The importance of vegetables in ensuring both food and nutritional security in attainment of the Millennium Development Goals

Keatinge, J. D. H.; Yang, Ray-Yu; Hughes, J.; Easdown, W.; Holmer, R.

doi:10.1007/s12571-011-0150-3

Cited by 136 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Many traditional or indigenous vegetables are characterized by a high nutritional value compared with global vegetables like tomato and cabbage [32]. As source of essential vitamins, micronutrients, protein and other phytonutrients, traditional vegetables and underutilized legume crops such as mungbean have the potential to play a major role in strategies to attain nutritional security.…”

Section: The Importance Of Underutilized Traditional Crops For Sustaimentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems

2014

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Abstract:Agriculture is under pressure to produce greater quantities of food, feed and biofuel on limited land resources. Current over-reliance on a handful of major staple crops has inherent agronomic, ecological, nutritional and economic risks and is probably unsustainable in the long run. Wider use of today's underutilized minor crops provides more options to build temporal and spatial heterogeneity into uniform cropping systems and will enhance resilience to both biotic and abiotic stress. Many traditional vegetables and underutilized legume crops are an essential source of vitamins, micronutrients and protein and, thus, a valuable component to attain nutritional security. Vegetables in general are of considerable commercial value and therefore an important source of household income. Significant research, breeding and development efforts are needed for a range of promising crops to convert existing local landraces into competitive varieties with wide adaptation and promising commercial potential. Access to genetic diversity of these selected crops is a pre-condition for success. Three underutilized minor crops-amaranth, drumstick tree, and mungbean-are highlighted and briefly described. All three crops are well-represented in AVRDC's genebank with substantial inter-and intra-specific genetic diversity, and already have demonstrated their potential for wider adoption and commercial exploitation.

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Section: The Importance Of Underutilized Traditional Crops For Sustaimentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems

2014

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“…Hunger periods are periods of time in which the stocks of food staples, such as maize or cassava, are finished and household food security relies on available cash (18) . This may lead to inadequate diets and hence to nutritional deficiencies, which include the lack of some vital micro-nutrients, otherwise known as hidden hunger (19)(20)(21)(22) . To address food insecurity Kenyans have embraced their indigenous or local crops.…”

Section: Scale Of the Problemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food and nutrition security: challenges of post-harvest handling in Kenya

Kimiywe

2015

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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Presently, close to 1 billion people suffer from hunger and food insecurity. Statistics in Kenya indicates that over 10 million people suffer from chronic food insecurity and poor nutrition, 2-4 million people require emergency food assistance at any given time with nearly 30 % of Kenya's children being undernourished, 35 % stunted while micro-nutrient deficiency is wide spread. Key among the challenges contributing to inadequate foods include lack of certified seeds, seasonal production (rain-fed), high post-harvest losses and wastages, poor transportation, low value additions which reduce their market competitiveness. The present paper examines some of the underlying causes for high food wastage experience in Kenya and the associated challenges in addressing these problems. The paper also provides an overview of some of the basic solutions that have been recommended by various stakeholders. However, in spite of the recent efforts made to mitigate food wastage, there is still an urgent need to address these gaps through participatory, innovative community based interventions that will create resilience to climate change and enhance livelihoods of smallholder farmers in diverse ecosystems.Food and nutrition security: Post-harvest handling: Food loss and wastage

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“…Moreover, available evidence showed that hunger and poverty alleviation does not always depend on new crop varieties that are bred in laboratory but reigniting interest and taste for indigenous and traditional foods can help improve nutrition, income, restore biodiversity and pressure on local food culture and poverty alleviation. Accordingly, it is now well recognized that food security cannot be delinked from nutrition security to which consumption of indigenous vegetables significantly contributed [18]. Consequently, continued investments in AIVs research and development are thus a vital weapon in the continuing battle against poverty and hunger alleviation worldwide.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validating the Role of African Indigenous Vegetables for Food and Nutrition Security in Uganda

Bua¹,

Onang²

2017

JFSE

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African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) play an important role in house hold food and nutrition security among many communities in Uganda. However, there is limited information on the value chain. Yet, the contribution of AIVs in terms of food and nutrition security is undisputable. A cross sectional survey targeting 60 respondents including farmers, key informants and extension officers was conducted to assess the systems of production system of the AIVs, profile an inventory and diversity of the cultivated AIVs in Agweng sub-county, Lira district. Semi-structured questionnaires and direct field observation were used to gather the necessary data. The findings revealed that AIVs form a very important part of the diets of the local populace both during the normal and off seasons as well as hard times among others. However, a number of constraints were reported to hinder the AIVs value chain including lack of quality seed, competition from exotic vegetables, low market demand, pests and diseases infestation, among others. The most commonly cultivated and consumed vegetables were cowpeas, hibiscus, pumpkins and crotolaria among others. The reasons for cultivation and consumption included source of food, high nutritive value and short maturity period. Other reasons were medicinal, resistance to pests and diseases, source of cash income and resilient to harsh weather conditions. In contrast, lack of quality seeds, bitterness, low market demand and difficulty in preparation contributed to their neglected use. Therefore, in the wake of climate change and variability there is need for deliberate investment to improve adaptability and acceptance of these vegetables. There is also need for sensitization of farmers on the benefits of AIVs, developing an effective means of improved seed production and distribution to replace the farmer-to farmer seed exchange and conservation of AIVs germplasm as the strategies to improve AIVs production in the study area.

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The importance of vegetables in ensuring both food and nutritional security in attainment of the Millennium Development Goals

Cited by 136 publications

References 21 publications

Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems

Potential of Underutilized Traditional Vegetables and Legume Crops to Contribute to Food and Nutritional Security, Income and More Sustainable Production Systems

Food and nutrition security: challenges of post-harvest handling in Kenya

Validating the Role of African Indigenous Vegetables for Food and Nutrition Security in Uganda

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