The Potential for Underutilised Crops to Improve Food Security in the Face of Climate Change

Massawe, Festo; Mayes, Sean; Cheng, Acga; Chai, Hui Hui; Cleasby, Philip; Symonds, Rachael C.; Ho, Wai Kuan; Aliyu, Siise; Wong, Quin Nee; Kendabie, Presidor; Yanusa, Y.; Jamalluddin, Norain; Singh, Akshit; Azman, Rozaidatul Rahizah; Azam‐Ali, Sayed

doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.228

Cited by 48 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Much of the emerging interest on NUS also focus on their potential to contribute climate change adaptation (Massawe et al, 2015). However, other than selected reports of drought and heat stress tolerance, there is limited research confirming their suitability to future climates.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the existing system of agriculture, which focuses on a few major food crops, may have succeeded in ensuring national food security in the past, its ability to continue doing so in the twenty-first century has been challenged (Mabhaudhi et al, 2016a) with calls for greater diversification of rural cropping systems. There are calls for a paradigm shift in agriculture to explore non-conventional pathways such as underutilized crops (NUS) as possible future crops (Massawe et al, 2015). This is premised on reports that NUS are adapted to a range of agro-ecologies, and may be nutrient dense and offer better prospects in marginal production areas (Mayes et al, 2012; Chivenge et al, 2015; Massawe et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are calls for a paradigm shift in agriculture to explore non-conventional pathways such as underutilized crops (NUS) as possible future crops (Massawe et al, 2015). This is premised on reports that NUS are adapted to a range of agro-ecologies, and may be nutrient dense and offer better prospects in marginal production areas (Mayes et al, 2012; Chivenge et al, 2015; Massawe et al, 2015). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Developing a Roadmap for Improving Neglected and Underutilized Crops: A Case Study of South Africa

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reports of neglected and underutilized crops' (NUS) potential remain mostly anecdotal with limited and often incoherent research available to support them. This has been attributed to lack of clear research goals, limited funding directed at NUS and journal apathy toward publishing work on NUS. The latter points also explain the lack of interest from emerging and established researchers. Additionally, the NUS community's inability to articulate a roadmap for NUS' promotion may have unintentionally contributed to this. The current study is a sequel to an initial study that assessed the status of NUS in South Africa. The objective of this follow-up study was then to (i) identify priority NUS, and (ii) articulate a strategy and actionable recommendations for promoting NUS in South Africa. The study identified 13 priority NUS, categorized into cereals, legumes, root, and tuber crops and leafy vegetables based on drought and heat stress tolerance and nutritional value. It is recommended that the available limited resources should be targeted on improving these priority NUS as they offer the best prospects for success. Focus should be on developing value chains for the priority NUS. This should be underpinned by science to provide evidence-based outcomes. This would assist to attract more funding for NUS research, development and innovation in South Africa. It is envisaged that through this roadmap, NUS could be transformed from the peripheries into mainstream agriculture. This study provides a template for developing a roadmap for promoting NUS that could be transposed and replicated among the 14 other southern African states.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Developing a Roadmap for Improving Neglected and Underutilized Crops: A Case Study of South Africa

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Indigenous grain legumes are defined as those that have originated from the semi-and arid tropics and are neglected or underutilised in any dimension (geographic, social, and economic) (Padulosi et al, 2002). Indigenous crops are reported to be well-adapted to water-limited conditions (Chivenge et al, 2015;Massawe et al, 2015;Mayes et al, 2012). There is talk of re-introducing them as part of diverse efforts to improve productivity of semi-arid and arid cropping systems (Chivenge et al, 2015;Massawe et al, 2015;Mayes et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous crops are reported to be well-adapted to water-limited conditions (Chivenge et al, 2015;Massawe et al, 2015;Mayes et al, 2012). There is talk of re-introducing them as part of diverse efforts to improve productivity of semi-arid and arid cropping systems (Chivenge et al, 2015;Massawe et al, 2015;Mayes et al, 2012). Separate studies have determined yield, water use and water use efficiency of grain legumes under different environments with varying outcomes (Abayomi et al, 2008;Mabhaudhi et al, 2013;Munoz-Perea et al, 2007;Obalum et al, 2011;Patel et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water use of selected grain legumes in response to varying irrigation regimes

Chibarabada

Modi

Mabhaudhi

2019

WSA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Grain legumes have potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in water-scarce areas. Information on their yield, water use and water productivity (WP) would be useful for their promotion. The aim of the study was to make a comparative assessment of adaptation, yield, water use and WP of an African indigenous grain legume (bambara groundnut) and two major grain legumes (dry bean and groundnut) under rainfed, deficit and optimum irrigation conditions. Field trials were conducted during the 2015/16 and 2016/17 summer seasons in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using a split-plot design arranged in completely randomised blocks with three replications. Data collected included stomatal conductance, leaf area index, timing of key phenological stages and yield. Water use was calculated as a residual of the soil water balance. Water productivity was obtained as the quotient of grain yield and water use. Crops adapted to limited soil water availability through stomatal regulation and reduction in canopy size and duration. Yield, yield components and WP varied significantly (P < 0.05) among crop species. During 2015/16, groundnut had the highest yield and WP (10 540 kg·ha−1 and 0.99 kg·m−3, respectively). During 2016/17, the highest yield and WP were observed in dry bean, 2 911 kg·ha−1 and 0.75 kg·m−3, respectively. For both seasons, dry bean had the lowest water use (143–268 mm) across all water treatments. Dry bean and groundnut out–performed bambara groundnut with respect to yield, harvest index and WP. For any promotion of bambara groundnut as an alternative crop, there is need for crop improvement to improve yield and WP.

show abstract