Indigenous Vegetable Production Research Articles

Response of Black Nightshade to Different Cropping Systems and the Effect on Physiological Parameters and Mineral Composition

In southern African countries, production of indigenous leafy vegetables is commonly practiced at home garden and/or commercial level due to their significant contribution toward eradication of hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) is among African leafy vegetable (ALV) highly recognised for its pharmacological and nutritive benefits. Several research have shown that ALVs can be cultivated in the open field or greenhouses, however, little information is available on the changes of the agronomical parameters and mineral composition. The aim of the study was to compare the physiological parameters and mineral composition of nightshade grown in the open field vs. greenhouse cropping systems. The results of the study revealed high-leaf area and relative chlorophyll content in the open field conditions while plant height and the number of leaves were reportedly higher under the greenhouse system. Minerals elements such as magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, and aluminium were significantly higher in the open field cropping system, while greenhouse cultivation recorded higher sulphur and boron. Notably, no significant amount was observed in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium between open field and greenhouse system. Furthermore, a significant amount of total nitrogen was reported in the open field, however, no significant difference was observed in moisture and ash content for both cropping systems. In conclusion, black nightshade cultivated in open field provided higher leaf chlorophyll, leaf area, and trace elements compared to greenhouse cultivation while macro minerals concentration had no significant difference in both cropping systems.

The Status of Vegetables Research in Malawi, Capacity, Progress, Gaps, and Way Forward—A Scoping Review

Vegetables are key to nutrition and economic security, especially for developing societies. Research in vegetables has been historically key. From early domestication efforts to modern-day breeding and value addition, research has enabled vegetable productivity to support the nutritional and economic needs of societies. Impactful research, however, requires competent research capacity and a guiding framework, in a continuously changing socio-climatic world. Vegetable research appraisal in Malawi, especially regarding capacity, focus, and a guiding framework, is lacking. By using 5 search engines and 506 analyzed publications, this review sought to first examine the existing research capacity in Malawi and assess the vegetable research focus in terms of both value chain analysis themes and specific vegetable tax. This approach allowed for the isolation and flagging out of key emerging issues from existing research that positively contextualize future vegetable research direction in Malawi. It has been found that Malawi has adequate institutional and expertise capacity to further vegetable research. The identified challenges include local funding and infrastructural capacity to leverage donor funding. Three key emerging issues of climate change, modeling, and biofortification in vegetable crops have been identified. It is suggested that, with Malawi facing the climate change challenge, research focus in these areas, will enhance not only nutritional and economic security, but also overall climate change readiness. Key to climate change readiness is the involvement of indigenous vegetable production. As a package, vegetable cultivation can play a critical role in contributing to the achievement of pillar 1 of the Malawi vision 2063, which seeks to leverage agricultural productivity and commercialization with a focus on climate change resilience.

What drives diversity in climate change adaptation strategies for African indigenous vegetable production in Kenya?

Smallholder farmers have adopted diverse adaptation practices to lessen the effect of climate change. However, context-specific information about why particular adaptation strategies are adopted remains limited. This study examined the factors that facilitate the choice of farm-level adaptation strategies to climate change (CC) using data collected from 269 African indigenous vegetable (AIV) farmers in Kenya. A multivariate probit (MVP) regression model was used to evaluate the determinants of adaptation choices. The most frequently adopted strategies considered for analysis were manure application, increased pesticide use, crop rotation, irrigation, change of planting dates and terracing. The results reveal that land ownership, group membership, access to extension services and education level were some of the key drivers of adoption. This implies that policies and programmes that are designed to build the ability of smallholder AIV farmers to adapt to climate change should focus on organising farmers into groups, disseminating timely weather information, improving land tenure security, increasing off-farm employment and providing greater access to extension services.

