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Farm crop diversity is often overlooked, predominantly indigenous crops' role in this diversity. The main concentration has been on the contribution or role of exotic crops to household crop diversification. At the same time, the role played by both types of crops in household food security has only been aggregated, failing to show how indigenous crops play a key role in household food security. This research paper uses Tanzanian Panel data from waves 4 and 5 to study the factors influencing indigenous and exotic crop diversification and the role of this diversity in household food security. Using a random effect model, the author found that various factors are crucial in determining household crop diversification. Gender, household size, marital status, and expected harvest quantity are among the key factors influencing indigenous crop diversification. On the other hand, age, education, access to markets, access to irrigation services, and soil quality are the primary factors that affect the diversification of exotic crops. Moreover, the findings show that indigenous and exotic crop diversity significantly influences household food consumption. Thus, policies to increase the production of indigenous crops in order to improve household food consumption should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are "opportunity crops" that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households. About 260 farming households were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. The food security status was measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The Chi-square test and extended ordered probit regression model assessed the relationship of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with household food security status. The results from the HFIAS showed that farming households were largely in the mildly and moderately food-insecure categories, with 34.2% and 36.2% of the sampled farmers found in these categories, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between food security status and socio-economic factors. Young men and everyone were perceived to be the ones likely to consume indigenous crops. Consumption of indigenous crops was perceived to be associated with food security. The results also showed that farming experience is likely to positively contribute to the food security status of the farming households. Selling indigenous crops in a formal market is perceived to be associated with food security compared to selling in an informal market. This study concludes that consuming indigenous crops is likely associated with improved food security. Identifying an appropriate market for sales of indigenous crops is imperative. Government, extension officers, and nutritionists must conduct training workshops to encourage households to grow, market and buy indigenous crops. Government and policymakers need to include indigenous crops in the national food and nutrition security policy and create formal markets for indigenous crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary White fonio (Digitaria exilis [Kippist] Stapf) is an understudied millet crop, indigenous to West Africa and cultivated in the region largely through traditional practices. This species is climate‐resilient, fast‐growing, nutritionally rich, and provides livelihoods and food security to rural communities. Through collaboration with smallholder farmers in the Fouta Djallon region, Guinea, this study investigates how the diversity and selection of fonio landraces has changed in living memory. This research provides insight into how climatic and socio‐cultural changes affect the cultivation of fonio varieties and other indigenous crops, and why they should be conserved and further involved in rural development programmes. The millet crop white fonio (D. exilis) isa staple crop feeding thousands of people across West Africa. The Fouta Djallon highlands region of Guinea is a hotspot for its cultivation, with known high genetic diversity. Our study utilises data from ethnobotanic interviews and plant specimen and seed collections, working with farmers from 15 communities in this region with the aim to investigate the diversity of landraces and popularity of fonio within the current agricultural systems, in the present, and changes over the past 50 years. A total of 24 named varieties of fonio were recorded and described, along with other commonly cultivated food crops. This includes two lost varieties now no longer cultivated. We also describe the methods for cultivation, grain processing and food preparation. The priority and popularity of cultivated fonio landraces, and other crops, has changed, due to the consequences of social and environmental change in living memory. The diversity of fonio landraces are maintained as an adaptation to historical climatic changes, and there is an increasing preference towards varieties with a longer growing period and more reliable high yield to the detriment of early season varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The dominance of a few staple crops (maize, rice, and wheat) in most agricultural systems hampers the application of interventions to improve food security and nutrition. Research and development attention has focused on improving the production and utilization of these crops, leaving other crops under‐researched and underutilized. Subsequently, there have been high malnutrition rates due to poor diet diversity, yet there are “opportunity crops” that remain under researched. The opportunity crops can unlock solutions to food insecurity, malnutrition, a lack of biodiversity, and indeed poor climate adaptation. The study explored diversification in agricultural systems to analyze whether reorientation of research investment to include under‐researched crops can increase nutrient gain and enhance dietary diversity. Research outputs benchmarked as the number of publications from three leading African universities, Nairobi, Pretoria, and Ghana, were related to crop diversity and nutrition of crops in five clusters: cereals, vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers, and nuts. The findings show that maize was the predominantly researched crop across the three institutions. Low research outputs were observed for pearl millet, finger millet, and yam across the three institutions: amaranth and nightshade (Pretoria), sweet potatoes (Pretoria and Ghana), Marama bean (Nairobi), and soya bean (Nairobi and Ghana). There was nutrient gain across all five clusters, particularly from under‐researched indigenous crops such as finger millet, amaranth, nightshade, yam, sweet potatoes, Marama bean, and soybean. Nutrient gain was contributed more by cereals and root and tuber crops from Pretoria, vegetables and nuts (Ghana), as well as legumes (Nairobi). The findings demonstrate that incorporating research on the least researched crops with successful integration of other research and development initiatives (policy and dissemination) can increase nutrition and improve dietary diversity. The nutrient gain will positively affect food security and nutrition, contributing to the achievement of Africa Agenda 2063, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing food imports. The findings can inform research investment and decision across different institutions within the African continent. Research investment targeting crops such as finger millet, amaranthus, sweet potatoes, soya beans, and cashew nuts is needed considering the nutritional contribution, climate change adaptability, market potential, and biodiversity contribution. Further analysis should explore production, socio‐economic (marketability and income generation), and environmental gains (adaptive ability to climate change) for specific crops. The development of frameworks to guide the analysis of the nature and scope of factors affecting the contribution of these crops to food security and nutrition, as well as research on specific crops considering geographic distribution and institutional involvement, is also needed.

