Food Security and Nutrition in Mozambique: Comparative Study with Bean Species Commercialised in Informal Markets

Alberto B. Charrua, Philip J. Havik, Salomão Bandeira, Luís Catarino, Ana Ribeiro-Barros, Pedro Cabral, Margarida Moldão and Maria M. Romeiras
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Alberto B. Charrua: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1340-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Philip J. Havik: Centre for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1349-006 Lisbon, Portugal
Salomão Bandeira: Department of Biological Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University, P.O. Box 257, Maputo 1100, Mozambique
Luís Catarino: Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências, Campo Grande, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Ribeiro-Barros: Forest Research Center (CEF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1340-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Pedro Cabral: NOVA IMS, Campus de Campolide, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1070-312 Lisbon, Portugal
Margarida Moldão: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1340-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Maria M. Romeiras: Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1340-017 Lisbon, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-13

Abstract: In Mozambique (South-eastern Africa), Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. are important staple foods and a major source of dietary protein for local populations, particularly for people living in rural areas who lack the financial capacity to include meat in their daily dietary options. This study focuses on the potential for improving diets with locally produced nutritious legumes whilst increasing food security and income generation among smallholder farmers. Using bean species and varieties commercialised as dry legumes in the country, it sets out to characterize and compare the chemical properties of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. among the most commercialised dry legume groups in Mozambique. The principal component analysis showed a clear separation between Phaseolus and Vigna species in terms of proximate composition, whereas protein content was quite uniform in both groups. It concludes that the introduction of improved cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna species maize–legume intercropping benefits yield, diets and increases household income with limited and low-cost inputs while enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers in vulnerable production systems affected by recurrent drought and the supply of legumes to urban informal markets.

Keywords: East Africa; pulses; Vigna; Phaseolus; Leguminosae; malnutrition; chemical composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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