Assessment of Factors Influencing Production, Consumption and Utilization of Indigenous Vegetables in Kabuoch Location, Homa Bay County

Indigenous vegetables are important sources of both macro and micronutrients which are important for a healthy body. In addition, they also play a role in food security because most are fast maturing therefore being a valuable source of vitamins all the year round and are mostly used as an accompaniment with a staple cereals-based diet such as ugali. Therefore, they encourage the consumption and cultivation of indigenous leafy vegetables. This study sought to carry out an assessment of indigenous vegetables produced, utilization and factors influencing their production and consumption among residents of Kabuoch location, Homa bay County. A household survey was carried out to collect primary data. Five administrative sub-locations were randomly sampled for the study. Twenty households were purposively sampled from each sub-location to make a sample size of 120 households. Questionnaires were used in data collection. The questionnaire contained both open ended and closed ended questions. Questionnaires were administered to 120 households to collect data on production, knowledge on utilization of indigenous vegetables and factors influencing their cultivation. Data collected was subjected to both descriptive and inferential analysis. Only 10 indigenous vegetables were found to be cultivated. Black night shade (Solanum nigrum) and Cowpea leaves (Vigna unguiculata) being greatly preferred by most households. However, most households regarded indigenous vegetables as food meant expectant and lactating mothers. Attitude and wrong perceptions were found to be primary factors influencing production and consumption of indigenous vegetables in Kabuoch location, Homa bay County. There is need to create awareness on the value of indigenous vegetables, intensification of conservation and introduction of more indigenous vegetables to the community in order to enhance food security.

Determinants of lack of credit access among indigenous vegetable producers in Nigeria: Implications for policy interventions

Abstract In this study we assessed the determinants of lack of credit access among the Indigenous Vegetables (IVs) farmers based on primary data collected in a cross-sectional survey. Using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis, the results revealed that more females were involved in the indigenous vegetable production with average age of 40 years, seven household members, eight years of formal education and cultivating 0.76 acre of land. Only 8 % had access to credit and 76 % did not have contact with extension agents. The mean monthly income from indigenous vegetables production, off-farm income and savings were about ₦35,000 (US$96.83), ₦15,000 (US$42.12) and ₦13,000 (US$38.57), respectively. Further, lack of credit access significantly depended on gender (β = 0.15, P < 0.05), educational level (β = 0.11; P < 0.05), farming experience (β = 0.73; P < 0.05), off-farm income (β = 0.23, P < 0.05), saving habits (β = 0. 25; P < 0.01) and annual numbers of extension contact (β = 0.94, P < 0.01) of indigenous vegetable farmers. Therefore, improved access to formal education, extension supports, creation of gender-specific credit scheme and farm-based organisation (FBO) for indigenous vegetables farmers to sustain credit accessibility were advocated.

Adoption of improved production methods by underutilized indigenous vegetable farmers

ABSTRACT Adoption of improved technology is necessary in developing countries to ensure adequate vegetable production and increased farm income. The study examined factors influencing adoption of improved production methods by growers of underutilized indigenous vegetables. Data obtained from the Synergizing Fertilizer Micro-dosing and Indigenous Vegetable Production project to Enhance Food and Economic Security in West Africa data bank (MICROVEG), collected from 552 respondents, were used. The Poisson Regression Model was employed to estimate the probability of adoption of improved technology practices. Awareness and knowledge of innovation, membership in farmer organizations, education level, income, and land ownership were factors positively influencing farmer decisions to adopt the improved methods. For adoption to occur, appropriate dissemination of information needs to be employed.

Protein and energy contribution of African indigenous vegetables: Evidence from selected rural and peri-urban counties of Kenya

Although positive steps have been taken towards reducing food insecurity, it remains a serious and recurrent issue, especially in developing countries. Food insecurity is aggravated by the world’s growing population and global ecological changes and calls for novel agriculture-based hunger eradication strategies. It is argued that production and consumption of indigenous vegetables (IVs) enhances accessibility and availability of nutritious food in households. Indigenous vegetables (IVs) contain significant amounts of macronutrients and high levels of micronutrients. As their agro-economic advantages make them relatively easy for uptake by resource-poor households, they represent a direct solution to ‘hidden hunger’. Household-based survey data collected from 1232 IV producers in rural and peri-urban areas of five selected counties in Kenya in 2014 were used to examine the dietary contribution of IVs. Five priority indigenous vegetables were analysed: amaranth, cowpea, African nightshade, spider plant and Ethiopian kale. Quantitative analysis was performed using food security indicators from the ADePTFood security Module data analytical software. This study’s findings indicated African nightshade was the most consumed indigenous vegetable, providing the largest share of dietary energy consumption (average of 43 kcal/person/day). Amaranth was found to provide the highest share and cheapest source of dietary protein consumption, an average of 4.9 g/person/day, thus meeting 8% of the adult daily protein requirement. These results showed the clear dominance of indigenous vegetables over exotic vegetables in terms of protein contribution, achieved both by amaranth’s high protein content compared tocabbage, as well as the low per unit cost of protein in indigenous vegetables compared to exotic vegetables. Given that, IVs have a significant protein content that adds variety to staple diets at comparatively low median dietary unit values and that they are important sources of dietary energy, efforts should be made to increase their consumption by undertaking further research, raising awareness and instituting policies.

