Food Security and Nutrition in Mozambique: Comparative Study with Bean Species Commercialised in Informal Markets

Alberto B Charrua,Margarida Moldão,Salomão Bandeira,Pedro Cabral,Maria M Romeiras,Luís Catarino,Ana Ribeiro-Barros,Philip J Havik

doi:10.3390/su13168839

Abstract

In Mozambique (South-eastern Africa), Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. are important staple foods and a major source of dietary protein for local populations, particularly for people living in rural areas who lack the financial capacity to include meat in their daily dietary options. This study focuses on the potential for improving diets with locally produced nutritious legumes whilst increasing food security and income generation among smallholder farmers. Using bean species and varieties commercialised as dry legumes in the country, it sets out to characterize and compare the chemical properties of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna spp. among the most commercialised dry legume groups in Mozambique. The principal component analysis showed a clear separation between Phaseolus and Vigna species in terms of proximate composition, whereas protein content was quite uniform in both groups. It concludes that the introduction of improved cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna species maize–legume intercropping benefits yield, diets and increases household income with limited and low-cost inputs while enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers in vulnerable production systems affected by recurrent drought and the supply of legumes to urban informal markets.

Highlights

This study aims to contribute to the current debate on improving diets with locally produced nutritious legumes and promoting greater food security and income generation among smallholder farmers
Phaseolus vulgaris is native to Tropical America, but currently, several cultivars are cropped globally, whereas the three Vigna species are native to tropical Africa
Neverprotein content is quite uniform among the studied Phaseolus and Vigna species, but the theless, the protein content is quite uniform among the studied Phaseolus and Vigna spesamples from these two species collected in Maputo markets (i.e., MP5 Pv and MP6 Vr) cies, but the samples from these two species collected in Maputo markets

Summary

Introduction

Legumes (e.g., Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna spp., Vicia faba, Lens culinaris, Cajanus cajan, and Glycine max) have attracted great attention as a primary source of nutrients for millions of people throughout the world [1]. As the issue of nutrients (e.g., proteins) became part of the global nutrition debate since the 1940s, research into deficiencies focused on vulnerable populations in low-income countries have gained greater momentum over the last two decades. Reducing (multiple) nutrient deficiencies in children, the incidence of related conditions, and infant mortality rates, currently forms an integral part of the development agenda under the aegis of international agencies, partnerships and NGOs [2].

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