Uganda - The Contribution Of Indigenous Vegetables to Household Food Security

Rubaihayo, E.B.

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE;    FOOD SECURITY;    NATURAL PRODUCTS;    VEGETABLE CROPS;    VEGETABLE GARDENING;   

RP-ID  :  24775

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The note aims to prompt policy makers,and development managers to reassess, and give more weightto neglected production, and consumption of traditionalvegetables, so as to enhance nutrition, income generation,and food security for small scale households. Though theviews expressed herewith are the results of interviews inseveral African countries, it focuses mainly on the Ugandasituation. The contribution of indigenous vegetables tohousehold food security, namely, kitchen gardens common inurban centers, or home gardens found in villages, ischaracterized by intercropping systems, a food productionstrategy which has been overlooked by both policy makers,and extension specialists. The importance of traditionalvegetables, such as cowpeas, cabbage, amaranthus, andsolanum aethiopicum, is emphasized, to provide and meet thedaily requirements of vitamins, minerals, and proteins.However, there is reduced effectiveness in ensuring foodsecurity all year round, due to the fact that very fewtraditional vegetables are cultivated, and in Uganda, ruralwomen have limited access to resources. Thus, the notestipulates that extensive education on the importance ofbalanced food nutrition -as well as direct or indirectsource of income if home grown - particularly for theresource-poor families, must be undertaken by African governments.