Production of indigenous vegetables and livelihood of farmers in Nigeria–Canada vegetable project

ABSTRACT Many indigenous vegetables are generally underutilized across different cultures, but they remain alternatives to exotic vegetables that often are expensive. This study investigated effects of participation in indigenous vegetable production on livelihood of farmers. Multistaged sampling was used to collect data from 222 vegetable farmers sampled from using a semi-structured questionnaire. Principal component analysis and endogenous switching regression (ESR) were employed for analysis. The ESR accounted for heterogeneity in the decision to participate or not, and for unobservable characteristics of farmers and their farms. Principal component analysis indicated 44.44% of respondents are low-level participants in production of indigenous vegetables (<4). Participation in the Nigeria–Canada vegetable project (NiCanVeg) increased household income; however, the impact of participation on income was smaller for households that participated, than those that did not. The impact of the NiCanVeg project on livelihood of participants was negative. For a project to have positive significant effects on livelihood, household characteristics of participants should be considered in its implementation.

Molecular Scale Studies of Phosphorus Speciation and Transformation in Manure Amended and Microdose Fertilized Indigenous Vegetable Production Systems of Nigeria and Republic of Benin

This study investigated the speciation, transformation, and availability of P during indigenous vegetable production by employing a combination of chemical and spectroscopic techniques. The study focused on sites in two ecozones of SSA, the dry savanna (lna, Republic of Benin) and rainforest (Ilesha, Nigeria). Both sites were cultivated with two indigenous vegetable species: local amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus (AC)) and African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon (SM)). The soils were treated with 5 t/ha poultry manure and urea fertilizer at the rates of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 kg N/ha. Soil samples were collected before planting and after harvest. Phosphorus K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was used to determine P speciation in these soils. Quantitative analysis showed that adsorbed and organic P were the two dominant P species in the manure amended dry savanna (DS) soils before planting and after harvest in soils cultivated with both AC and SM, with the addition of urea (40 kg N/ha) causing an increase in the organic P form in dry savanna soils cultivated with AC. Soils of the rainforest (RF) cultivated with AC initially had large amounts of apatite P in the manure amended soils prior to planting, which was transformed to adsorbed and organic P after harvest. Urea addition to the rainforest soils shifted the dominant P species from organic P to adsorbed and apatite P, which was likely to limit P availability. Soils cultivated with SM had similar proportions of both organic and adsorbed P forms, with 40 kg N/ha addition slightly increasing the proportion of adsorbed P.

Fertilizer microdosing enhances biomass yield and water use efficiency of African indigenous leafy vegetable

ABSTRACT Inadequate nutrition is a limiting factor for African indigenous leafy vegetable (AILV) production. Fertilizer microdosing technology might be a method to increase yields and nutrient use efficiency in AILVs. Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of fertilizer microdosing on biomass yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of the AILVs: local amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), African eggplant (Solanum macrocarpon L.), and African basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.). Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of five microdosed nitrogen (N) rates and 2 N application dates under fully irrigated (dry season) and supplement irrigated (rainy season) conditions. Under full irrigation, microdosed N rates were 0, 10, 20, or 30 kg∙ha−1 N + 5 t∙ha−1 manure and an additional treatment of 40 kg∙ha−1 N without manure (half recommended rate; HRR). Under supplemented irrigation, microdosed N rates were 0, 20, 40, or 60 kg∙ha−1 N + 5 t∙ha−1 manure and an additional treatment of 80 kg∙ha−1 N without manure (full recommended rate; FRR). Nitrogen application dates were 0 and 14 days after transplanting for both experiments. Biomass yields and WUE of local amaranth and African eggplant under microdosed N level plus manure increased, but not for African basil. Yield and WUE of local amaranth and African eggplant increased with microdosed N combined with manure level up to 40 kg∙ha−1 with little, or no, increase above that. The FRR produced lower yield and WUE compared to any microdosed rate of N combined with manure by 45% for local amaranth, and 30% for African eggplant under full irrigation, and 89% for local amaranth and 18% for African eggplant during the rainy season with supplement irrigation. Time of N application had no effect. The combined microdose application of N of 40 kg∙ha−1 and manure is effective to enhance some African indigenous leafy vegetable yields and water use efficiency while reducing fertilizer input. Further studies are needed at different locations and should include other AILV species to confirm microdosing is efficacious for AILV production.

