The Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) and her international partners, Man and Nature and V. Mane Fils Company in France are embarking on agronomic studies to ensure the long term exploitation of Mondia whitei plant in Lewoh, Lebialem Division-Southwest Cameroon.
Commonly known as White ginger, Mondia whitei is a plant of the Apocynaceae family used locally for treating sexual weakness, gastro-intestinal problems, stomach-ache and indigestion, urinary infections, headache, preventing premature ejaculation and increasing sperm production amongst others.
The plant was recently identified as having potential value for flavour in food delicacy and food industries by the V. ManeFils Company.
A Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) was signed, April 2016 between V Mane Fils and the people of Lewoh, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development permitting ERuDeF and her partners to carry out research on the plant. While researching on the potential values of this plant species, ERuDeF in May 2016 embarked on agronomic studies in the project site at Lewoh, Lewoh, Lebialem Division. It was aimed at understanding best sustainable domestication methods for the plant.
According to the coordinator of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) project, Ms.Kenmene Alida,three experimental plots have been set up involving the roots cuttings, vine cuttings and the seeds of the said plant.She indicated that some 2500 seeds of Mondia plant were nursed and some 30 stems and roots cutting planted in each of the experimental plots.
Besides the agronomic studies, ERuDeF has also put in place regeneration measures.
“We are also trying to regenerate the plant in order to restore its abundance onsite. Some 20 Lewoh farmers have developed an agro-forest of about 3500 cutting stems and seeds of Mondia whitei. This is of utmost importance considering the fact that the species is almost going extinct due to human pressure on the resource for multiple purposes”Madam Alida added.
She noted that the results of the agronomic studies will be proceeded with the training of the people of Lewohon best regeneration methods.
Mondia whitei is the second plant of interest to V Mane Fils Company in the Lebialem Division. The first was the Echinops giganteus.
With assistance from ERuDeF and French Charity, Man and Nature; the Echinops plant was located in Magha-Bamumbu in the Wabane Subdivision in 2012. The plant which has passed through the same process like Mondia, is now at the commercial stage.
