Abstract
AbstractGlobal warming has emerged as a major challenge to development and human wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. Periodic incidents show that this challenge will continue and increase in impact on all aspects of natural resources – agriculture, ecosystems services, biodiversity depletion, environmental degradation and human health. Recognizing the enormous potential of underutilized plant genetic resources (PGRs) is crucial as sources of solutions to a number of these threatening challenges emanating from climate change (food and nutrition insecurity, genetic erosion, loss of agro-biodiversity, green job growth and income generation) cannot be over-emphasized. Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex. A. Rich) Harms., commonly known as African yam bean (AYB) belonging to the leguminous Fabaceae, is an underutilized PGR with rich portfolio which could serve as vital source of robust adaption and resilient germplasm for vulnerable local communities in Nigeria. Its substantial nutritional, environmental, cultural, social, medicinal, industrial and soil restorative potentials underpins its position as climate – smart species. Enhancing the potentials of African yam bean via robust innovative approaches for wider utilization through accelerated research, farmer seed exchanges, in-situ and ex-situ conservations, farmers selection, and policy programs such as seed sovereignty will accentuate its adaptation and used as resilient climate –smart species for the vulnerable groups in Nigeria to cushion impact of climate change.
Highlights
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that global warming of 1.5 °C and greater upsurge of 2 °C is projected for 2046–2065 and that these will have consequential impacts on food and water security, health, and other components of sustainable development, limiting strategies for adaptation, losses and damages to biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPCC 2018)
Enhancing the potentials of African yam bean by policy via robust innovative approaches for wider utilization through accelerated research, farmer seed exchanges, in-situ and ex-situ conservations, farmers selection, and policy programs such as seed sovereignty will accentuate its adaptation and used as resilient climate – smart species for the vulnerable groups in Nigeria to cushion the impact of climate change
(ii) Organizing regular retailer food fairs to showcase various dietary menus accruing from African yam bean (AYB) will encourage its selection and consumption by the publics
Summary
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that global warming of 1.5 °C and greater upsurge of 2 °C is projected for 2046–2065 and that these will have consequential impacts on food and water security, health, and other components of sustainable development, limiting strategies for adaptation, losses and damages to biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPCC 2018). The Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (Bhat and Taiwo 2015) defines these species, as those with a potential not fully exploited; with respect to contributing to food security and poverty alleviation, combined with their strong links to local community cultural heritage Their limited or poor documentation by research are evidenced by their adaptation to specific agroecological niches, a weak or non-existent seed supply systems, fully in the domains of traditional users only. African Yam Bean, the Choice for Climate Change Resilience “Neglected and Underutilized species (NUS)” are plant species which are sidelined, ignored or completely underexploited, by researchers, breeders and policy makers They have great prospects to improve people’s livelihoods, guaranteeing food security and self-sufficiency to the users.
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