Leafy, green vegetables have been part of the African diet for a long time, usually eaten with starchy staple foods. Recently, urbanisation and changing taste preferences have meant that indigenous leafy vegetables are being replaced by introduced species of the brassica variety, such as cabbage and kale. Agricultural scientists and customers are rejecting traditional vegetables, which are nutritionally rich and have the potential to contribute to health improvements, crop diversity and poverty-reduction programmes across West Africa.

Research in Cameroon by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), analysed production systems, marketing activities and demand patterns for traditional, leafy vegetables (TLVs) in and around the capital, Yaoundé. The IITA argues for further research and development to improve productivity and ensure that these endangered genetic resources are conserved in the food systems of West and Central Africa.

While introduced brassica plants dominate the vegetable markets of Nairobi, Accra and Harare, traditional vegetables remain more important for household diets and income generation in Yaoundé. TLVs are among the most commonly found vegetables in the poorest households. Over 32,000 households are involved in their production and marketing. Most producers are women, who grow a variety of TLVs. There is limited access to refrigerators at wholesale, retail and consumer levels. Also, many vegetables do not stay fresh for long. This leads to a very large number of women selling TLVs at a wide range of outlets.

IITA researchers found that:

• TLVs make an important contribution to the supply of protein, minerals and vitamins. Iron and vitamin C are of particular significance, because of the high number of cases of anaemia caused by malaria.
• TLVs contain more nutrients than the other ingredients in sauces which accompany starchy staples: a small change in urban food patterns towards eating more TLVs would significantly improve micronutrient supplies to the poor.
• The decline in supply during the dry season is a food security concern for the very poor.
• Dry season production is limited mainly by the availability and cost of irrigation – almost all of the production depends on human input.

While introduced vegetables have been selected and improved by breeders to make them more pleasant to eat, most TLVs have not benefited from this research. High levels of oxalic acid, nitrate and alkaloids in TLVs can cause urban consumers to choose alternative vegetables. Oxalic acid increases the risk of kidney stones.

Cameroonian authorities are being urged to make inland valley swamps (currently under-used and with large mosquito populations) into small market gardens to rent to TLV producers. Providing funds to buy irrigation pumps would increase production during the dry season and reduce costs.

Recommendations that will be important for the whole region are:

• making sure that efforts to promote the sale and use of TLVs consider the fact that many city residents are first generation rural migrants who still prefer these traditional foods
• addressing consumer preferences for low levels of oxalic acid and alkaloids by investing in breeding research
• funding research on soil fertility practices to reduce the nitrate content of fresh leaf vegetables
• targeting TLV promotion campaigns at the poorest.

TLVs are easy to grow and require little land. They are already being eaten by both the rich and the poor in Cameroon. Further research, development and promotion are required to encourage the growth and consumption of these across a wider area.

Source(s):
‘African traditional leafy vegetables and the urban and peri-urban poor’, Food Policy, 28, pp 221-235, by James Gockowski, Julie Mbazo’o, Glory Mbah and Terese Fouda Moulende 2003
‘African Traditional Leafy Vegetables and the Urban and Peri-Urban Poor’, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, by James Gockowski, Julie Mbazo’o, Glory Mbah and Terese Fouda Moulende, 2003 Full document.

Funded by: UK Department for International Development, Rockerfeller Foundation

id21 Research Highlight: 1 February 2005

Further Information:
James Gockowski and Julie Mbazo’o
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
c/o Lambourn (UK) Limited
Carolyn House
26 Dingwall Road
Croydon CR9 3EE
UK
www.iita.org

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Contact the contributor: j.gockowski@cgiar.org

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, UK

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