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Prosopis spp. (tree, shrub) |
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Details of this species in India Status: Alien
Invasiveness: Uncertain
Occurrence: Established
Source: Pasiecznik 2001 Arrival Date: 19th century
Introduction: Species Notes for this Location:
In India, original introductions are thought to have been P. juliflora from Mexico or Jamaica (Reddy 1978, Muthana and Arora 1983, in Pasiecznik 2001). It appears certain that some unrecorded introductions of P. pallida have taken place and are probably the principal species now present. Because of morphological similarity to the species already present, taken as P. juliflora due to the incorrect identification, the same binomial was used throughout. Raizada and Chatterji (1954) noted five different forms of P. juliflora as well as P. glandulosa. Forms are believed to The Argentine form may be P. alba or a hybrid thereof, the Arid form may be P. laevigata, P. velutina or a hybrid thereof and the remaining three (Mexican, Peruvian and Australian) are from the P. juliflora - P. pallida complex (Pasiecznik 2001). Management Notes for this Location:
P. juliflora has become an aggressive weed in several states. Ecologists have become alarmed by the invasion of grasslands, protected forests and nature reserves. The invasion of irrigation channels and arable land has affected the agricultural community, landowners and large, commercial farms. In Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Tamil Nadu eradication programmes have begun.
On the other hand, P. juliflora is almost unsurpassable as a fuel in India. Many rural people completely rely on it to cook their meals. Prosopis, sustains rural areas as it is often the only source of fuel, small roundwood and dry season fodder, and provides the only income for many families. It is so important to impoverished groups of society, including the landless, small farmers and artisans, that it has been called the tree of the poor. Increasing Prosopis knowledge among these groups will enable and empower them to manage this important resource, improving local economies and encouraging Prosopis management in the regions where it is most widely used (ie: in rural areas) (Pasiecznik 2002b).
A series of training courses funded by the DFID on the management and utilisation of P. juliflora was held in 2001. It passed valuable Prosopis knowledge on to the participants, who included foresters, farmers and NGOs and private business representatives. The information was sourced from experts in Argentina, Mexico and Peru (where people have developed local economies based Prosopis juliflora and its products). The following are some of the policy recommendations that were collated during the conference:
- State Governments should purchase Prosopis pod flour as subsidised livestock fodder in drought as it is cheaper and more nutritious than the alternatives, and its purchase will generate employment, improving rural economies.
- Promote the collection of data on the spread and present use of P. juliflora in all states of India.
- Joint management of roadside trees, with the Forestry Department paying villagers day rates to thin, single and prune, generating employment and training villagers.
- Encourage State Forestry Departments and State Forest Development Corporations (SFDC) to promote and market Prosopis tree products.
- Establish independent funds for credit for commercial processing, as lending institutions appear unwilling to provide credit to Prosopis-based business.
- Promote assured markets for Prosopis products through government intervention, positive ‘press’ and pressure on private enterprise to establish industries for tree product processing.
- Education in the villages, especially of women and illiterates, on the value of Prosopis tree products should become an integral part of all rural extension activities.
- Cheap, simple improved kilns for charcoal production, small scale pod processors, and suitable saw-milling technologies for processing Prosopis wood for furniture making developed.
Last Modified: 16/12/2005 10:26:57 a.m.
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