Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi
Spider plant (Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.) is among the most important African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) as a source of essential nutrients with the potential of contributing significantly to household food and nutritional security and mitigation of hidden hunger. Nevertheless, the vegetable is c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.831821/full |
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| author | Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Levi Shadeya-Mudogo Akundabweni Julia Sibiya Enoch G. Achigan-Dako Dêêdi E. O. Sogbohossou Kingdom Kwapata Simon Awala |
| author_facet | Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Levi Shadeya-Mudogo Akundabweni Julia Sibiya Enoch G. Achigan-Dako Dêêdi E. O. Sogbohossou Kingdom Kwapata Simon Awala |
| author_sort | Barthlomew Yonas Chataika |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spider plant (Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.) is among the most important African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) as a source of essential nutrients with the potential of contributing significantly to household food and nutritional security and mitigation of hidden hunger. Nevertheless, the vegetable is considered an orphan crop and its production is challenged by inadequate research to identify and improve traits preferred by smallholder farmers. The research was conducted to identify the main challenges impacting the production of spider plants and identify traits preferred by smallholder farmers in northern Namibia and central Malawi for use in demand-led crop improvement. Semi-structured interviews involving a random selection of 197 farming households from five regions of northern Namibia and three districts of central Malawi were conducted. In addition, six key informant interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted to triangulate the findings. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Fischer's exact test was used to test for independence in the ranking of production constraints and agronomic traits, while Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance (W) was used to measure agreement levels in the ranking across the countries. Farmers indicated lack of seed, poor soil fertility, poor seed germination and drought as the main production challenges across the two countries. Production constraints were ranked differently (p < 0.001) across the study sites suggesting the influence of biophysical and socio-economic factors associated with production. High yield and drought tolerance were considered the most important agronomic traits among the smallholder farmers in both countries. The findings of this study are useful for designing demand-driven pre-breeding trials that prioritize the needs of the end-users. Demand-led breeding has the potential to stimulate the production and utilization of spider plant, hence contributing to household food and nutritional security. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:14:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6879d93c8f914f20887269c3dc0972a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:14:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-6879d93c8f914f20887269c3dc0972a52022-12-22T00:23:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2022-05-01610.3389/fsufs.2022.831821831821Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central MalawiBarthlomew Yonas Chataika0Barthlomew Yonas Chataika1Levi Shadeya-Mudogo Akundabweni2Julia Sibiya3Enoch G. Achigan-Dako4Dêêdi E. O. Sogbohossou5Kingdom Kwapata6Simon Awala7Department of Crop Production and Agricultural Technologies, School of Agriculture and Natural Resource and Fisheries, University of Namibia, Oshakati, NamibiaCenter for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Gaborone, BotswanaDepartment of Crop Production and Agricultural Technologies, School of Agriculture and Natural Resource and Fisheries, University of Namibia, Oshakati, NamibiaSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaLaboratory of Genetics, Horticulture, and Seed Science, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Godomey, BeninLaboratory of Genetics, Horticulture, and Seed Science, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Godomey, BeninDepartment of Horticulture, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, MalawiDepartment of Crop Production and Agricultural Technologies, School of Agriculture and Natural Resource and Fisheries, University of Namibia, Oshakati, NamibiaSpider plant (Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.) is among the most important African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) as a source of essential nutrients with the potential of contributing significantly to household food and nutritional security and mitigation of hidden hunger. Nevertheless, the vegetable is considered an orphan crop and its production is challenged by inadequate research to identify and improve traits preferred by smallholder farmers. The research was conducted to identify the main challenges impacting the production of spider plants and identify traits preferred by smallholder farmers in northern Namibia and central Malawi for use in demand-led crop improvement. Semi-structured interviews involving a random selection of 197 farming households from five regions of northern Namibia and three districts of central Malawi were conducted. In addition, six key informant interviews and four focus group discussions were conducted to triangulate the findings. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Fischer's exact test was used to test for independence in the ranking of production constraints and agronomic traits, while Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance (W) was used to measure agreement levels in the ranking across the countries. Farmers indicated lack of seed, poor soil fertility, poor seed germination and drought as the main production challenges across the two countries. Production constraints were ranked differently (p < 0.001) across the study sites suggesting the influence of biophysical and socio-economic factors associated with production. High yield and drought tolerance were considered the most important agronomic traits among the smallholder farmers in both countries. The findings of this study are useful for designing demand-driven pre-breeding trials that prioritize the needs of the end-users. Demand-led breeding has the potential to stimulate the production and utilization of spider plant, hence contributing to household food and nutritional security.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.831821/fullproduction constraintstrait preferencesnutritional securitydemand-led plant breedingvariety adoptionhidden hunger |
| spellingShingle | Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Barthlomew Yonas Chataika Levi Shadeya-Mudogo Akundabweni Julia Sibiya Enoch G. Achigan-Dako Dêêdi E. O. Sogbohossou Kingdom Kwapata Simon Awala Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems production constraints trait preferences nutritional security demand-led plant breeding variety adoption hidden hunger |
| title | Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi |
| title_full | Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi |
| title_short | Major Production Constraints and Spider Plant [Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq.] Traits Preferences Amongst Smallholder Farmers of Northern Namibia and Central Malawi |
| title_sort | major production constraints and spider plant gynandropsis gynandra l briq traits preferences amongst smallholder farmers of northern namibia and central malawi |
| topic | production constraints trait preferences nutritional security demand-led plant breeding variety adoption hidden hunger |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.831821/full |
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