Enhancing food security amidst climate variability among smallholder farmers.
Date
2023
Authors
Mwale, Mabvuto
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Neglected and underutilized crops (NUCs) are useful species of crops which are largely
overlooked by farmers, consumers, breeders, extentionists, researchers and policy makers.
They represent a cluster of biodiversity with potential to solve food security problems among
smallholder farmers in the developing world especially in the spectre of climate variability.
This study examined the potential of NUCs in enhancing food security of smallholder
farming households amidst climate variability in Petauke, Zambia. Objectives of the study
were to: (i) determine knowledge levels on NUCs among smallholder farming households in
Petauke district, (ii) investigate the extent to which cultivation of NUCs has improved food
security amidst climate change amongst smallholder farming households in Petauke, and (iii)
examine the role of government and other stakeholders in promoting the cultivation of NUCs
in enhancing food security amidst climate variability amongst smallholder farmers. Data was
collected through structured interviews with 165 smallholder farmers and nine key
informants. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results
show that respondents identified 24 crops as NUCs. Thus, 25 percent of respondents
identified cow peas (Vigna unguiculata), 26 percent identified Bambara nuts (Vigna
subterranean), 23 percent identified local maize varieties while below 13 percent each were
identified for pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and cassava (Manihot
esculenta) amongst crops that were neglected and underutilised. Reasons advanced for their
neglect and underutilisation were loss of knowledge about production, use and storage (19
percent); non-availability of seeds (30 percent); preference for hybrid crop varieties (40
percent); shortage of land (4 percent); low yields (10 percent); and maize-centric government
policies. Two thirds (66 percent) of respondents acknowledged the importance of NUCs in
enhancing food security amidst increased climate variability. This was because, inter alia
NUCs were adapted to the climatic variability within the local environments in which they
are bred through local seed distribution systems. Being open pollinated varieties, farmers can
replant them season after season with little or no loss in yields. Henceforth, diversification
using NUCs is an important option to hedge against risk of individual crop failure amidst
climate variability. The study noted low participation from both public and private sectors in
enhancing NUCs production. The study concludes that improving household food security
requires enhancing production of NUCs without which household food security will remain
a challenge amidst climate variability among smallholder farming households in a developing
country context. The study recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture must expand its
input subsidy programme to include NUC seeds. Further, stakeholders in the agricultural
sector must involve smallholder farmers in selecting the type of crops to be given to
beneficiaries to reduce on problems of low adoption rates. There is need to research on
community seed banks which used to exist in the past and establish what led to their failure.
Description
Master of Science Degree in Geography.
Keywords
Neglected and underutilized crops--Potential of. , Household food security--Zambia.