Societal Impact Statement The global success and expansion of a small pool of major crops, including rice, wheat and maize, risks homogenising global agriculture. Focusing on the agriculturally diverse Ethiopian Highlands, this study tested whether farm diversity tends to be lower among farmers who grow more introduced crops. Surprisingly, it was found that farmers have successfully integrated introduced crops, resulting in more diverse and heterogenous farms without negatively impacting indigenous crop diversity. This is encouraging because diverse farms, comprising indigenous agricultural systems supplemented by introduced crops, may help address global challenges such as food insecurity. Summary The global expansion of a handful of major crops risks eroding indigenous crop diversity and homogenising agroecosystems, with significant consequences for sustainable and resilient food systems. Here, we investigate the farm‐scale impact of introduced crops on indigenous agroecosystems. We surveyed 1369 subsistence farms stratified across climate gradients in the Ethiopian Highlands, a hotspot of agrobiodiversity, to characterise the richness and cultivated area of the 83 edible crops they contained. We further categorise these crops as being indigenous to Ethiopia, or introduced across three different eras. We apply non‐metric multidimensional scaling and mixed effects modelling to characterise agroecosystem composition across farms with different proportions of introduced crops. Crops from different periods do not differ significantly in frequency or abundance across farms. Among geographically matched pairs of farms, those with higher proportions of modern introduced crops had significantly higher overall crop richness. Furthermore, farms with a high proportion of modern introduced crops showed higher heterogeneity in crop composition. An analysis of socio‐economic drivers indicated that poverty is negatively associated with the cultivated area of introduced crops. In our Ethiopian case study, global patterns of major crop expansion are not necessarily associated with agrobiodiversity loss at the farm scale or higher homogeneity across indigenous agricultural systems. Importantly, socioeconomic factors may influence farmers' propensity to adopt novel species, suggesting targets for agricultural extension policies. Given the rapid climatic, economic and demographic changes impacting global food systems and the threats to food security these entail, robust indigenous agricultural systems enriched with diverse introduced crops may help maintain resilience.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is an underutilized Pacific tree crop that has been highlighted as having substantial potential to contribute to global food security and climate-smart agriculture, including adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. To explore the carbon sequestration potential of breadfruit production, we characterize tree volume, wood density, carbon density, foliar biomass, and growth rates of breadfruit in Hawai'i. Strong relationships to trunk or branch diameter were displayed for wood density (r2 0.81), carbon density (r2 0.87), and foliar biomass (r2 0.91), which were combined to generate an allometric prediction of tree volume (r2 0.98) based on tree diameter at breast height. Growth rates, as measured by diameter at breast height, were well predicted over time when trees were classified by habitat suitability. We extrapolate potential breadfruit growth and carbon sequestration in above-ground biomass to the landscape scale over time. This study shows that breadfruit is on the low end of broadleaf tropical trees in moist and wet environments, but in an orchard can be expected to sequester ~69.1 tons of carbon per hectare in its above-ground biomass over a 20-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The global success and expansion of a small pool of major crops, including rice, wheat and maize, risks homogenising global agriculture. Focusing on the agriculturally diverse Ethiopian Highlands, this study tested whether farm diversity tends to be lower among farmers who grow more introduced crops. Surprisingly, it was found that farmers have successfully integrated introduced crops, resulting in more diverse and heterogenous farms without negatively impacting indigenous crop diversity. This is encouraging because diverse farms, comprising indigenous agricultural systems supplemented by introduced crops, may help address global challenges such as food insecurity. Summary: The global expansion of a handful of major crops risks eroding indigenous crop diversity and homogenising agroecosystems, with significant consequences for sustainable and resilient food systems. Here, we investigate the farm‐scale impact of introduced crops on indigenous agroecosystems.We surveyed 1369 subsistence farms stratified across climate gradients in the Ethiopian Highlands, a hotspot of agrobiodiversity, to characterise the richness and cultivated area of the 83 edible crops they contained. We further categorise these crops as being indigenous to Ethiopia, or introduced across three different eras. We apply non‐metric multidimensional scaling and mixed effects modelling to characterise agroecosystem composition across farms with different proportions of introduced crops.Crops from different periods do not differ significantly in frequency or abundance across farms. Among geographically matched pairs of farms, those with higher proportions of modern introduced crops had significantly higher overall crop richness. Furthermore, farms with a high proportion of modern introduced crops showed higher heterogeneity in crop composition. An analysis of socio‐economic drivers indicated that poverty is negatively associated with the cultivated area of introduced crops.In our Ethiopian case study, global patterns of major crop expansion are not necessarily associated with agrobiodiversity loss at the farm scale or higher homogeneity across indigenous agricultural systems. Importantly, socioeconomic factors may influence farmers' propensity to adopt novel species, suggesting targets for agricultural extension policies. Given the rapid climatic, economic and demographic changes impacting global food systems and the threats to food security these entail, robust indigenous agricultural systems enriched with diverse introduced crops may help maintain resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households. About 260 farming households were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. The food security status was measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The Chi-square test and extended ordered probit regression model assessed the relationship of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with household food security status. The results from the HFIAS showed that farming households were largely in the mildly and moderately food-insecure categories, with 34.2% and 36.2% of the sampled farmers found in these categories, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between food security status and socio-economic factors. Young men and everyone were perceived to be the ones likely to consume indigenous crops. Consumption of indigenous crops was perceived to be associated with food security. The results also showed that farming experience is likely to positively contribute to the food security status of the farming households. Selling indigenous crops in a formal market is perceived to be associated with food security compared to selling in an informal market. This study concludes that consuming indigenous crops is likely associated with improved food security. Identifying an appropriate market for sales of indigenous crops is imperative. Government, extension officers, and nutritionists must conduct training workshops to encourage households to grow, market and buy indigenous crops. Government and policymakers need to include indigenous crops in the national food and nutrition security policy and create formal markets for indigenous crops.

