Baobab trees offer a lifeline to Zimbabwean communities, empowering women amid climate challenges

Since childhood, Loveness Bhitoni has harvested baobab fruit from the towering trees around her homestead in Zimbabwe, supplementing her family’s diet with their nutritious pulp. Now, as climate change severely impacts her staple crops, these iconic “trees of life” have become a source of income and hope for her and many others in the region.

Bhitoni is part of a growing movement of rural Zimbabweans who are tapping into the global demand for baobab, now prized as a natural health food. The fruit, which takes over 20 years for trees to produce, is foraged from ancient baobabs across the country. Once considered just a spice or snack, the baobab fruit is now a crucial source of income, allowing families to survive harsh droughts.

“We didn’t harvest any crops this year, but we’re surviving because of the money from baobab fruits,” Bhitoni explains. “We can buy corn and salt. Cooking oil is a luxury, but this income is making a difference.”

As international markets, including the United States, Europe, and China, have embraced baobab products like powder and pulp, rural areas in Zimbabwe are emerging as vital suppliers. Zimtrade, the country’s export agency, estimates that Zimbabwe is home to about 5 million baobab trees. With the global baobab market expected to reach $10 billion by 2027, the fruit is becoming an economic lifeline for many.

Although the fruit is in high demand, some pickers, like Bhitoni, face challenges with inconsistent yields and prices. “Sometimes, I return home without filling a single sack because the trees didn’t produce much this year,” she says. “The prices can be low — sometimes buyers offer just 50 cents to a dollar for a 5kg bucket.”

Prosper Chitambara, a development economist in Harare, believes that local communities can benefit more if there are fairer pricing systems in place. “Countries with commodity exchanges are able to ensure fair valuation for products like baobab. In Zimbabwe, those who collect the fruit often have little negotiating power,” Chitambara explains.

However, efforts are underway to improve conditions for baobab pickers. Zimtrade is working to partner with rural women to set up local processing plants, which could help increase profits for those harvesting the fruit. At one processing facility in Zimbabwe, baobab pulp is separated from the seeds, while the hard shells are turned into biochar — an organic compost farmers use to improve soil fertility.

Local leaders are hopeful about these initiatives. “When the buyers come to take our product, they set their own prices,” says Kingstone Shero, a local councilor. “But if we can work together, we can ensure fairer pricing and more benefits for our communities.”

Bhitoni, who now spends up to eight hours a day collecting baobab fruit, sees the value of the work despite its challenges. She carefully leaves smaller fruits for animals like baboons and elephants, maintaining a balance between tradition and survival. For Bhitoni and many others, the baobab is not only a tree of life but also a symbol of resilience in the face of an ever-changing climate.