Vegetable Production in Tropical Africa: Status and Strategies for Sustainable Management

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the status and management practices of vegetable production in tropical Africa. While the primary focus of this paper is on the production of improved, indigenous, and wild vegetables, consideration of their nutritional, medicinal and industrial importance, and genetic conservation are also outlined to provide a comprehensive overview of their contributions to the concepts of stability and sustainability of tropical agriculture. The major eco-physiological attributes of these essential plants in mixed systems are also highlighted. The major technical constraints, which are responsible for their limited use and declined production, particularly for indigenous and wild vegetables, are also outlined. The use of agronomic practices such as manipulation of plant population density, sowing date, row arrangement, and fertilizer application to enhance growth, and complementary approaches such as mixed systems, ex situ/in situ conservation, and promotion/improvement are some of the strategies that are advocated to increase production, conservation, and use of tropical vegetables. In order to achieve effective sustainable vegetable production in Africa, a combination of indigenous and modern technologies that can be integrated feasibly is imperative.