Bridging indigenous knowledge and natural preservation technologies: ethnobotanical insights into marula (Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst.) postharvest management in rural Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

Postharvest losses of indigenous fruits remain a major challenge in rural African communities due to high perishability and limited access to effective preservation technologies. This study documented indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge, postharvest handling practices and community acceptance of natural preservation technologies for marula (Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst.) fruit in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 414 respondents recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Marula fruit were widely consumed within the study area, with 43.5% of respondents reporting daily consumption. Food (relative frequency of citation [RFC] = 0.54) and beverage preparation (RFC = 0.43) were the most frequently cited uses. Traditional preservation practices included ash coating, fermentation and pit storage, with ash coating showing the highest fidelity level (32.6%). Awareness of edible coatings was very low (2.7%), although familiarity with gum arabic itself was relatively high. Acceptance of gum arabic as a preservation option was generally positive and 95.7% of respondents indicated willingness to try coated fruit. Chi-square analysis showed a significant association between familiarity with gum arabic and acceptance of its use as a fruit preservation technology (χ² = 9.43, p = 0.002). The findings highlight the continued importance of indigenous preservation knowledge while demonstrating the potential for integrating culturally familiar natural preservation technologies into rural postharvest systems. Integrating culturally familiar natural preservation technologies such as gum arabic edible coatings may offer a sustainable strategy for reducing postharvest losses while strengthening rural livelihoods.