2017 ASHS Annual Conference

African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) are recognized for their ability to generate income for smallholder farmers and alleviate nutrient deficiencies as part of a diversified and balanced diet. This project is focused on developing and identifying the most effective agricultural intervention methods toward improved access, affordability, availability, and adoption of AIVs. The core AIV species studied in this project include, but not limited to, Amaranthus sp., Brassica carinata, Cleome gynandra, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Moringa oleifera, Solanum scabrum and Vigna unguiculata. Two basic interventions commonly employed by development organizations are being quantitatively evaluated for effect on AIV consumption, namely, improving AIV nutrition education of consumers and improving productivity of growers. Evaluation of nutrient content in AIVs has been conducted to identify whether each AIV can be considered as nutrient dense, with nutritional content being confirmed through field studies in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, to bolster nutrition education intervention activities, as well as to identify the potential for each to improve the nutrition status of people deficient in one or more micronutrients. Experiments have established best management practices including selecting AIV varieties for horticultural performance and nutrition content, precise crop production inputs and soil management, managing plant pests and improving post-harvest shelf-life and quality. Results are being used to develop production and consumption intervention and training activities with the goal to improve the nutrition status of people deficient in one or more micronutrients. Surveys in Zambia and Kenya of 600 AIV producers and 150 intermediaries identified bottlenecks in productivity and availability that have helped guide our focused production interventions. Additionally, 500 households, in both Kenya and Zambia, with at least one woman of childbearing age and at least one child, were surveyed to determine factors affecting whether AIVs are consumed or produced and sold in these communities. Within the survey populations, four groups of 125 households each will be selected, based on survey results, and provided with either: 1) nutrition education intervention activities, 2) production intervention activities, 3) both types of intervention activities, or 4) neither (control group). Consumption and production surveys conducted following intervention activities will quantitatively evaluate effects of each intervention approach on nutritional status and improved production and income generation related to AIVs.