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Pass the leafy veggies please
IITA, iNew
 Urban
dwellers consuming mostly cabbage in Nairobi, Accra, and Harare are missing out
on another nutritious food source and a part of their agricultural heritage, but
not in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A study completed there by IITA scientists has
provided evidence that often overlooked, traditional, leafy vegetables (TLVs)
are essential for both nutrition and economic livelihood.
Leafy, green vegetables are part of the diets of many households across
Africa, used primarily to accompany starchy staples. Rapid urbanization and
changing taste preferences in recent years have led to indigenous leafy
vegetables being replaced by introduced species of the Brassica variety,
including cabbage, kale, and mustard green.
While these introduced species have benefited from extensive breeding and
selection, traditional vegetables such as amaranth, African nightshade, jute
mallow, and cassava leaves have been virtually ignored. But these vegetables are
nutritionally rich, contribute to crop diversity, and could prove vital to
poverty-reduction strategies. The IITA team conducted a three-part survey of
urban and peri-urban households in Yaoundé. Interviews with over 250
individuals were used to analyze production systems, marketing activities, and
demand patterns. The results were surprising.
 In
and around Yaoundé, traditional vegetables were not only more important than
Brassica spp. for household food consumption and income generation, they were
also among the most commonly found vegetables in home gardens of the poorest
households. Responsibility for these vegetables rested primarily with women,
with over 4100 involved in vegetable marketing and over 30 000 involved in their
commercial production. These findings highlight the value of traditional leafy
vegetables and show the way forward for future investigation and development.
"Traditional leafy vegetables, too often overlooked in the past, demand
further research and development to ensure that the place of these valuable
genetic resources is conserved in the food systems of West and Central
Africa," says IITA scientist James Gockowksi. "Campaigns to promote
their use are also important. Our research shows that a small reallocation of
urban food budget towards greater TLVs consumption would significantly improve
micronutrient supplies of the poor."
Possible areas of study include breeding research to reduce levels of oxalic
acid and alkaloids, as well as agronomic research on soil fertility practices to
reduce nitrate content. Traditional leafy vegetables are already at the dinner
tables of both the rich and the poor in Cameroon, but additional research,
development, and promotion will ensure it stays that way for future generations.
More information:
Article courtesy of i.New, International institute of tropical agriculture (IITA).
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