Transcript Agriculture, food insecurity and HIV/AIDS in rural Africa

The roles of indigenous crops and plants
in improving nutrition
and fighting HIV/AIDS
Josep A. Garí
Food and Agriculture Organisation
of the United Nations (FAO)
Distance-learning training course to build national capacities for
integrating local knowledge into multi-sectoral AIDS projects
Vide-conference connection with various African countries
9 September 2005
Plants and human health
Box 8. Plants and human health
crops and food plants
NUTRITION
HEALTH
medicinal plants
STRATEGIC COMPONENTS
1. Traditional, neglected and under-utilised crops
2. Agricultural diversification
3. Home gardens
4. Wild food plants
5. Medicinal plants
6. Community seed systems
7. Livestock and agropastoral systems
agro-biodiversity
indigenous knowledge
strategic components
TRADITIONAL,
NEGLECTED
and UNDER-UTILISED
CROPS
nutrition / health
AGRICULTURAL
DIVERSIFICATION
HOME GARDENS
WILD FOOD PLANTS
economic
security
• low-input agriculture: lower production costs,
higher farm net incomes
• broader income and market alternatives
• organic agriculture: inexpensive means for soil
fertilisation and pest management
• local seed access / farmer seed autonomy
agricultural
management
• conservation of natural resources
• environmental risk management (drought,
pests)
• use of marginal lands / coping with land
shortages
• transmission of agricultural resources and
knowledge to rural youth and children
• participatory research / farmer experimentation
• maintaining the basis for rural reconstruction
LIVESTOCK and
AGROPASTORAL SYSTEMS
Source: Gari (2003)
objectives
farm labour
• labour-saving practices / farm labour flexibility
• options for farming under low-intensive labour
• optimisation and diffusion of labour inputs
MEDICINAL PLANTS
COMMUNITY SEED
SYSTEMS
• diet diversification / improving micronutrient intake
• optimal use of local crop and food resources
• recognition and support for the roles of rural
women
in agriculture, food production and nutrition
• appropriate meals and diets for sick people
• use of medicinal plants (primary healthcare)
• nutrition as the first medicine for HIV/AIDS
Selected traditional, neglected and under-utilised crops
of Sub-Saharan Africa
Common names
Scientific name
African Cucurbitaceae crops (*)
African rice
Amaranth
Bambara nut
Cassava
Cowpea
Finger millet
Fonio
Groundnut
Jute
Pearl millet
Roselle
Sorghum
Sweet potato
Tef
Velvet bean / Mucuna
Yams
Cucurbita spp., Cucumis spp., et al.
Oryza glaberrima
Amaranthus spp.
Vigna subterranea
Manihot esculenta
Vigna unguiculata
Eleusine coracana
Digitaria exilis & Digitaria iburua
Arachis hypogaea
Corchorus spp.
Pennisetum glaucum
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Sorghum bicolor
Ipomoea batatas
Eragrostis tef
Mucuna spp.
Dioscorea spp.
(*) e.g. cucumber, gourds, melon, pumpkin, squash.
Selected home garden crops among farmers of Soroti district, Uganda
Local names
English name
Scientific name
Edible part
Akolel, okueker
Atungulu
Avokado
Cabbage
Eboga, dodo
Eboo, boyo
Ebrinyanya, berejanya
Ecadoi, akeu
Eimulalu, amulalu
Emalakany, malakuany
Emiebe, emiyembe
Enyanya
Esuyo, suyu
Etigo
Lavaro
Mapera
Matonda
Muchonga
Nanasi
Pawpaw, apapalu
Cucumber
Onion
Avocado
Cabbage
Amaranth
Cowpea
Eggplant
Cat's whiskers
Pepper
Roselle
Mango
Tomato
Pumpkin
Corchorus, jute
Banana
Guava
Passion fruit
Orange
Pineapple
Papaya
Cucumis sp.
Allium sp.
Persea americana
Brassica sp.
Amaranthus spp.
Vigna unguiculata
Solanum spp.
Cleome gynandra
Capsicum spp.
Hibiscus spp.
Mangifera indica
Lycopersicon esculentum
Cucurbita spp.
Corchorus spp.
Musa sp.
Psidium guajava
Passiflora edulis
Citrus sp.
Ananas comosus
Carica papaya
Fruits
Bulbs
Fruits
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves, grains
Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits, leaves
Leaves
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits
Distinctive micronutrients
Vit. C
Vit. A
Vit. C
Ca, Vit. A
Ca, Folic ac., Fe, Vit. A
Vit. A
Vit. A, Vit. C
Vit. A
Vit. A, Vit. C
Vit. A, Vit. C
Ca, Vit. A
Vit. A
Vit. A
Vit. A, Vit. C
Vit. C
Vit. A, Vit. C
Vit. C
Vit. A, Vit. C
Sources: Participatory research with Teso and Kumam farmers in Soroti district, Uganda, 2001.
Farmer with bungoma variety of
sweet potato (eastern Uganda)
Sweet potato varieties in 4 villages of
Mawero area (Eastern Uganda), 2001
Drought
resistance
Maturation
time
Market
value
Continuous
yield
+
2 months
-
+
Very early maturing variety.
