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

Food Security volume 13, pages 1215–1226 (2021)Cite this article

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seed Co Limited, Research and Development, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Learnmore Mwadzingeni & Malven Mushayi

  2. African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Learnmore Mwadzingeni, Hussein Shimelis, Admire I.T. Shayanowako, Malven Mushayi & John Derera

  3. World Vegetable Center, West and Central Africa, Cotonou, Benin

    Victor Afari-Sefa

  4. World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa, Arusha, Tanzania

    Sognigbé N’Danikou

  5. Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Sandiswa Figlan

  6. World Vegetable Center, East and Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Thailand

    Lutz Depenbusch & Pepijn Schreinemachers

  7. Seed Co, West and Central Africa, Accra, Ghana

    Takemore Chagomoka

  8. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria

    John Derera

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  1. Learnmore Mwadzingeni
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Mwadzingeni, L., Afari-Sefa, V., Shimelis, H. et al. Unpacking the value of traditional African vegetables for food and nutrition security. Food Sec. 13, 1215–1226 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01159-7

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Keywords

  • Genetic improvement
  • Indigenous vegetables
  • Nutrition security
  • Traditional African vegetables
  • Underutilized species
  • Value addition

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