Where are the northern fruits?

Northern Nigeria is renowned for its rich agricultural produce, producing a mix of arid-climate staples and tropical fruits. The region is the primary source for Aduwa, Kurna, Jujube and Dinya. It also produces massive quantities of Mangoes, Watermelons (Kankana), and Citrus. However, over the years, some of these fruits seem to be disappearing from local […]

Northern Nigeria is renowned for its rich agricultural produce, producing a mix of arid-climate staples and tropical fruits. The region is the primary source for Aduwa, Kurna, Jujube and Dinya. It also produces massive quantities of Mangoes, Watermelons (Kankana), and Citrus. However, over the years, some of these fruits seem to be disappearing from local markets and traditional fruit stands in local communities. Weekend Trust highlights the importance of some of these fruits that are gradually vanishing.

For generations, indigenous fruits such as Aduwa, known in English as the desert date, Giginya, known as the African fan palm, Kurna, known as Christ’s thorn jujube or simply jujube, and Dinya, also known as African black plum or black plum, among several other traditional fruits found across communities in Northern Nigeria, have been an important part of rural life. Today, however, many of these fruits are gradually disappearing from the landscape.

For decades, these traditional fruits provided not just food, but medicine, shade, and income, particularly for rural households. They served as economic trees that supported families and contributed significantly to local livelihoods. However, residents across many communities now say that these fruits are becoming increasingly difficult to find due to a combination of environmental and human factors.

For seventy-eight-year-old Malam Amadi Mubarak, a farmer in Kuraye village of Katsina State, he notes that he has been a beneficiary of such fruit-bearing trees for decades. According to him, there were times when entire households depended on the proceeds generated from the fruits and products obtained from these trees.

“Unfortunately, the valuable trees are gradually vanishing,” he lamented.

He, however, attributed the disappearance of the trees to rapid population growth and urban expansion, which have led to the clearing of many areas where the trees once grew naturally. According to him, farmlands, housing estates, road construction projects, and commercial developments have replaced many of the locations where these trees previously thrived.

He noted that old fruit trees are often cut down without efforts to replace them, resulting in the gradual disappearance of several indigenous species.

For Usman Shehu, a veteran agricultural extension agent, the challenge is even more complex. He explained that, unlike mangoes, oranges, and guavas, which are commonly planted and cultivated by farmers, most indigenous fruit trees grow naturally in the wild.

“Many of these trees were inherited from previous generations and weren’t deliberately planted by people who currently benefit or have benefited from them directly or indirectly,” he said.

Shehu attributed the gradual disappearance of the trees and their fruits to practices that violate environmental regulations. According to him, many indigenous fruit trees are highly valued for their wood, while the growing demand for firewood and charcoal has contributed to their indiscriminate felling in areas where they exist.

He added that in many cases, mature fruit-bearing trees are cut down for fuel, reducing the number available for future generations. As a result, trees that once flourished naturally now struggle to reproduce, while many seedlings fail to survive because of drought, desertification, and soil degradation.

Similarly, an agronomist in Katsina, Dr Joshua Kada, stressed that these fruits are far more than just sources of food or income.

According to him, the trees form an important part of Northern Nigeria’s cultural heritage and contribute significantly to biodiversity, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

“Many of these fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, and medicinal properties. They can also serve as important sources of income if properly developed and commercialised,” he said.

Ironically, even as trees continue to disappear, the demand for their fruits and products increases. It was also gathered that fruits from these trees are now in high demand, as many are said to have medicinal value, a reason why there is a rush for such fruits by many.

Hamisu Bello noted that Goruba powder is believed to have a strong effect in regulating high blood pressure, adding that some business entrepreneurs have adopted the value addition strategy by producing packaged tea made from Goruba.

“You see, even though these fruits are gradually going extinct, people are now using them very well. People believe they have a very strong medicinal value. Presently, there is a packaged tea made from Goruba, a powdered Aduwa and many more,” he said.

Malam Binta Babba is a business woman that deals in the sale of goruba, Aduwa, Magarya and many others. According to her, she recently saw an opportunity in the business and ventured into it.

She explained that fruits from these trees, which are mostly grown in the northern part of Nigeria, are usually imported from Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries. 

She noted that a bag of Goruba sells for N7, 000 now, while a bag of Aduwa sells for N7, 800. According to her, these are fruits that in olden days weren’t sold by anyone because they grew in the wild, adding that since they began becoming scarce due to the gradual felling of the trees to make way for modernisation, the fruits now became a money-making venture.

