Most tropical fruit trees are grown in fragile environments where little else is able to grow. These are under-utilised but highly valued, and are predominantly found in the wild, on homesteads and small holdings. Many of these species are multi-purpose. They support the livelihoods and nutrition of the poorest farming families. They may, however, be grown in diversified agricultural systems for better land use and income generation. Local people know their uses as these have higher food and cash values than major fruit species (Mango, Papaya, Banana, Pineapple and Avocado) obtained from the farming systems. This income from fresh fruit and processed products is enhanced when they add value by using traditional technology for processing. Collection, local processing and trading activities are carried out mainly by women. However, vulnerability of these species due to clearing of forests causes concern in all communities.

Problems of the quality of harvesting and processing and inefficient marketing are major constraints to development.

Many of these species provide substantial benefits, and improve the livelihoods and nutrition of the poorest communities, and many of the fruits feature in the social traditions of their societies. The farming, policy-making bodies, and scientific communities recognise that these species need properly managed research accompanied by extension facilities, and a development support to smallholders. These must be based on a sound understanding of the needs and prioities of poor farmers, both women and men, and also by researchers and extension staff. Both research and development activities have also to be based on supplementing nutrition and income generation, by developing and marketing production from them.

One constraint to utilising priority species is the lack of information as a whole, and particularly on extension materials, with emphasis on processing and marketing, and dissemination of information to encourage smallholders to maximise the land use by incorporating a range of fruit trees which can contribute to food security, nutrition and income generation. The extension materials and monograph series will primarily assist NARS, NGOs, CBOs, policy makers of Asia, Africa and Latin America to utilise existing research, rather than carry out new research on tropical fruit trees.

To produce extension manuals, media materials, annotated bibliographies and books on quality processing, marketing and production of tropical fruits, in order to raise productivity for poverty alleviation, stabilise income and improve nutrition.

• 5 books, extension manuals/pamphlets and annotated bibliography on selected species of tropical fruit tree biodiversity, culture, produce, post-harvest, and processing and marketing.
• Media materials.

• Technology disseminated to target institutions including ICRAF, IPGRI, CIFOR, NGOs, farmers associations, extension officers, capacity building institutions, traders and industries.