Resumen
- There has been growing research and policy effort around urban agriculture in Africa over the last two decades, but never has it been integrated with work on under-researched crops such as indigenous vegetables. These species have multiple advantages, including low input requirements, adaptability to regional environments, high nutritional value and marked biodiversity, cultural and local food security significance. Yet they are overlooked in the modern world, where recent emphasis has been directed to growing a limited range of exotic crops, both for internal markets and for export to developed-country markets. This book provides evidence that, in spite of this neglect, indigenous vegetables are still widely used, cultivated and marketed in many African cities. It goes on to consider their potential to contribute to income generation and poverty alleviation of the growing numbers of urban dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa, while promoting urban greening and sustainability. Based on critical analysis of the debates, it presents a multidisciplinary analysis of the realities and future opportunities.