Prickly pear
Researchers in Madagascar are pointing out the benefits of the prickly pear – an invasive yet essential species. Rich in vitamins and minerals, and an important source of water during the dry season, this fruit could be part of the solution to the country’s food insecurity and extreme droughts.
Scientists at the University of Toliara (in southern Madagascar) and the University of Antananarivo (the island’s capital) are extolling the virtues of the prickly pear (Optunia ficus-indica). Their research, published in SciDev, highlights the nutritional benefits of this plant, which is rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. They argue that this member of the cactus family could provide the answer to food insecurity in the south of the country, which affects more than 1 million people.
Known to locals as raketa mena (raketa because its leaves are racquet-shaped and mena to denote the red colour of its fruit), the plant is already widely used in southern Madagascar, where people eat the fruit and burn the leaves to remove the spines and then use them as a fodder crop.
Cactuses are an important source of water for humans and cattle during the island’s 7-month dry season. On the Mahafaly Plateau in the south-west of the island, people and animals eat the plants’ fruit and leaves when the ponds dry out. This provides enough water for them to survive for 2 or 3 months before having to use stored water reserves or buy additional water.
The cactus was imported by the French in the 17th century to create natural impenetrable barriers, but this spiny, invasive plant has not always enjoyed a positive reputation. Critics claim that the plant is taking over the south of the island, forcing out local shrubs and taking over more fertile areas of land. But for all its flaws, the prickly pear has become a vital resource for people living on the island. A parasitic bug was introduced in the early 20th century, devastating the species. This proved disastrous during the major drought of 1930. “The eradication programme caused one of the most severe famines of the 20th century,” explains Stéphanie Carrière, ethnobotanist at the Institute of Research for Development. “People had no water or food. It shows just how important this species was, and still is, to the local population.” The story of the prickly pear in Madagascar reveals the complex relationship between invasive plants and human society.
Researchers questioned by SciDev suggest that the prickly pear should be exploited for commercial gain, through products such as juices, cooking oils and essential oils. They argue that small processing plants could be set up to allow people living in these extremely poor regions to generate income from this resource. For now, however, the situation on the ground makes this an unlikely prospect. Local people still face the challenges of extreme drought and simply do not have enough time to develop a processing business. This year, the El Niño weather pattern caused unusually severe drought in the region, once again proving the prickly pear’s importance to the local population.