The Interface Between Entrepreneurship as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy and Improved Rural Household Food Security and Food Systems Sustainability in South Africa

The worst and most direct impacts of climate change will fall disproportionately on livelihood systems and vulnerable populations that are already poor and food insecure. The highly vulnerable are communities dominated by farming, with limited livelihood diversification and adaptive capacity at household level. During the past three years, rural enterprises were established in six provinces of South Africa to increase access to food and to create income streams for farming communities in rural areas as part of the broader rural development strategy. This study sought to determine the impact of smallholder agricultural entrepreneurship through sweet potato and indigenous vegetable production on improved access to food, income generation and job creation. Return on Investment and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the data collected from 186 project beneficiaries. The results of the study indicated that enterprise development intervention impacted positively on household income, job creation and formal market access. The logistic regression model showed a significant relationship between productivity and access to formal markets (P &amp;lt; 0.001), educational level (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) and access to training (P &amp;lt; 0.002) at the 1% significance level. Sustainable establishment of these enterprises must be ensured through infrastructure support, capacity building and adapting to changes in cultivation practices intended to cope with climate change.

Gender involvement in the production of indigenous vegetables in Southwest Nigeria

It is generally believed that vegetable cultivation is women's occupation. Hence, gender involvement in the production of indigenous vegetables in Southwest Nigeria was studied. The study described the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, their access to productive resources and challenges in production of indigenous vegetable (IV). Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 1091 respondents. Seven states in the southwest covered by the MicroVeg project were purposively selected. Sixty-two local government areas (LGAs) and then 144 communities were randomly selected, respectively. An average of seven farming households were snowballing selected in each community. Validated and pretested interview schedule, focus group discuss (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI) were used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and ATLAS.ti for analyses. The results showed that female (42.59±12.93 years) IV farmers were younger than their male (45.06±13.94 years) counterparts. Few (9.5%) male and female (23.7%) had no formal education. Majority (70.95%) female and male (55.53%) were involved in the cultivating of IVs. More than half (58.99%) male were producers, 32.8% marketers while 37.99% female were primary consumers. Contrary to popular opinions, men cultivated IVs during the dry season while women produced during both dry and raining seasons. Well dug close to their farms was the major source of water for both male and female. Farm inputs and resources such as seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, and land were difficult to access by the female farmers. The challenges of IV producers included; difficulty in accessing seeds, finance, and water during dry season. In conclusion, both male and female were involved in IVs production but female producers faced more challenges in production than male. Hence more attention should be paid to female IVs producers than their male counterparts in the provision of seeds, fertilisers, and storage facilities.

Technical Efficiency of African Indigenous Vegetable Production in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) have long been known in South African rural communities as essential food that is being consumed with starchy staples, and their consumption has increased over the past few decades. There is now a growing interest and awareness of AIVs due to their nutritional benefits and outstanding potential to generate farm incomes. However, several factors are militating against their production along the supply chains of value addition. This study analysed the technical efficiency of AIVs production in Vhembe district of Limpopo province. The data were collected from 114 AIVs farmers through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out using Stochastic Frontier model via the Cobb-Douglas production function. The results revealed that the average age and years of farming experiences of the farmers were 59.6 and 30.9 years respectively. About 84% of the farmers lacked access to formal credit, while 92% had access to extension services. Elasticity values of land area cultivated, fertiliser, seeds, labour and tractor days in relation to AIV production were 0.4441, 0.1749, 0.1311, 0.2663 and 0.2360 respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that average technical efficiency in the production of indigenous vegetables was 0.79%. The variables that significantly influenced technical inefficiency were years of schooling, extension services, gender and access to the irrigation system. In conclusion, production of AIV exhibits decreasing returns to scale. However, promotion of AIV production and efficiency requires consideration of gender issues in accessing resources, educational attainments of farmers, access to irrigation services and proper reorientation of the components of agricultural extension services delivery in order to benefit AIV farmers.

