Women stand to profit from a new look at indigenous vegetables. Validated RNRRS Output.
Abstract
This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Summary for Project title: R6964: Opportunities and constraints in the subsistence production and marketing of indigenous vegetables in East and Central Africa and R7487: Improving the livelihoods of peri-urban vegetable growers through market promotion of fresh and processed indigenous vegetables.
A new focus on indigenous vegetables has helped to highlight their strategic food security role, offering important opportunities for the poor—particularly women—who farm, process and trade them. Until recently, these vegetables were viewed as minor crops with little economic importance, and therefore were overlooked by research in Africa. This meant that next to nothing was known about their productive potential, economic value or contribution to household nutrition and livelihoods. A workshop in 1997 helped to reverse this situation, identifying important species and priorities for research. Now, new methods for participatory selection are helping to produce improved varieties in Ghana and Zimbabwe, and information leaflets in local languages have been distributed to farmers, NGOs and government departments.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (10 pp.) taken from the CD.
Citation
CPH29, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p91.