African Leafy Vegetables for Improved Human Nutrition and Food System Resilience in Southern Africa: A Scoping Review

The economic potential of African leafy vegetables (ALVs) remains obscured by a poorly developed value chain. This scoping review assembled and examined scattered knowledge generated on ALVs across southern Africa, focusing on production, processing, marketing, and consumption. Two electronic databases (Scopus and Web of Science) were screened, and a total of 71 relevant studies were included and evaluated. The review provides a state of the art on knowledge related to utilisation of ALVs across the entire value chain. The findings show that functional properties are of prime importance in the production and consumption of ALVs. However, the lack of improved germplasm and a non-existent seed supply system are significant production bottlenecks. Pests and diseases affecting the productivity of ALVs remain mostly unexplored. Sun-drying and boiling were the most reported post-harvest processing methods, suggesting that traditional processing methods are still prominent. Many studies also confirmed the predominance of informal markets in the trading of ALVs as they fail to penetrate formal markets because of poor product positioning and exclusion from produce demand and supply forecasts. The inception of cultivar development, mechanised processing methods, and market linkages will enhance the profitability of ALVs in the region. This review enhances the gaining of insight into the state of different value chain components will assist in upscaling production, value addition of products, and enhance marketing efficiency. There is a great opportunity for basic and applied research into ALVs.

Identifying Potential Markets for African Leafy Vegetables: Case Study of Farming Households in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Indigenous crops, through their high nutritional value and hardy attributes, offer potential trade opportunities for rural farmers. There is a niche market that can be explored for these indigenous crops particularly with the growing demand for high nutritional value food in the country. These crops are mostly produced by rural households or gathered from the wild by rural farmers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify potential markets for African leafy vegetables (ALVs) by farmers in Limpopo Province. Sixty households producing ALVs were selected with the composition of 54 women and six men, with this selection done using a purposive sampling procedure. Of the total production, 50–60% of the produce was sold in the informal market. It was evident that local rural markets constituted a greater portion of the total market at 73% and 20% allocated to hawkers in town. As a result, urban and periurban consumers present potential buyers since these areas are populated with the middle-class population which is susceptible to changing consumption trends. Because of this potential, supermarkets and township hawkers are proposed as the potential channel for ALVs targeting the identified population. Thus, it is suggested that, in order to create a synergy between economic improvement of rural farmers and trending consumer demands, the Department of Agriculture in Limpopo Province creates a conducive environment through which ALV farmers can be connected with supermarkets and township marketers.

Productivity of Selected African Leafy Vegetables under Varying Water Regimes

African leafy vegetables (ALVs) are nutrient dense and can contribute to crop and dietary diversity, especially in water-stressed environments. However, research on their productivity under limited water availability remains scant. The objective of the study was to evaluate growth, physiology and yield responses of three ALVs (Vigna unguiculata, Corchorus. Olitorius and Amaranthus cruentus) and a reference vegetable (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) to varying water regimes [30%, 60% and 100% of crop water requirement (ETc)]. Field trials using a randomised complete block design, replicated three times, were conducted over two summer seasons, 2015/16 and 2016/17. Leaf number, plant height, chlorophyll content index (CCI), chlorophyll fluorescence (CF), and yield were measured in situ. For A. cruentus and C. olitorius, water stress (30% ETc) was shown to produce a lower yield, although leaf number, plant height and chlorophyll content index were unaffected, while for B. vulgaris, leaf number and yield were reduced by water stress. For V. unguiculata, CF, CCI, plant height, leaf number, and yield were not affected by water stress, indicating its suitability for production in water scarce environments. Using 60% ETc was suitable for the production of A. cruentus, C. olitorius and B. vulgaris var. cicla, whereas 30% ETc is recommended for V. unguiculata. The yield results of V. unguiculata indicate that it performs better, while the yield of A. cruentus and C. olitorius is comparable to that of B. vulgaris under similar conditions, indicating potential for marginal production.