African Indigenous Vegetable Seed Systems in Western Kenya

African indigenous vegetable (AIV) production systems are often constrained by the availability of high-quality seed. Concerted efforts to improve the informal seed sector could increase farmers’ access to seed, but these efforts are hampered by a lack of knowledge around the quality of farmer-produced seed and seed growers’ motivations for producing seed. This study collected seed samples and survey data from 127 farmers in western Kenya on their AIV seed production practices, uses of AIV seed, and motivations for growing seed. Germination tests showed that seed quality varied significantly between species. Seed access was still a constraint, even though the majority of seeds used by farmers are self-produced. Income from selling AIV seed differed significantly depending on gender, with men earning more than twice as much as women. This study demonstrates that the constraints farmers face in accessing high-quality AIV seed can vary significantly between species and over short distances. Female seed producers are not necessarily empowered to earn equal income as men, despite AIVs traditionally being considered a women’s crop. This study speaks to the importance of using localized information to develop programs for improving informal seed systems and continuing to employ gender-sensitive and transformative activities.

Economic impacts of fertilizer micro-dosing in the production of underutilized indigenous vegetables in south west Nigeria: an ex-ante approach

Optimum application of fertilizers to address low productivity of soils and reduce the quantity and the cost of fertilizer incurred by farmers is a major concern in enhancing the yield of underutilized indigenous vegetables (UIVs). This study analyzed the potential economic potential benefits of adoption of fertilizer micro-dosing by resource poor farming households in southwest Nigeria using primary and secondary data from baseline survey of farmers, consumers and scientists involved in UIV production in the study area. Using economic surplus model, the size and distribution of potential economic benefits of the innovation were determined quantitatively as producer and consumer surplus in a partial equilibrium framework. Both net returns and sensitivity analyses were also conducted to assess the stability of the results. Investment in the innovation in production of the UIVs is economically viable with 32-50% returns achieved at expected adoption rate of 25%. Sensitivity analysis shows that the results were robust to changes in basic parameters. Farmers and consumers of UIVs benefit from the innovation due to the reduction in the cost of fertilizer used as well as price of UIVs, respectively. The findings support the sustainability of investment in fertilizer micro-dosing in producing UIVs.

Transitions in Cooperative Labour and the Constraints to the Adoption and Scaling-Up of Labour Intensive Agricultural Technologies

The research presented in this paper stems from a collaboration between researchers in the Benin Republic, Nigeria and Canada who are examining the opportunities to enhance the sustainable production of under-utilized indigenous vegetables through the micro-dosage of synthetic fertilizer. Because micro-dosing is a labour intensive technology, and is time sensitive in application, we sought to better understand how the availability of labour, as affected by changes in cooperative networks, might affect adoption and scaling up opportunities. The systems of cooperative labour described in this paper reflect the culture and traditions of the Betammaribe people, residing in the village of Koumagou B in northwest Benin. Our results indicate that cooperative labour systems among the Betammaribe are in transition and are being influenced by seasonal migration, the financial demands of formal education, the use of oxen by those with relative wealth, and off-farm employment. These pressures have led to the atomizing of Koumagou B households and a concomitant decline in the availability of cooperative labour. Interventions designed to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers must not inadvertently perpetuate social and economic inequalities or disadvantage those most vulnerable. It is this possibility that warrants careful consideration as we contemplate the benefits of adopting and scaling-up new agricultural technologies in the future.

Proximate composition, mineral analysis and antioxidant capacity of indigenous fruits and vegetables from temperate region of Indian Himalayas

The promotion and consumption of indigenous minor fruits and vegetables could help to mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. Nutrient composition and antioxidant capacity of some fruits and vegetables were investigated during the present study. Proximate and mineral compositions were determined using standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The result of the study revealed that proximate composition (g/100 g) on dry weight basis significantly (P < 0.05) varied. Mineral concentrations (mg/100 g) also significantly (P < 0.05) varied with most abundant were P (340 mg/100 g) and Si (360 mg/100 g) for handh, Ca (404.12 mg/100 g) and K (298.24 mg/100 g) for sustchal, Ca (248 mg 100 g) and P (525 g/100 g) for quince, Na (9.23 mg/100 g) and Fe (12.40 mg/100 g) for cherry. The results of antioxidant analysis showed that, all the fruits and vegetables studied had significantly (P < 0.05) different quantities of antioxidants. The results showed that minor fruits and vegetables contain appreciable amount of vital nutrients like protein, fiber, calcium, iron, zinc and antioxidants. Therefore, increase in the production and consumption of these nutrient-rich minor indigenous fruits and vegetables will help to supplement and formulate the diets and alleviate the problems associated with malnutrition in the country.

