Unpacking the value of traditional African vegetables for food and nutrition security

Learnmore Mwadzingeni (), Victor Afari-Sefa, Hussein Shimelis, Sognigbé N’Danikou, Sandiswa Figlan, Lutz Depenbusch, Admire I.T. Shayanowako, Takemore Chagomoka, Malven Mushayi, Pepijn Schreinemachers and John Derera
Additional contact information
Learnmore Mwadzingeni: Research and Development
Victor Afari-Sefa: West and Central Africa
Hussein Shimelis: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Sognigbé N’Danikou: Eastern and Southern Africa
Sandiswa Figlan: University of South Africa
Lutz Depenbusch: East and Southeast Asia
Admire I.T. Shayanowako: University of KwaZulu-Natal
Takemore Chagomoka: West and Central Africa
Malven Mushayi: Research and Development
Pepijn Schreinemachers: East and Southeast Asia
John Derera: University of KwaZulu-Natal

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, No 9, 1215-1226

Abstract: Abstract There is a need for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa to diversify into more nutrient-rich crops to meet the subcontinent’s nutritional needs in terms of micronutrients and reduce health risks related to high and rising rates of overweight/obesity. Many traditional African vegetables (TAVs) are nutrient-dense and have much potential to reduce malnutrition. These vegetables can also provide sustainable incomes to rural, urban and peri-urban farming communities. In addition to their high economic values and health benefits, most TAVs are amenable to be grown under low input conditions and even organically. However, TAVs are under-researched and underutilized across the vegetable value chain. This paper provides a detailed account of the value of TAVs, focusing on their importance, research and development progress, and future needs. To exploit the potential of TAVs, there is need for a more concerted research and development efforts including effective characterization of the nutrition and genetic profiles; enhancing adaptability and yield gains; and capacity development in value addition, postharvest handling, processing, marketing, and seed system development. Success in these areas depends on effective collaborations among national and international partners including the private seed sector, and government and non-governmental organizations working in the areas of agriculture, nutrition and health.

Keywords: Genetic improvement; Indigenous vegetables; Nutrition security; Traditional African vegetables; Underutilized species; Value addition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12571-021-01159-7 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:13:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1007_s12571-021-01159-7

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ulture/journal/12571

DOI: 10.1007/s12571-021-01159-7

Access Statistics for this article

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food is currently edited by R.N. Strange

More articles in Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food from Springer, The International Society for Plant Pathology
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().