Poor complementary feeding is a common practice in developing regions, including South Africa (SA), and is one of the main contributing factors to childhood malnutrition. This paper reviews the literature on complementary feeding practices in SA and the potential of fortifying home-prepared complementary foods with Moringa oleifera to improve their nutritional composition. Studies that investigated complementary feeding practices, indigenous crops, nutritional benefits of Moringa oleifera, and the use of MOLP as a fortificant both locally and globally were included in this review. In SA, maize meal and commercial cereal are the most commonly used complementary infant foods. The diet consumed by children from vulnerable households commonly has insufficient nutrients. Foods consumed are generally high in starch and low in other essential nutrients, including good-quality protein. Impoverished individuals consume poor-quality foods as they are unable to afford a diversified diet with food from different food groups, such as protein, fruits, and vegetables. In SA, various programs have been implemented to reduce the incidence of childhood malnutrition. However, childhood malnutrition remains on the rise. This shows a need for complementary food-based strategies that can be implemented and sustained at a household level. This can be conducted through the use of accessible indigenous crops such as Moringa oleifera. Moringa oleifera contains essential nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, it could possibly be used as a home-prepared complementary food fortificant to enhance nutritional composition. Before complementary foods can be fortified with Moringa oleifera, popular home-prepared complementary foods must be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses challenges that negatively affect smallholder farmers’ contribution to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, countries from this region have the responsibility to reduce green gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate in the agricultural sector through such measures as climate-smart agriculture (CSA). This systematic review provides an overview of the CSA adoption challenges faced by smallholder farmers towards ensuring food security as well as recommendations to upscale CSA practices uptake. The review focuses on smallholder farmers of sub-Saharan Africa. Data collection for formal systematic reviews followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. Information was gathered from peer-reviewed articles with no limit to the year of publication. A total of 58 papers from the Web of Science and Scopus databases were included in the analysis. Results reveal that more research efforts need to be exerted towards the very vulnerable Southern Africa. The adoption of innovative agricultural practices should focus on rainwater harvesting and mulching while other CSA practices such as crop diversification and crop rotation show a high number of practices. However, major challenges facing smallholder farmers are financial availability, access to information and farm size. These hinder stallholder farmers’ ability to contribute to food security. As such, authors have recommended policy intervention, knowledge dissemination and capacity building as possible measures to get smallholder farmers on the right path to sustainable food production and CSA practices uptake.

Indigenous crops, commonly known as orphan, forgotten, or neglected crops, are understudied, but have important roles in the diet and economy of the communities that cultivate them. Here, we review potential benefits of Indigenous crop research and highlight the importance of an anticolonial framework to prevent exploitation of these unique resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market participation by smallholder indigenous crop farmers holds significant potential for the alleviation of food insecurity and poverty amongst rural households. Smallholder farmers generally play a vital role in the production and marketing of indigenous crops in South Africa. However, smallholder farmers continue to remain among the food-insecure populations. This is more worrisome for indigenous crop farming households whose produce is far more limited in the market yet may contribute towards improving their food security status and livelihoods. This study analysed the impact of market participation of indigenous crops on the household food security of smallholder farmers in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. A sample size of 209 indigenous crop producers were selected from a population of 1520 smallholder farmers. The study adopted a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. The data were collected using both qualitative and quantitative research and were analysed using descriptive analysis, Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and the Poisson regression model with the endogenous treatment model. The household size, marital status, household members living with HIV, and access to extension services were found to be positive and significant in determining household food security, whereas the disability of a household member was significant but negative. While the number of smallholder farmers involved in the production of indigenous crops is still limited, enhanced marketing of indigenous crops may improve the food security status of smallholder farmers. There is still a need for the government to channel its interventions towards the indigenous crop production sector, and this may include the provision of trained extension officers to assist smallholder farmers. Policymakers need to develop policies that support the production and marketing of indigenous crops. More awareness and promotion of indigenous crops are needed to encourage more smallholder farmers to adopt this farming practice. Further study of smallholder indigenous farmers across nine provinces of South Africa should be conducted to obtain deeper and broader insights into the role of these farmers on household food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child malnutrition is a major health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. Complementary foods made from African indigenous and locally available raw materials are often low in protein and nutrients. It is, therefore, important to supply complementary foods that are nutritious and affordable, and with an acceptable consistency and taste. The objective of this study was to develop, on a pilot scale, food-to-food fortified, convenient, canned complementary porridges based on blends of African indigenous crops, i.e., orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flour, and leguminous (i.e., cowpea, and Bambara groundnut) and cereal flours (i.e., teff, finger millet, maize, and amaranth), and milk powder. Plant-based, African complementary foods are often lacking in vitamin A, zinc, iron, and energy. Porridge with OFSP on a 32% dry weight (dw) basis achieved recommended levels of vitamin A (530 µg per 100 g dw). Satisfactory energy (431 Kcal per 100 g dw) was obtained by supplementation of vegetable oil. A nutritious, low-cost porridge (costing 0.15 € per 100 g can) that fulfills consistency constraints was obtained by including supplements of zinc and iron salts as ingredients. The solids content and thus protein/energy could be significantly increased using protein fractionated or germinated cowpea flours without compromising on viscosity. The sensory profile was characterised by more intense vegetable, leguminous, and malty flavours as compared to traditional reference porridges., (© 2024 The Author(s). Maternal & Child Nutrition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Poor complementary feeding is a common practice in developing regions, including South Africa (SA), and is one of the main contributing factors to childhood malnutrition. This paper reviews the literature on complementary feeding practices in SA and the potential of fortifying home-prepared complementary foods with Moringa oleifera to improve their nutritional composition. Studies that investigated complementary feeding practices, indigenous crops, nutritional benefits of Moringa oleifera, and the use of MOLP as a fortificant both locally and globally were included in this review. In SA, maize meal and commercial cereal are the most commonly used complementary infant foods. The diet consumed by children from vulnerable households commonly has insufficient nutrients. Foods consumed are generally high in starch and low in other essential nutrients, including good-quality protein. Impoverished individuals consume poor-quality foods as they are unable to afford a diversified diet with food from different food groups, such as protein, fruits, and vegetables. In SA, various programs have been implemented to reduce the incidence of childhood malnutrition. However, childhood malnutrition remains on the rise. This shows a need for complementary food-based strategies that can be implemented and sustained at a household level. This can be conducted through the use of accessible indigenous crops such as Moringa oleifera. Moringa oleifera contains essential nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, it could possibly be used as a home-prepared complementary food fortificant to enhance nutritional composition. Before complementary foods can be fortified with Moringa oleifera, popular home-prepared complementary foods must be identified.