Impact of the production of underutilized vegetables on the livelihood of farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose African indigenous vegetables have high nutritive value which contains high levels of minerals. The current status of indigenous vegetable production in developing countries shows that these crops are “under-recognized” and “underutilized” with respect to nutritional value and opportunities for food security. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the production of underutilized vegetables on the livelihood of farmers in South Western Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The population for the study includes all the vegetable farmers in South Western Nigeria with a special focus on farmers’ groups formed by the NICANVEG project in Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti states. Descriptive statistics and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to analyze the objective. Findings Perceptions on individual household income reveal that the majority of participating respondents perceived higher production and harvesting density. This is due to the fact that harvesting is done by cutting the stems of the vegetables. The probability score shows that the dependent variables have an average effect of 44.6 percent on the probability of farmers participating in NICANVEG project. The PSM results reveal that average treatment effect on the treated is ₦269,254.87. Average treatment on the untreated is ₦11,990.63 while average treatment effect is ₦139,336.43. The total income of the participants from all the various livelihood strategies is increased by 29.73 percent because of their participation in the NICANVEG project. Originality/value This work has not been carried out by any other person before. This work will add to the existing knowledge on the impact of evaluation in agricultural economics.

Livelihood and climate trade-offs in Kenyan peri-urban vegetable production

Trade-offs between livelihood and environmental outcomes due to agricultural intensification in sub-Saharan Africa are uncertain. The present study measured yield, economic performance and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in African indigenous vegetable (AIV) production to investigate the optimal nutrient management strategies. In order to achieve this, an on-farm experiment with four treatments – (1) 40kgN/ha diammonium phosphate (DAP), (2) 10t/ha cattle manure, (3) 20kgN/ha DAP and 5t/ha cattle manure and (4) a no-N input control – was performed for two seasons. Yields and N2O emissions were directly measured with subsampling and static chambers/gas chromatography, respectively. Economic outcomes were estimated from semi-structured interviews (N=12). Trade-offs were quantified by calculating N2O emissions intensity (N2OI) and N2O emissions economic intensity (N2OEI). The results indicate that, DAP alone resulted at least 14% greater yields, gross margin and returns to labour in absolute terms but had the highest emissions (p=0.003). Productivity-climate trade-offs, expressed as N2OI, were statistically similar for DAP and mixed treatments. However, N2OEI was minimized under mixed management (p=0.0004) while maintaining productivity and gross margins. We therefore conclude that soil fertility management strategies that mix inorganic and organic source present a pathway to sustainable intensification in AIV production. Future studies of GHG emissions in crop production need to consider not only productivity but economic performance when considering trade-offs.

Perceptions and determinants of smallholder farmers’ participation in the production of indigenous leafy vegetables: The case of Coffee Bay, Eastern Cape province of South Africa

There is a high level of consensus on the relevance of indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) in complementing household food security. Despite such a high level of consensus and several nutritional and health benefits, farmers have opted not to include them in their farming systems thus affecting production volumes and their availability on market. With the emerging interest of linking biodiversity to food security in the face of climate change, there is a need to appraise why many farmers have opted not to include ILVs in their farming systems. Against this background, this study used cross-sectional survey data to estimate determinants of farmers’ participation in the production of ILVs. Descriptive results reveal that the majority of people in the study area share positive perceptions with regards to ILVs. Regression estimates further indicate that production of ILVs are mostly conditioned by shared perceptions and institutional factors rather than socio-economic attributes of farmers. Public policies that address the institutional framework in favour of ILVs are more likely to promote production. Also, more research on benefits of ILVs supported by investments targeting educational campaigns towards promoting positive attitudes and dispelling fears and myths surrounding ILVs will further promote production.