fruits and vegetables

This series of fact sheets features Bioversity International case studies with local NGOs and partners. These case studies illustrate successful outcomes in gender and biodiversity through the use of gender-specific research methods. Three of these factsheets take place in forest and agroforestry landscapes and have interesting lessons for horticultural activities. »

This policy brief discusses the post-harvest losses of vegetable products in West Africa and recommendations to reduce these losses. Currently, substantial amount of vegetables products are lost through limited availability of technologies and related infrastructure for post-harvest activities. Several issues contriburing to the food loss are discussed and various recommendations are given in this policy brief to tackle the problems associated with the post-harvest losses. »

This report explains the key messages that emerged during the forum on ‘Employment creation in the horticulture sector in Kenya’. This forum was hosted by The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) in collaboration with the Centre for African Bio-Entrepreneurship (CABE) to encourage the use of research evidence in the formulation of employment creation policies. The forum brought together 35 policy actors, practitioners and researchers. The report covers the features of the horticulture sub-sector, challenges for job creation and strategies to improve employment creation in the sub-sector in Kenya. »

Household gardens can help alleviate malnutrition in the developing world when they are linked to nutrition and health initiatives and local support systems. The World Vegetable Center’s strategy aims to address important gaps in the optimal design of household garden interventions. »

This study in the Agriculture & Food Security Journal assessed the extent of diversification of vegetables among farmers in Ghana’s cocoa belt and determined the factors that explain the variability in the diversification indices. It was found that marital status of the household head and total land endowment were the major determinants of diversification. »

This article in the Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems Journal studies how promoting of consumption of traditional African vegetables affects household nutrition security in Tanzania. The Good Seed Initiative (GSI) program promoted production and consumption of nutrient-dense traditional African vegetables in Arusha region in Tanzania to reduce malnutrition through diet diversification. The researchers estimated the impact of promotion activities on households, women, and children’s dietary diversity. »