Smallholder farmers encounter countless challenges that not only restrict them from maximizing market opportunities but also limit their access to the markets. This paper aims to achieve a thorough understanding of the factors that influence the market participation of indigenous crops by smallholder farmers while also analyzing the extent of market participation in South Africa. An analyzable sample size of 1,520 was used for the study. Household commercialization index (HCI), T-test, description analysis, and a double hurdle model with quasi-maximum likelihood fractional response model were employed to analyze the commercialization and extent of commercialization among indigenous crops by smallholder farmers in South Africa. The study demonstrated that a farmer's decision to participate in the market is highly dependent on gender, off-farm income, access to market information, and a family member being infected by HIV. Factors such as household size and access to the market had statistical significance in the extent of market participation by smallholder farmers. While we recommend the need to intensify appropriate training for farmers and extension workers involved in the area of indigenous crops, it is also important that indigenous crops are given the necessary considerations by the government and research institutions so that their demand in the market could increase. There is a need to develop a clear support plan for the few farmers that have decided to be involved in the farming of indigenous crops even though they are not highly marketable. On the other hand, there is also a need for consumer awareness campaigns in South Africa, on the income and nutritional benefits of indigenous crops.

Minni Payaru [Vigna stipulacea (Lam.) Kuntz] is an underutilized traditional legume species mainly used for food, animal fodder and green manure, particularly in Southern India. In the era of global climate change, this indigenous crop has the ability to survive under harsh environment and also has resistance against various biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on acquired knowledge about this crop, farmers prefer Minni Payaru compared to other commercial kharif pulses. Though Minni Payaru has huge potential to be used as main legume crop, it has not gained popularity in India. Currently, the cultivation of Minni Payaru is restricted to the Southern regions of India. The present review summarises the budding role of Minni Payaru in human nutrition, animal fodder and green manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households. About 260 farming households were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. The food security status was measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The Chi-square test and extended ordered probit regression model assessed the relationship of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with household food security status. The results from the HFIAS showed that farming households were largely in the mildly and moderately food-insecure categories, with 34.2% and 36.2% of the sampled farmers found in these categories, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between food security status and socio-economic factors. Young men and everyone were perceived to be the ones likely to consume indigenous crops. Consumption of indigenous crops was perceived to be associated with food security. The results also showed that farming experience is likely to positively contribute to the food security status of the farming households. Selling indigenous crops in a formal market is perceived to be associated with food security compared to selling in an informal market. This study concludes that consuming indigenous crops is likely associated with improved food security. Identifying an appropriate market for sales of indigenous crops is imperative. Government, extension officers, and nutritionists must conduct training workshops to encourage households to grow, market and buy indigenous crops. Government and policymakers need to include indigenous crops in the national food and nutrition security policy and create formal markets for indigenous crops., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Sago palm is an important indigenous crop grown in Southeast Asia. Its main product, sago starch, has the potential to be an alternative source of starch when compared to traditional starch derived from maize, sweet potato, cassava etc. Despite its potential, sago has remained as wild forest trees in swampy areas and unutilised for decades. Recently, Malaysia and Indonesia have shown interest in establishing estate plantations of sago palms. Although such a development may be welcomed, it is advisable to exercise caution during expansion of sago plantations. It is highly likely that unplanned expansions may result in large scale clearing of the tropical and peatland forests that are densely concentrated. In this respect, the vulnerability of these sensitive ecosystems during sago plantation expansions must be carefully accounted for. Therefore, in order to ensure planned and minimal sago plantation expansion, decision support tools that help to strategies land use changes (LUC) is crucial. Thus, this work presents a mathematical optimisation model of the type mixed integer linear programming (MILP) to plan for sago plantation expansions. The proposed model determines whether land expansion would be required when demands increase, accounting for the cost involved in expansion. A simple sago value chain has been solved to illustrate the proposed model. The results show that the optimised results avoided 4.3 % - 9.3 % of possible land area under expansion; 2.96 - 4.05 times of CO2 emission and 120.16 % - 189.14 % of cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Functional properties of cereal-legume based composite flours were investigated. • Protein and fat content in sample substituted with rice flour were improved. • Minerals absorption was not affected by oxalate content in samples. • Aflatoxin level of sample substituted with wheat flour was higher than 4.0 µg/kg. • Composite flours can be recommended for the resource-poor in low-income countries. Abstract Cassava, rice, and banana flours were used individually to replace wheat flour in cereal-legume-based composite flours. The proximate composition, mineral content, antinutritional effect, mineral molar ratios, and aflatoxin level were investigated. Replacing wheat flour with rice flour significantly (P < 0.05) improved protein, fat, potassium, and phosphorus content in samples. The molar ratios of phytate or oxalate to minerals (calcium and zinc) in all composite flours were lower than the reported critical values, except phytate to iron. However, all samples, except full replacement by rice flour, might not provide adequate zinc bioavailability when the effect of calcium and phytate on zinc absorption was collectively considered. Although all composite flours were contaminated with aflatoxins, only the control composed of wheat flour did not meet the EU regulatory threshold (4.0 µg/kg) for total aflatoxins. The findings showed that nutritional properties and aflatoxin content of composite flours can be improved by replacement with local crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study, undertaken in the state of Kerala, India, documented 111 Indigenous Crop Production Practices (ICPPs; traditional practices) for banana and most of the practices were registered in the technology dimensions of seeds and seedlings (19%), manuring (19%), and planting in main field (15%). Of the 111 practices, 35 were selected for analysis of rationality, and for knowledge and adoption among farmers. Of the 35 practices, 27 (77%) were rated as rational and the scientific rationale/operational principles were elucidated in the study, revealing a strong scientific base for these practices. The knowledge of and the adoption of these traditional practices by farmers was found to be good. The effectiveness of the practices, as perceived by the farmers who had adopted them, were analysed for 21 practices, and it was found that majority (86%) of the traditional practices for banana production were effective. The study revealed