The Sustainable Niche for Vegetable Production within the Contentious Sustainable Agriculture Discourse: Barriers, Opportunities and Future Approaches

Dickson Mgangathweni Mazibuko (), Hiroko Gono, Sarvesh Maskey, Hiromu Okazawa (), Lameck Fiwa, Hidehiko Kikuno and Tetsu Sato
Additional contact information
Dickson Mgangathweni Mazibuko: School of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Malawi, Zomba P.O. Box 280, Malawi
Hiroko Gono: Faculty of International Agriculture and Food Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Sarvesh Maskey: Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Hiromu Okazawa: Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Lameck Fiwa: Faculty of Agriculture, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe P.O. Box 219, Malawi
Hidehiko Kikuno: Faculty of International Agriculture and Food Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
Tetsu Sato: SDGs Promotion Office, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8577, Japan

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Agricultural productivity impacts the environment and natural resources in various ways. The severity of these impacts has triggered the emergence of natural resource management and the related, highly criticized science of agroecology. Vegetable production has known environmental impacts. However, the extent of its participation in sustainable production has not been adequately explored. This review sought to explore the spaciotemporal position of vegetables in a suite of existing sustainable agricultural practices, explore regional variations and discover lessons that can guide the future of vegetable production. There are regional differences regarding sustainable production practices and the associated barriers to their adoption. Generally, sustainable agricultural practices with a societal history in a region tend to be successful, unlike when they are “new” innovations. The major barriers to sustainable agricultural practices in vegetable production are economy-related (total investment cost) and crop-related and are also related to the technology transmission approaches. Unfulfilled expectations and a lack of community participation in technology development are noted challenges, which have led to dis-adoption. A farmer-centered approach to technology promotion could help. Comparatively, southern Africa has the most challenges in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. From the lessons learned from other regions, agroecology in vegetable cultivation is not unachievable in Africa. The projected challenges mean that sustainable vegetable production is inevitable.

Keywords: agroecology; agricultural technologies; community dialog; opportunities; sustainable natural resources; vegetable (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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