark cloth can be made out of about 10 varieties of ficus trees. Debarking of the trees is done during the beginning of the rainy season when the leaves are still young and fresh. The dead outer bark ‘bikutta’ is first carefully scrapped off. Then circular cuts are made at the base and just below the branches to facilitate removal of the bark in between. Finally a vertical incision is made along the length of this for inserting the banana leaf stem between the bark and the combium while peeling. This ensures that both the bark and the combium are not damaged. This process is called ‘okukomaga’. The debarked portion is immediately covered with fresh banana fibres to prevent drying and to ensure quick recovery. The covering is left in for 2 - 5 weeks. The raw bark is then boiled in water for 15 minutes to enhance finer and redder bark cloth when finally processed. The bark when cool is then taken to a grass thatched structure or shelter lined with grass on the floor. It is ‘beaten’ using a ‘ensamo’ –a wooden mallet with ‘teeth’ or ridges and grooves. The ‘ensamo’ are used 4 to 5 times and then sharpened because the teeth becomes blunt. As the bark is beaten it can stretch from 30x250 cm. to 1.2 - 5 cm. The bark appearance turns brick red. Using stones to support the edges, the partially processed bark-cloth is stretched out in the sun to dry. Final processing include further dying and sawing up torn patches. (Readers may recall that a similar practice of making bark cloth was reported in Honey Bee Vol 4(4), p.5, 1993)
‘Mukunyu’ is a generic name of Ficus ovata, Ficus sur, and Ficus sycomorus. Most of them are shade plants but F. ovata is used to make bark cloth while the fruits of F. sycomorus are edible, especially during food scarcity.
‘Mudodwe’ is Ficus vallis-chaude and is also planted to give shade. The latex is processed into some glue for trapping birds and fixing tool handles.
‘Luwawu’ is Ficus exasperata. Its rough leaves are used for scrubbing utensils. The trees are preferred by some caterpillars (massa) which are occasionally eaten.
The Albizias ‘Musita’ (Albizia coriaria) and ‘Mulongo’ (Albizia grandibracteata, Albizia sygia) are another group of indigenous trees common in the village. They are used in curing convulsions in children, respiratory system infections, chronic wounds, etc. The bark is crushed and boiled in water to dye the bark cloth dark red while the gum is used as incense. The stems are useful for making drums and harps.
Other indigenous trees
‘Kikondole’ (Euphorbia candelabrum) in the family of Euphorbia are found among herbalists and witch doctors. They are medicinal or spells (protection) against evil spirits.
‘Mukakale’ is an oil seed plant (Ricinus communis)and is not common. It is used
i) As a lightning conductor. ii) A concoction of dried leaves and water repel soldier ants. iii) The dry hollow stem is used to filter a local brew ‘enguli’ (crude alcohol).
‘Tamarindus indica’ an indigenous tree known as ‘Mukoge’ is used to make a drink from the fruit.
i) the pulp from fruits is mixed in water and taken as a refreshing drink. ii) in cases when the community can not afford sugar or prefers strong flavours, the fruit juice is added to ‘porridge’ prepared from millet, sorghum or potato. iii) The roots are boiled in water are used as medicine to cure convulsions in children.
Introduced Trees
‘Jambura’ or ‘Muziru’ (Syzygium cumini) is of Asian origin with delicious fruits relished by children and birds.
Jack Fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a popular and common tree found in almost all homes for its delicious fruit. Farmers state that other crops do not grow well under this tree. The seeds are roasted and eaten as nuts. Farmers cut oblique slits in jack fruit and avocado to ‘bleed’ them to reduce sap content which prevents early fruit, rotting and cracking and therefore giving better yields, both in quality and quantity.‘Neem’ (Azadirachta indica) is referred to as the ‘miracle tree’ because of its several significant uses, especially as medicine and pesticide. During 1975-1980 when the country was hit by soap scarcity, the villagers used to mix the bark with papaw leaves as soap for washing clothes.
The leaves of Calliandra calothyrus - a nitrogen fixing tree used mainly for improving soil fertility, are used as fodder for cows and goats and the bees are attracted to the flower for its nectar.
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 9(3):4, 1998 |