that many indigenous practices for banana were both rational and effective. These practices require urgent attention in order to integrate them with modern technologies, which in turn would promote sustainable crop production and maintenance of ecosystem integrity. Abbreviation: ITK: indigenous technical knowledge [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core Ideas: Developing world maize producers desperately need better planting methods.OSU hand planter delivers safety, convenience, and increased maize yields for producers managing highly marginal landscapes.Same area of maize planted in the USA (30 million ha) is planted in the developing world on highly marginal slopes. Maize (Zea mays L.) production in the developing world takes place on marginal landscapes using indigenous planting methods that conflict with modern hybrids, and the chemically treated seeds being used. In 1987, a mechanical planter was imagined that could replace indigenous planting methods used in many developing countries where maize is produced on marginal landscapes. Over two decades, controlled variables were evaluated with the aim of delivering an improved planter capable of singulating maize seed with each planter strike, and that would ensure uniform plant stands. This hand planter, presently termed GreenSeeder was further designed to deliver mid‐season fertilizer N via the use of an alternative internal drum. To secure singulation for each planter strike, many seed sizes, planter weights, brush strengths, drum cavity sizes, and operators were evaluated. Results showed that when seed size was large (<3000 seeds kg−1) and the 260‐20 internal drum was employed, the ability to singulate with no misses was high. When the 450S internal drum was used, seed sizes that were smaller (>3500 seeds kg−1) had higher singulation and lower misses. An efficiency index encumbering these parameters was developed that was highly correlated with final grain yield. In‐country design and manufacturing should account for ranges in seed size that work with the present design, drum cavity depth, and angle. Because this planter can easily accommodate mid‐season fertilizer N application, adoption of this device should deliver increased grain yields and fertilizer N use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a profusion of indigenous fruits occur in South Africa, knowledge of their uses lies mainly with the local people. This study was aimed at filling the void in scientific literature by investigating the nutritional value and characteristics of a lesser known wild fruit, the Kei apple ( Dovyalis caffra ). The colour was assessed, in addition to the chemical characteristics (total soluble phenolics, protein, volatiles, antioxidants) of the fruits. The results indicate that the fruit is a rich source of amino acids with good antioxidant properties. Although, the protein content was found to be lower than those of commercial fruits, it was similar to values reported for the wild plum. Chemometric analysis of chromatographic data on secondary metabolites produced by the fruit was used to determine if the collection of Kei apple trees established at the Agricultural Research Council's experimental farm in Mbombela is representative of the wild population of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The critical role of indigenous crops in the socioeconomic growth of developing nations has necessitated calls for accelerated exploitation of staples. Cocoyam, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, is food for over 400 million people worldwide and is the most consumed aroid in West Africa. However, it remains an underexploited food resource. This study reviews existing literature and also makes use of primary data from interviews with indigenous cocoyam farmers, processors, consumers, and cocoyam scientists in the research Institutes of Ghana, to provide insight into existing nomenclature of the species, indigenous knowledge on food uses, nutritional value, and potential novel food applications of cocoyam. Adaptable technologies in conformity to new trends in food science that could be employed for in‐depth molecular studies and further exploitation of the crop are also discussed. It is envisaged that the provided information would contribute to global efforts aimed at exploiting the full potential of indigenous crops for sustainable food and nutrition security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As in many areas of the developing world, intensification of agriculture in Tonga, and other Pacific Islands, has put increased pressure on the soil resource. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of mulch on the growth and yield of two important food and fibre crops. The first was conducted on sloping land to evaluate the effect of guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) mulch and hedgerows on taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] yield, and in controlling soil erosion. The second compared the response of paper mulberry [Broussonetia papyrifera (L) Ventenot] to different management regimes of a grass fallow. Thick vegetative mulch increased taro corm yield by 81% and reduced soil loss by 50% compared to local farmer practice, and the soil loss from taro with mulch was comparable to the perennial cash hedgerow treatment. Mulch increased paper mulberry bark yield by 30% compared to the non‐mulch control. Comparative economic analysis showed that increased net profit in the mulched treatments compared to the non‐mulched control was T$2660/ha for taro and T$12 108/ha for paper mulberry. Considering that mulch is readily available to many farmers throughout the Pacific Islands and elsewhere in the tropics, it is recommended as a sustainable practice for crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food sovereignty has become a powerful concept to critique the dominant global food regime. Although it has not taken root in South Africa as fiercely as elsewhere, we use this concept to explore how one small-scale farmer seeks to wean herself from the dominant food system in the small town of Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal. Using ethnographic methods and in-depth interviews about this single intense and extreme case, we explore this farmer's commitment and argue that it constitutes what we call the 'lived experience of food sovereignty'. If food sovereignty is concerned with small-farmer control over decisions about food cultivation, distribution and consumption, we examine this farmer's praxis and explore the obstacles she faces. These include gendered and racialized agrarian questions, land struggles, social reproduction and perceptions of her indigenous crops. We also examine the networks, knowledge, systems and methods that have allowed her to cultivate her self-reliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New crops have played a significant role in the economic growth of countries around the world. Developing reliable information and knowledge of new crops is essential. Here we focus on one of 13 potential native food crops Indigenous to Australia, Kunzea pomifera L. (muntries, muntrie berries, family Myrtaceae). K. pomifera fruit is naturally sweet, palatable to “western” palates, has high levels of antioxidant compounds and has obtained high consumers’ acceptance in a range of products. However, as this is a new crop, there is limited information about the horticultural production of K. pomifera . This study was conducted to develop methods and determine benchmark values for several fundamental fruit characteristics (size, total soluble solids, moisture content and total phenolic content), using a clonally propagated selection, “Rivoli Bay”. Additionally, nutrient levels were determined and compared with three other Myrtaceae species K. ericoides, Chamelaucium spp . and Leptospermum lanigerum . Potassium and phosphorus levels in leaves sampled in 2015 were lower than in leaves sampled in November 2004 and January 2005 and the Myrtaceae species. Inadequate nutrition for these two key macronutrients may contribute to high variabilities of fruit size/100-berry weight and total phenolic content. The present study provides a critical reference point