A survey of brassica vegetable smallholder farmers in the Gauteng and Limpopo provinces of South Africa (original) (raw)
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Using farmer surveys the smallholder commodity systems of Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis and Solanum retroflexum Dun. in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa were described and analysed. Production, transaction and consumption of the two vegetables were deeply embedded in the food, trade and farming systems of local people. The cultivation systems, which appeared effective, were developed by borrowing elements from the systems of other crops to which new knowledge specific to B. chinensis and S. retroflexum were added. Several elements of the production systems that could benefit from scientific enquiry were identified. These included genetic improvement and the optimisation of planting density and nutrient supply.
The Importance of Traditional Leafy Vegetables in South Africa
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The use of traditional leafy vegetables in communities has been noted in several studies. These studies highlighted concerns about the loss of knowledge. The aim of this work was to enhance the role of African leafy vegetables in the nutrition of vulnerable groups in South Africa through improved preparation, promotion of consumption, processing, landrace improvement program, and management of their genetic diversity. Researchers needed to establish the extent of the use, conservation status and awareness of these plants, to ensure effective research decisions. The results from these studies are reported on here. Localities that differed in ethnicity and climate were targeted. The data collection phase used a questionnaire survey, rapid and participatory methodologies to collect information from the women. Traditional leafy vegetables were found to be a very important source of food in summer, but especially in winter. Several drying methods are used to ensure the availability of th...
Assessment of traditional African vegetable production in Burkina Faso
Lack of dietary diversity is a key causal factor of malnutrition in Burkina Faso because the population consumes mostly cereals crops. Nutrient‐dense traditional African vegetables provide an excellent means to complement cereal staples for better nutrition, in particular for women and children, as well as for income generation. This study characterized the production of traditional African vegetables in Burkina Faso based on a questionnaire administered to 250 respondents. Results indicate the majority (75%) of the producers had no formal education and generally practiced gardening in lowland areas near water damsandstreams. Tomato was cultivated by 35% of the respondents, followed by okra (32%) and African eggplant (20%). Overall, more land was used for traditional African vegetables compared to exotic species, but individual global vegetables occupied more space than traditional vegetables; tomato was produced on 467 m 2 and okra on 315 m 2. About 98% of the producers practiced manual irrigation with watering cans, compared to only 1% for drip irrigation. Soil and water conservation options such as mulching and zaï were practiced by 76 and 21%, respectively. The producers were quite familiar with and had access to improved seeds (73.2%), chemical fertilizers (72.4%) and nursery techniques (69.6%), but were less knowledgeable about postharvest handling, integrated pest management and biological control. There is ample scope for improving vegetable production practices through capacity building coupled with sensitization for increased consumption of traditional African vegetables.
African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2006
The value of wild edible vegetables in food security has not been given sufficient attention in South Africa. Consequently, there are no formal interventions that seek to encourage people to use traditional vegetables as sources of essential nutrients. Studies on the role of wild leafy vegetables in food security could provide important information for development of policies on careful exploitation of natural resources for human sustenance. The objective of this study was to provide a rapid assessment of general knowledge about wild leafy vegetables among subsistence farmers from Ezigeni, a rural location in South Africa, and to determine the availability of wild leafy vegetables from cropping fields during spring -before the cropping season started. A focus group discussion and transect walk were used to collect qualitative data on knowledge of traditional vegetables. Availability of wild leafy vegetables was quantified using one-square-meter plots, randomly located in a cropping field and in an area that has never been cultivated (veld). Results showed that knowledge of wild leafy vegetables among the participants was positively correlated with age. Education status improved knowledge of wild vegetables for middle-aged participants, but not for the youth (35 years or younger). Availability of wild edible leafy vegetables (plant numbers and yield) increased from August to October, but there was a significant difference between species. Data from a focus group discussion showed that wild leafy vegetable availability occurred early in spring, when traditional crops were less abundant. It is concluded that knowledge of wild leafy vegetables may be lost in the near future, unless efforts are made to educate younger generations about their importance. They could be used as an important source of nutrients during the pre-cropping season, before traditional crops are available for human consumption. It is recommended that agronomic investigations into cultivation of wild leafy vegetables that are adapted to rural areas where exotic leafy vegetables are not widely available be undertaken. Those studies could contribute significantly in government policies to improve food security in rural areas, and in the improvement of wild vegetable status, whose potential as sources of nutrition is currently undervalued.
International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), 2018
Vegetables have a potential to alleviate food insecurity. However, the non-consumption of indigenous (neglected) vegetables either by choice or ignorance of their nutritional potential might limit their contribution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the production, the consumption and the nutritional content of five neglected vegetables. Firstly, the study was conducted using a descriptive survey on 116 producers and 137 consumers by conducting face to face interview and administration of questionnaires. Two distinctive questionnaires were administrated to assess production and consumption of vegetables. A survey was carried in the garden for production and in households for consumption which where around of FadaN?Gouma and Di?bougou town, respectively located in Est and South-West regions of Burkina Faso. Secondly the nutritional content of collected vegetables was determined through standardized methods. Most of the producers in the Eastern region were women (91.07%) compared to the South-Western where all were men. For consumption, all of the respondents were women. Okra was the most produced vegetable (98.3 %) compared to amaranth, black nightshade, jute mallow and African eggplant. Vegetables were mainly produced on dry season (75 %). More than the half of producers were beginning this activity less than 6 years ago. Vegetables were grown on small plots. Vegetable were daily consumed in the surveyed households. The main process consumption way was sauces. The fresh vegetables form was most preferred than the dried one. Household have satisfactory knowledge about the nutritional interest of vegetables consumption.
Res. J. Agriculture and Forestry Sc, 2019
Vegetable crops in Daloa occupy an important place in local and domestic food supply and security. However, diseases and pests significantly limit its development. The present study aims at figuring out the vegetable farming environment in Daloa and identifying pest and disease problems of main leafy vegetables can lead to a sustainable control approach. A questionnaire and disease associated to lettuce and cabbage were studied. The results showed vegetables production in with traditional means by smallholders, with 44 % having little formal education. Vegetable production is conducted by as many women (49%) as men (51%) aged 17 it is better organized. Vegetables farmers are handicapped by a lack of supervision and training which causes a misuse of the technical itinerary of the different crops. All the re to local conditions as their major constraints in vegetables production while 91 % among them cited insects and diseases. The vegetables grown in the area of Daloa are diversified and c vegetables mainly located in the outskirts and tuber vegetables grown mainly in the rural areas. Those diseases who damage lettuce and cabbage are seedling damping nematodes, while insects who attack these crops are Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella, Hellula undalis, Dysdercus sp, Lypaphis erysimi and Achatina sp. This study provides a trail from which furthe the most significant diseases in the region so as to better monitor and protect vegetable crops.
South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010
Micronutrient supplementation and food fortification are shortand medium-term strategies to address the "hidden hunger" (i.e. micronutrient malnutrition), but in the long term dietary diversification through a food-based approach involving agriculture has been proposed as one of the more sustainable options. 9,10 Dietary diversification has to widen its scope to include indigenous crops, such as wild-growing green leafy vegetables. Although concerns with respect to the bioavailability of vitamin A from green leafy vegetables have been raised, 11,12 consumption of cooked and pureed green leafy vegetables was shown to have a beneficial effect on improving vitamin A status. 13-15 It stands to reason that wild green leafy vegetables could have a similar beneficial effect, particularly in rural resource-poor settings, and this possibility has repeatedly been raised. 16,17 The potential value for food security and rural development