Indigenous vegetables have long been regarded as ‘minor crops’ and excluded from research attention, in favour of major food and cash crops. This overview of the most common indigenous vegetables in Africa argues that channeling some ‘R and D’ in their direction could have a significant impact on both food security and health among the continent’s poorest. Indigenous vegetables tend to have short production cycles, require intensive labour but few purchased inputs, and produce high yields with strong nutritional value. They can therefore support rural, peri-urban and urban populations both in terms of subsistence and income-generation, without requiring large capital investments. In some areas they are also becoming popular with commercial growers.

An overview is given of 126 African vegetables, but only the 25 most commonly cultivated crops are covered in detail. The genera are: Amaranthus, Celosia, Cleome, Bidens, Crassocephalum, Solanecio, Struchium, Launea, Vernonia, Brassica, Eruca, Lepidium, Rorippa, Citrullus, Coccinia, Cucumeropsis, Cucumis, Kedrostis, Lagenaria, Momordica, Telfairia, Gnetum, Plectranthus, Solenostemon, Crotalaria, Cyamopsis, Lablab, Psophocarpus, Senna, Sphenostylis, Tylosema, Abelmoschus, Hibiscus, Sesamum, Ceratotheca, Portulaca, Talinum, Solanum, Corchorus, Triumfetta, Asystasia, Cyphia, and Ensete. Subjects include: agronomy, varieties, pests and diseases, related species, botanical aspects, pollination and breeding, distribution, food and nutrition, other uses, marketing and post-harvest treatments. Other subjects are: the socio-economic importance of indigenous vegetables; crop development and promotion; and, main constraints facing farmers wishing to grow African vegetables.

The book can be obtained by writing to NRI Catalogue Services, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK and quoting CRG7. The CD can be obtained from NR International, Park House, Bradford Lane, Aylesford Kent ME20 6SN, UK.

This summary was provided by Research for Development

A new regional project will help three Pacific island countries, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, cope with the effects of climate change.

The Euro 4.2 million project is being funded by GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) and will be based at SPC’s (Secretariat of the Pacific Community) Land Resources Division in Suva. For some time now, SPC has been systematically integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into its policy, technical and advisory services. Read the rest of this entry »

AWARD – investing in Africa’s future by increasing the talent pool of African women in research and development.

A two-year fellowship for fast-tracking the careers of African women scientists and professionals is at the heart of AWARD. Fellows chosen from across sub-Saharan Africa receive opportunities to strengthen their leadership and science capacities, and are paired with senior scientists in their fields who serve as their mentors.

AWARD grew from a highly successful pilot fellowship program conducted by G&D in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture.

AWARD is now accepting applications for the 2009 Fellowships.

Available to women agricultural scientists from: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

The CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program warmly invites applications from qualified African agricultural women scientists for this innovative and exciting fellowship program.

AWARD offers specially tailored two-year career development fellowships, available at three levels: post-Bachelors, post- Masters and post-doctorate.

African women from qualifying countries and conducting research in the following disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply:

Crop sciences (including horticulture), soil sciences, animal and livestock sciences, plant and animal virology, agroforestry, agricultural economics, aquatic resources and fisheries, food sciences and nutrition, natural resource management and ecology, biodiversity conservation, entomology, agricultural extension education, molecular biology (applied to plant/animal breeding), and water and irrigation management.

The deadline for all applications: Monday March 30, 2009

Web: www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org/resource/award.asp

The Global Agricultural Development Project aims to stimulate and inform the policy discussion around America’s role in alleviating poverty through global agricultural development. The project also seeks to identify opportunities for the United States to work with governments and other institutions to increase productivity, market access, and incomes of rural smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

www.thechicagocouncil.org/globalagdevelopment/

Mouthwatering dishes made from nourishing underutilised plants.

The recipes will open on the “old” ICUC website.

• Peruvian Quinoa Stew June 2009
• Yacon Waldorf salad May 2009
• Blueberry and yoghurt soup April 2009
• Basil Shrimp and Okra March 2009
• Ivy Gourd in Thick Curry February 2009
• Wax apple (Jambu) Salsa January 2009
• Pomegranate Salsa December 2008
• Custard Apple Sorbet November 2008
• Mulberry Sorbet October 2008
• Moringa Oleifera Curry (Drumsticks or Murunga September 2008
• Ziziphus Jujube Cake (Ber) August 2008
• Frozen Mamey Sapote Mousse July 2008
• Mandazi (deep fried doughnut-like snacks) June 2008
• Spicy Pummelo Salad May 2008
• Kemelis in Mei (Breadfruit Balls) April 2008
• Tamarind Jam March 2008
• Lemongrass Skin Tonic February 2008
• Hibiscus Hair Tonic January 2008
• Hair Shampoo using Amla December 2007
• Clay Mask from Sea Buckthorn November 2007
• Dry Skin Moisturizing Cream October 2007
• Homemade Laurel Soap September 2007
• Aloe Moisturizing Hand Cream August 2007
• Savory Quinoa Cheese Cookies July 2007
• Saltbush and Ricotta Cannelloni June 2007
• Farro Soup May 2007
• Buckwheat Pretzels April 2007
• Mangosteen sorbet March 2007
• Afang soup February 2007
• Pumpkin cake January 2007
• Lemon grass tea December 2006
• Stuffed Balsam Pear (Bitter Gourd) November 2006
• Manioc leaves sauce October 2006
• Ketoun September 2006
• Mfumbwa (Gnetum africanum) August 2006
• Amaranth with spinach tomato mushroom sauce July 2006
• Amaranth spinach with mashed pumpkin June 2006
• Passion fruit cordial May 2006
• Wood apple jam April 2006
• Ngalakh with baobab juice March 2006
• Durian Ice Cream February 2006
• Jackfruit Curry January 2006
• Soursop Sorbet December 2005