Nathanael Heita
BAOBAB fruits are edible and nutritious but harvesting them from tall trees is not easy.
It requires readiness to take risks and a rare ability to climb even the most difficult trees.
The fruits, locally known as omakwa, are hard yellowish pods that hang down from the tree branches.
Once removed from the tree, the pod has to be smashed in order to access the seeds that are coated with edible solid white powder.
The fruits are nutritious and well known to have antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, increasing their demand at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boys and sometimes girls as young as 11 are seen climbing into these slippery trees to harvest the fruits either for their own consumption or to sell.
Ricardo Nghilifa Shanibgwa expressed concern about small kids climbing such trees without any safety mechanisms in place.
He is urging parents to warn their kids against taking such serious risks for the sake of earning a few dollars.
Baobab trees are found in all northern regions but are more abundant in Omusati and the western parts of Ohangwena.
The fruits are ready for harvest from May onwards.