for the muntries industry regarding fruit characteristics (fruit size, total soluble solids, moisture content and total phenolic content) and macronutrients (potassium and phosphorus). The study highlights that optimal nutrition should be monitored as an integral part of new crop development to maximise potential at every step in the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Indigenous giant banana relative enset unique traits add agrifood system resilience. • Novel mature enset area measure improves three food security indicator models' fit. • Perineal enset's overlapping generations a 'moving average' food insecurity metric. • Mature enset area indicates both buffering and adaptive contributions to stability. • Indigenous agrifood systems' living assets and green storage require more study. Enset-based food systems are unique to southern Ethiopia where they serve as a staple food for millions of households. Enset, a banana relative of which the entire pseudostem and corm are edible, possesses a highly unusual combination of crop traits including perenniality, highly flexible planting and harvest times, and tolerance of a very wide range of environmental conditions, which together earn it the local name of "the tree against hunger." Previous studies have identified the strategic food security value of mature enset stands for household food security, but a multisector panel data set makes identifying wider enset food security associations tractable for the first time. We assess whether household data on area of mature enset is associated with four indicators of food security together with demographic, asset, and consumption covariates. We find that area of mature enset significantly improves estimates for three of four food security indicators, thus improving our understanding of the role of understudied indigenous crops. Consistent and reliable food security indicators are needed to improve monitoring, particularly with regard to stability. Variance components of multilevel longitudinal models indicate that exposure to both idiosyncratic and covariate disturbance affects food security stability in a way that is consistent with reports of enset acting as both a food security buffer and an active adaptation strategy in the face of shocks or change. Here we show that living assets comprising culturally relevant indigenous crops such as enset can improve accuracy of food insecurity assessments, which may encourage wider investigation of other agrifood system-specific asset-like natural stores of value associated with food security and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical region representing 36 % of the Earth's surface and 20 % of its land mass is characterized by warm to hot and moist climate with lush green vegetation. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India harbour over 2650 species of flowering plants, of which 223 species are endemic and 1300 do not occur in the mainland India. Horticultural crops occupy about 70 % of the total cropped area in the islands. Plantation crops (63 %) are dominant component, while vegetables, fruits and tuber crops are known to contribute in livelihood and nutrition of native tribes and settler population. Continuous introductions of non-native crops and domestication of wild plants expended the list of horticultural crops since the Penal Settlement Process in nineteenth century. Presently, about 150 species of vegetables, 120 of fruits, 132 of orchids, 120 of ferns and 300 of medicinal plants have been reported from the islands. By utilizing the diversity in potential species, 18 improved varieties have been developed in various crops apart from identification of 20 breeding lines, registration of seven unique germplasm and conservation of about 187 germplasm at National gene banks. However, overemphasis on commercial exotics, ignorance of native bioresources, introduction of pests, habitat degradation and changing climatic factors could lead to loss of potential horticultural germplasm. Present article highlights efforts made and challenges involved in the conservation and sustainable utilization of horticultural resources for development of the tropical archipelago in the era of changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding African indigenous crops with increased nutritional value has recently been strongly advocated as a sustainable rural-based strategy of partially meeting the nutritional requirements of a large proportion of Africa’s population. This approach requires information on the extent of genetic diversity among available genetic resources. Forty bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean(L) Verdc) landraces of African origin were evaluated for agronomic attributes, protein, and grain mineral contents in a replicated field experiment at a single location across 2 years at the experimental field of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) (the Ward’s method) were employed to study the variation pattern. Highly significant (P < 0.01) variation was detected among the landraces for all traits. Spearman’s rank correlation indicated relatively high G × E interactions for all traits except Fe, K, and protein content, suggesting that single year testing is not sufficient for such traits. The first two PCs, which accounted for 40.81% of the multitrait variation, had all the agronomic traits and Cu as the main contributors. Grain protein content, Zn, Mg, K, Fe, and Ca were the most important loadings for the remaining PCs. Based on nutritional and components of yield traits, cluster analysis stratified landraces into five major groups. Concurrent improvement in pod yield and Zn, Fe, and protein contents could be possible by selecting promising parents from clusters 2 and 3. The diversity found in African landraces of bambara groundnut can be exploited for developing cultivars with improved nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Food safety is one of the problems facing sub-Sahara African countries like Nigeria. The use of wholesome indigenous crops and improved methods of production of major foods is a way forward. Materials and methods: A factorial research design was used to obtain eight samples of cassava and sweet potato gari from three modifications of the traditional production method for gari. Effects of these methods on the physical, chemical and sensory properties of the gari were evaluated using standard methods. Results and discussion: The results revealed that the inclusion of sweet potato significantly (p<0.05) influenced the proximate composition of the cassava-sweet potato gari and the values are also within the recommended levels for quality gari. Moisture content ranged from 10.10 to 12.30%, crude fibre 1.93 to 1.98%, ash content 1.13 to 1.31%, protein content 1.43 to 4.29%, and carbohydrate content 78.11 - 83.59%. The cyanide contents ranged from 0.58 to 2.16 mg/100 g, with 100% cassava gari having the highest while 100% sweet potato gari recorded the lowest. A decrease in porosity from 40 ± 2% for the 100% cassava gari to 27.33 ± 2% for sweet-potato gari was observed. The particle size of the sweet potato gari had the highest angle of repose of 38° while 100% cassava gari recorded the lowest angle of repose (29°). The swelling index of the samples ranged from 330 to 450% and100% sweet potato gari had the highest loose and packed densities. The sensory evaluation results showed that the cassava sweet potato (10%) gari was rated the best for colour (8.07), texture (7.67), and aroma (6.87), while 100% cassava gari had highest value for taste (7.47), and both shared the highest value (7.60) in overall acceptability. Conclusions: The study showed that 10% sweet potato can traditionally be added to cassava for quality gari production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food insecurity and the loss of soil nutrients and productive capacity in Africa are serious problems in light of the rapidly growing African population. In semi-arid central Tanzania currently practiced traditional crop production systems are no longer adaptive. Organic crop production methods alone, while having the capacity to enable food security, are not feasible for these small-scale farmers because of the extra land, skill, resources, and 5-7 years needed to benefit from them-particularly for maize. Maize, grown by 94 % of farmers, has substantial nitrogen needs. The most practical ways of satisfying maize nutrient needs is via integrated soil fertility management, a combination of organic and Green Revolution methods. Maize has been shown in research to outyield the indigenous crops millet and sorghum in nearly all situations including drought. Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Africa has two main categories-organic and herbicide-mediated. The organic version of CA, despite years of promotion, has had a low rate of adoption. Herbicide-mediated zero tillage CA via backpack sprayer can substantially increase conventional maize yields while at the same time nearly eliminating erosion and increasing rainwater capture up to fivefold. Glyphosate herbicide is a non-proprietary product produced in Africa and approved for small farm use. The systemic nature of glyphosate allows the killing of perennial grasses that would otherwise need deep plowing to kill. The rooted weed residues protect the soil from erosion. The risks of glyphosate use are substantially outweighed by the benefits of increased food security and crop system sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in the research and development of quinoa, an indigenous Andean crop, has increased in the last 15 years, mainly because of its nutritional value and high seed yield. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid non-destructive technique, which is useful for studying the chemical properties of these crops. Considering these advantages, the objective of this research is to develop NIRS calibrations suitable for the routine determination of dietary constituents in 78 varieties of quinoa using partial least squares (PLS). For recording NIR a sample spinner accessory of diffuse reflectance was applied directly on the quinoa samples without treatment was used. The PLS models developed for the quantification of moisture, ash, lipid, protein and carbohydrate content showed that the proposed methodology produced suitable results, with the graph of the real and predicted concentrations having a coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) > 0.737 and RMSEP < 4.36%. This results show that NIRS with diffuse reflectance accessory provides an alternative for the determination of chemical compounds of quinoa, faster, at lower cost and no sample preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Indigenous rice varieties in the Eastern Himalayan region of Northeast India are traditionally classified into sali, boro and jum ecotypes based on geographical locality and the season of cultivation. In this study, we used DNA sequence data from the Waxy (Wx) gene to infer the genetic relatedness among indigenous rice varieties in Northeast India and to assess the genetic distinctiveness of ecotypes. Findings The results of all three analyses (Bayesian, Maximum Parsimony and Neighbor Joining) were congruent and revealed two genetically distinct clusters of rice varieties in the region. The large group comprised several varieties of sali and boro ecotypes, and all agronomically improved varieties. The small group consisted of only traditionally cultivated indigenous rice varieties, which included one boro, few sali and all jum varieties. The fixation index analysis revealed a very low level of differentiation between sali and boro (FST = 0.005), moderate differentiation between sali and jum (FST = 0.108) and high differentiation between jum and boro (FST = 0.230) ecotypes. Conclusion The genetic relatedness analyses revealed that sali, boro and jum ecotypes are genetically heterogeneous, and the current classification based on cultivation type is not congruent with the genetic background of rice varieties. Indigenous rice varieties chosen from genetically distinct clusters could be used in breeding programs to improve genetic gain through heterosis, while maintaining high genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of the paper was to compare the food qualities of 2 varieties (SME 1 and 2) of high quality cassava flour (HQCF) produced from indigenous technology and that of some commercially sold wheat/HQCF samples. Material and methods. The pH, proximate, phytochemical, antioxidant, functional properties and starch yield of the flours were carried out using standard techniques. Results. The wheat flours had higher bulk densities and lipids than the HQCF samples while the oil absorption capacity of the HQCF (SME 2) was higher than other flour samples investigated. The antioxidant assays of the flours showed that they contained considerable levels of antioxidants with the HQCF sample from DAT having higher antioxidants than other flour samples studied. The HQCF (SME 1) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) starch content among the flour samples. The bacteria counts of the HQCF samples ranged from 0 to 1.4 x 104 cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 0 to 2 x 10-3 with the unbranded wheat flour having the highest microbial load compared with other flour samples studied. Conclusion. The use of this indigenous technology produces HQCF with lower lipids, microbial contamination but higher flavour retaining ability, flavonoids and starch contents than wheat flour. The significant positive correlation (R² = 0.872) between reducing power of the samples and their DPPH antioxidant activity indicate that either could be used to assay for the total antioxidant activity of cassava and wheat flour. The study underscores the need to buy flour from branded companies to reduce the risks of microbial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In North Cachar Hills district of Assam, Dimasa, a type of tribal people prepared their indigenous rice beer called Judima. The fermentation of Judima is usually carried out in earthen/aluminum pots at room temperature and takes about 4-5 days for completion of the fermentation. The authors visited some of the rural areas where judima is prepared and the process of preparation was observed and documented. The Carbohydrate, protein, free amino acids and alcohol percentage of the particular tribal wine was estimated to evaluate their nutritional status. Antioxidant activity of Judima along with different plants used for the preparation of Judima was also studied. A short term cytotoxicity study on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was carried out to determine its cytotoxic effect on the cells keeping ethanol (50% and 100%) as a standard. The result of present study showed that Judima contains good amounts of protein, carbohydrate and free amino acids with high antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of soil in plantations to a large extent depends on a thorough understanding of the trend and dynamics of soil properties under them. This study evaluated selected physico-chemical properties of topsoil under monoculture plantation of an indigenous tree species - Nauclea diderrichii, and those of four exotic tree species - Theobroma cacao, Gmelina arborea, Pinus caribaea and Tectona grandis, located in Omo Biosphere Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria. Percentage sand, silt and clay did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) among monoculture plantations at the 0-5 cm depth while significant variations were observed at lower soil depths in some of the plantations. Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese varied significantly (p < 0.05) among monoculture plantations. Zinc and Copper were highest in Gmelina arborea Plantation at the 0-5cm depth, while Iron and Manganese were highest in Theobroma cacao and Nauclea diderrichii Plantations respectively at the same depth. Organic matter and total nitrogen varied significantly (p < 0.05) among plantations and were highest in Theobroma cacao, Tectona grandis and Nauclea diderrichii at the 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15cm depths respectively. Available phosphorus varied significantly (p < 0.05) among plantations and was highest in Nauclea diderrichii, Theobroma cacao and Gmelina arborea at the 0-5, 5-10 and 10-15cm depths respectively. Indices of change (%) based on average values of soil properties for the three sampled depths revealed a degradation of organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, sodium, iron, and pH in most of the exotic plantations, while calcium, zinc, copper and manganese improved except in Pinus caribaea plantation. The use of Nauclea diderrichii for plantation establishment and taungya farming in the reserve is recommended for soil conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of indigenous herbal supplements on growth, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics in the late fattening period of Hanwoo steers. In a 6 month feeding trial, thirty Hanwoo steers (647±32 kg) were allotted to one of 5 treatment groups, control (basal diet contained lasalocid), licorice, clove, turmeric and silymarin, with six steers per pen. All groups received ad libitum concentrate and 1 kg rice straw/animal/d throughout the feeding trial. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and the end of the experiment and the steers were slaughtered at the end. Blood glucose, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin concentrations were higher in the turmeric treatment compared with other treatments. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were highest (p<0.003 and p = 0.071, respectively) in steers treated with silymarin. Alanine aminotransferase activity was lower (p<0.06) for licorice and silymarin compared with the control group. There were no alterations in serum aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities as a consequence of herb treatments (p = 0.203 and 0.135, respectively). Final body weight, body weight gain, average dairy gain and dry matter intake were not significantly different among treatments. Yield grade, marbling score and quality grade were higher for silymarin group than those of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, the results suggest that silymarin can be used an effective dietary supplement as an alternative to antibiotic feed additive and a productivity enhancer, providing safe and more consumer acceptable alternative to synthetic compounds during the late fattening period of steers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small coffee farms around Mount Kenya in Kenya contain many planted and remnant tree species but little is known in the region about the relationship between trees on farms and the methods and dynamics of coffee production. Shifts in production may alter tree diversity and potentially impact on future biodiversity conservation efforts by affecting niches available for indigenous trees on farms. Here, knowledge was gathered on how changes in coffee production on 180 small farms around Mount Kenya may affect tree diversity, categorizing farms according to coffee yield levels over a period of five years as increasing, decreasing or stable production. Tree species richness, abundance and composition were analyzed using species accumulation curves, Rènyi diversity profiles, rank abundance and ecological distance ordinations, and the effects of coffee production examined using quasi-Poisson generalized linear regressions. Species richness were positively correlated with tree basal area but negatively related to coffee, banana and maize yields value. A difference in average tree species richness, abundance and basal area on increasing farms was observed compared to the decreasing and stable farms, even though formal tests on richness and densities differences were inconclusive. These dynamics do not significantly influence vegetation structure but seem to have a bearing on species composition on farms of different coffee production. The overall low abundance (23 % of trees) but high richness (78 % of species) of indigenous trees on coffee farms could change markedly if the dynamics observed in the current study persist, indicating the need for the development of intensified multi-species cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field study was conducted between January and June 2011 to determine the plant-parasitic and non-parasitic nematodes associated with three indigenous leafy vegetables (Amaranthus viridis, Celosia argenteaandCorchorus olitorius) commonly grown in inland valley by farm practical year students’ trainees at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. The 1.76-ha land was laid out in randomised complete block design with four replicates. Six soil cores were taken per replicate and bulked. Two sub-samples weighing 250 g per replicate were assayed for nematodes using WhiteHead and Hemming Tray method. Results revealed the presence of five genera of plant-parasitic nematodes, namelyTylenchus, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus, MeloidogyneandRotylenchulus. Populations ofTylenchusdiffered statistically (p = 0.05) from all others inC. olitorius. The non-parasitic nematodes varied significantly (p = 0.05) among the vegetable types. Galls incited byMeloidogynespp. were more (p = 0.05) inC.argenteaandC.olitoriusthanA.viridis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The study compares the physiological and behavioural responses to diurnal heat of South African indigenous Windsnyer (WS) pigs and imported Large White (LW) pigs in the hot-wet season in South Africa. Rectal temperature, skin surface temperature, breathing rates and heart rate were each recorded three times per day every other day (0800 h, 1200 h, 1600 h) for a period of 105 days in 12 six-week old gilts of each breed. A completely randomised design was used. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in breathing rate and rectal temperature between the pig breeds. Skin surface temperatures and heart rate were higher (P < 0.05) for the LW pigs than WS pigs at all times of the day. Time of the day affected (P < 0.05) all physiological parameters which generally increased to a peak during mid-day before decreasing at 1600 h. The frequency and duration of wallowing, sprawling in slurry and lying in prostrate posture were higher in LW than WS pigs. Indigenous WS pigs had higher (P < 0.05) values for hair length, final hair density and fat thickness than the LW pigs. These findings suggest that WS pigs could be better at thermoregulation than LW pigs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sustainable management of limited land and water resources is urgently needed to meet the increasing demand for food and to protect the environment. Land suitability analysis is a prerequisite in assessing and proposing sustainable land use alternatives for an area. Soil data are usually available at different levels of detail and stored in various forms, usually soil maps and/or soil observations. Soil data interpretation methods control the reliability of land suitability evaluation results. This has a serious effect on the reliability of the suitability maps, the subsequent land use decisions, and environmental modeling. This study examines the reliability of land suitability mapping using different methods of soil data interpretation – the average of land characteristics for field observations within soil map units (point-in-polygon) and spatial interpolation using field observations only (proximity to points). The degree of agreement between the two methods depends on the type of land utilization – rainfed barley (86%), open range (85%), improved range (75%), drip irrigated vegetables (69%), and drip irrigated trees (59%). This results from the difference in the limiting land characteristic that determines the suitability of each land utilization type and the pattern of spatial variation of each land characteristic in the field. Suitability maps for adaptable (indigenous) crops (such as barley and range crops), which require minimum farming inputs, are generally more accurate because they tolerate a wider range of variability. The interpolation method was more efficient in detecting the spatial distribution and extreme values of limiting land characteristics, resulting in more accurate suitability maps. Therefore, when detailed soil maps are not available, field observations could be used to derive suitability maps using an exact interpolation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]