…. Amina Amadi, a 65-year-old trader who sells traditional fruits, said that in previous years she only needed a small amount of money to purchase bags of Kurna, Magarya, Taura and other indigenous fruits. However, she notes that she can only now afford a few measures of the fruits, and at exorbitant prices.

She explained that, unlike in the past, when customers bought fruits mainly for leisure consumption, many now purchase goruba because they believe it’s medicinal and can help treat certain ailments.

“I was told that tea made from goruba cures piles, while taura powder helps manage high blood pressure. However, while many people buy them for medicinal purposes, others still consume them as fruits for leisure,” she said.

Similarly, Aminu Idi, a tea vendor who sells a variety of teas, including garlic tea and goruba tea, said that customers visit him in search of different types of tea to suit their health needs.

He explained that many of his customers believe the teas he sells have medicinal benefits, especially goruba and garlic tea.

“goruba tea is taken by people who have piles, while garlic tea is usually consumed by people suffering from colds. I sell a cup of each for N150,” he said.

for Fatima Isah, a student at a higher institution in Katsina, she notes that she was introduced to aduwa when she suffered from persistent drowsiness. She explained that after spending several days studying for examinations, she began experiencing constant drowsiness.

She said that after visiting several hospitals without much improvement, her late grandmother advised her to use Aduwa. According to her, after following the advice, the drowsiness stopped, and she has remained a regular user of the fruit ever since.

“I used to see aduwa, but I had never used it until my late grandmother introduced it to me as a remedy for drowsiness. Since then, I have continued using it, not just as a fruit but also as a form of traditional medicine,” she stated.

Findings show that the prices of many of these fruits have risen significantly due to scarcity, making them more valuable in local markets because of the increase in demand.

Agricultural experts across states where these trees are commonly found have argued that protecting indigenous fruit trees through afforestation programmes, community nurseries, research initiatives, and commercial cultivation could help reverse the decline and preserve an important part of northern Nigeria’s ecological and cultural identity.

In Katsina State, for instance, Forest Guards were recently established to safeguard the state’s forest reserves, recover encroached forest lands, and curb illegal activities linked to deforestation and environmental degradation.

For many older residents, the disappearance of these traditional fruit trees is more than an environmental concern. It represents the gradual loss of a cherished part of Northern Nigeria’s history, culture, and way of life.

Unless deliberate efforts are made to protect and regenerate these valuable species, many fear that future generations may only hear stories about fruits such as Aduwa, Giginya, Kurna, and Dinya and other fruits that once formed an integral part of everyday life across the region.

Their preservation, experts argue, is not only necessary for environmental sustainability but also essential for safeguarding a rich cultural heritage that has sustained communities for generations.

 

Nutritionist’s perspective

According to a Kano-based nutritionist, Malam Auwal Musa, indigenous fruits such as Goruba possess significant nutritional value and are often used by many people as traditional remedies for various ailments.

He explained that Goruba is rich in dietary fibre, which supports healthy digestion and promotes proper bowel function. The fruit also contains vitamin C, an essential nutrient known for strengthening the body’s immune system and helping to protect against infections.

Musa further noted that other local fruits, including aduwa, taura and several indigenous varieties commonly consumed across Northern Nigeria, contain considerable amounts of vitamins C and E, both of which play important roles in boosting immunity, supporting healthy skin, and protecting the body against damage caused by free radicals.

He, however, cautioned against the indiscriminate consumption of these fruits, stressing that health experts are increasingly concerned about the lack of regulation surrounding their use.

According to him, the methods used in processing, storing and marketing some of these fruits for medicinal purposes also pose serious concerns, as many of the practices are unhygienic and could expose consumers to additional health risks.

“People are using these fruits as remedies because they contain important vitamins and nutrients that the body needs. However, from a professional standpoint, we always advise people to regulate their intake and pay attention to proper processing, storage and usage of these local fruits. Consumers should be careful about how much they take because excessive consumption of anything can have negative consequences,” he said.

Musa added that goruba, aduwa, taura and other indigenous fruits remain important components of local diets, contributing significantly to nutrition, food security and rural livelihoods while also helping to preserve cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.

He noted that while these fruits offer numerous health benefits, they should be consumed in moderation and within reasonable limits, noting that excessive or prolonged intake without proper guidance may not be beneficial to overall health.