An Exploration of the Consumption of Indigenous Vegetables in Informal Settlements in the West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Problems affecting the access and consumption of indigenous vegetables in developing countries are related to a decline in cultivation and consumption. The aim of this article was to investigate the consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables in rural and informal settlements of the West Coast District Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. The majority of the respondents were females (69.8%) aged 35 years or less (64.3%) and were mostly black individuals (90.7%). The majority of respondents (76.1%) had no formal education, and only 20% had a matric qualification. The most accessed crops of indigenous leafy vegetables were sweet potato (82.4%), melons (80.5%), pumpkin (77.6%) and cowpeas (46.3%). The vast majority of respondents (92.6%) consumed indigenous leafy vegetables. The consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables was associated with the ethnicity and the age of the respondents. Indigenous leafy vegetables constitute an important part of the diet of the people of this community and although they are available in local retail outlets, many people are not cultivating them in subsistence farming. It is recommended that the cultivation and consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables should be promoted in this area.