Traditional vegetables in a semi urban landscape with various health benefits: a case study in South Africa

K. Prinsloo, R. Kleynhans, R. Jansen
Traditional vegetables play an integral part on the continent of Africa. Due to rapid over population, climate change and various other environmental factors many semi-urban areas are faced with drought, severe poverty and or large amounts of rain. All these factors contribute to health risks, malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Traditional vegetables are edible plants that form part of the traditional systems, of indigenous communities throughout the world. The indigenous knowledge of vegetables is imperative for communities as it has health benefits, can contribute to alleviation of poverty, increase food security and contribute to livelihoods of communities. The knowledge of traditional vegetables is thus vanishing throughout the world amongst all cultures and the perception that these vegetables are of low value and or seen as poverty food contributes to the loss of knowledge. The present study was undertaken in the diverse urban township of Tembisa, situated in the eastern parts of Gauteng, South Africa. The knowledge of 13 commonly used traditional vegetables were assessed amongst the Zulu, Tsonga and Pedi cultural groups through the use of structured questionnaires (n=2724). Results indicated that there were five traditional vegetables that were very well known amongst all the participants specifically for their health benefits. The knowledge of these traditional vegetables was highly influenced by age and cultural group. The perceived lack of knowledge in the younger generation can be regarded as a risk to the continued existence of this knowledge, particularly if the opportunities to relay this knowledge becomes less, as influenced by urban living.
Prinsloo, K., Kleynhans, R. and Jansen, R. (2022). Traditional vegetables in a semi urban landscape with various health benefits: a case study in South Africa. Acta Hortic. 1345, 97-104
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1345.13
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1345.13
traditional vegetables, indigenous knowledge health benefits
English

Acta Horticulturae