[EBOOK] GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR AFRICAN INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES, DR. SHIVAJI PANDEY, PLANT PRODUCTTION AND PROTECTION DIVISION

PREFACE

Over the next foiư decades, world population is projected to grow by almost one-third, to more than 9 billion people, of which almost 70 percent will be living in urban areas by 2050 To feed the growing population, fanners in the developing world must intensify and diversify food production, a challenge made even more daunting by the combined effects of climate change and growing competition for land, water and energy. The intensification of production systems and their diversification to vegetable crops, especially indigenous vegetable species, could make a significant contribiưion to meeting increased demand for food.

Indigenous vegetables are important to food secmity. nutrition and income in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa. However, owing to the lack of resources allocated for the development of the vegetable subsector, they have not received the attention they deserve. Until receiưly. research and development efforts have focused mainly on improving production systems for exotic vegetables, and have paid little attention to more diverse and abundant indigenous species and varieties, and the ways in which they are used.

The pmpose of tills publication is to assemble and disseminate existing knowledge on sustainable production and utilization of African indigenous vegetables. While It does not pretend to cover every' species of African indigenous vegetable that coiuributes to food and nutrition security, it preseiưs good agricultural practices and information on the utilization of those species tliat arc most popular in the region.

The Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO is committed to supporting initiatives and promoting synergies among organizations that promote the production and consumption of African vegetables species for improved livelihoods, health and incomes of vulnerable groups and local population in sub-Saharan Africa.

This publication is intended to inform policy and decision-making at national and regional levels. It will interest a wide range of readers including development organizations. NGOs as well as researchers and professionals in agriculture.
Shivaji Pandey Dưector

Plant Production and Protection Division KAO. Rome. Italy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

T1ŨS publication was piepared jointly by FAO and the International Society for Horticultural Science. Thanks are extended to NeBarnbi Lutaladio. Alison Hodder. Rémi Kalrane and Wilfiied Baudoin of the FAO Crop Production and Protection Division, who provided encouragement and technical review, and to Luigi Castaldi. who prepared the typescript

STATEMENT

The opinions expressed in this book are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of their respective organizations.

CAUTION:

ISSN 1813-9205

ISBN 978 90 6605 694 7, Scripta Horticultural’ Number 15

Published by ISHS, November 2012

Executive Dứector of ISHS: Ir. J. Van Assche

ISHS Secretariat, PO Box 500, 3001 Leuven 1. Belgium

Printed by Drukkerij Geers. Eeckhoutdriesstraat 67. 9041 Gent-Oostakka . Belgium

°2012 by the Internationa. Society for Horticultural Science (1SHS). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced and/or published in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilm and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers.

Cover Photos (courtesy of R. Nono-Womdim)
A. Amaranthus harvest ready for sales''peri-urban vegetable production in Kinshasa. Democratic Republic of Congo.

B. Fruits of different okra varieties found in west Africa, c. African eggplant (Solatium aethiopicum).

[EBOOK] GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAP) FOR AFRICAN INDIGENOUS VEGETABLES, DR. SHIVAJI PANDEY, PLANT PRODUCTTION AND PROTECTION DIVISION