++
5 months
+
+
Very yellow tuber, likely to provide
high amounts of vitamin A.
-
3 months
+
-
Maraoko
++
4-5 months
-
+
Mukokola
+
6 months
+
+
Siliki
-
3-4 months
-
-
Soroti
-
2-3 months
+
-
Name
Bundugusa
Bungoma
Kikuyu
Observations
Low yielding variety, but the most
appreciated for its superior taste
and culinary properties.
Poor taste, but represents a fast
food and income source.
Selected examples of agricultural diversification systems and practices
Crop diversity farming
Crop-livestock association
Intercropping systems
Crop genetic diversity management
Polycultures
Elaborated fallow systems
Shifting cultivation
Selective weeding
Crop rotation
Contour planting
Inclusion of leguminous crops
Integrated agriculture-aquaculture
Home gardens
Cultivation of hillsides
Introduction of new crops
Crop mosaics
Cover cropping
Planting of trees
Agroforestry systems
Multipurpose crops and species
Separation of crops with similar pest and disease susceptibility
Agropastoral systems
Management of wild ecosystems
Land-use categories and crop diversity in Kagera region, Tanzania
Kibanja
Bambara nut
Banana
Beans
Cassava
Cocoyam
Coffee
Groundnut
Maize
Sweet potato
Yams
Kikamba
Rweya
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Source: Field research in diverse villages of Kagera region, Tanzania, December 2001.
Selected wild food plants
among the Gogo people in
Dodoma drylands
(Tanzania)
Source: Field research, 2001 (in collaboration with the
Tanzanian Association of Women Leaders in
Agriculture and the Environment - TAWLAE)
Local name (1)
Seasonal availability (2)
Part consumed
Chidingulilu
Chimhela
Chipali
Chiwandagulu
Dinhi
Fulu
Fwene
Ikuwi / Upela (4)
Ilende
Kayeba (5)
Lwamuya
Mahulihuli
Manhala
Matanga
Mbuli
Mhelemehe
Mhilile
Mkuyu
Mnamha
Mnghonjela
Msisi
Mujinanhandala
Mzimwe
Ndalangwe
Ndejeha
Ngazi
Ng'hole
Ng'homwa
Nghwata
Ngologolo
Ngwelu
Nhafuta
Nhingha
Nhumba
Nhundwe
Nyakifwega
Saka
Sang'hala
Sunga
Susunha
Udawi
Uwoga
Yagayaga
Yambu
Dry
Rain
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain
Rain
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain
Rain
Rain
Dry
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain
Rain
Dry
Rain
Rain
Rain
Dry
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain
Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain
Dry
Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain
Dry
Dry
Rain
Rain / Dry
Rain / Dry
Rain
Rain
Rain
Flowers
Roots
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves
Leaves / Fruits
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves / Fruits
Leaves / Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves
Leaves
Fruits
Roots
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves / Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Roots
Fruits
Roots
Fruits
Fruits
Roots
Fruits
Fruits
Leaves
Fruits
Leaves / Flowers
Leaves
Fruits
Fruits
Mushroom
Leaves
Leaves
Preservation (3)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
Diversity and importance
Extent of wild food plants and home garden crops in Africa
wild food plants
home garden crops
J.A.Gari, 2001
arid
semi-arid
subhumid
Agroecological zones
humid
Medicinal plants and HIV/AIDS
Medicinal plants from Uganda that have proven useful after clinical trials
in treating Herpes Zoster and diarrhea, two major diseases associated with HIV/AIDS
Local name
(1)
Scientific name
(2)
Plant group
Main use
Akasogaasoga Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceae
Herpes Zoster
Kibwankulata
Iboza multiflora
Labiatae
Herpes Zoster
Lukandwa
Securinega virosa
Euphorbiaceae
Herpes Zoster
Luwoko
Phytolacca dodecandra
Phytolaccaceae
Herpes Zoster
Mutulika
Phyllanthus guineensis
Euphorbiaceae
Herpes Zoster
Embutamu
Hydrocotyle mannii
Umbelliferae
Diarrhea
Enkami
Priva cordifolia, variety flabelliformis Verbenaceae
Diarrhea
1. Luganda language.
2. Provisional taxonomic identification. Scientific names revised according to the International
Plant Name Index.
Source: Internal data, THETA, Kampala, Uganda, 2001. Personal communications with Claire
Nsubuga, co-curator of THETA's herbal garden, November 2001.
Papers
Garí, J.A. (2004). "Plant diversity, sustainable rural livelihoods and the
HIV/AIDS crisis". UNDP / FAO.
http://www.hiv-development.org/publications
Garí, J.A. (2003). "Agrobiodiversity strategies to combat foor insecurity and
HIV/AIDS impact in rural Africa: Advancing grassroots responses for nutrition,
health and sustainable livelihoods". FAO (SDWP); preliminary edition.
http://www.geocities.com/rural_Africa
Further information
http://www.fao.org/hivaids
http://www.fao.org/es/esn/nutrition/household_hivaids_en.stm
http://www.fao.org/sd/links/resources/resources.html
http://www.underutilized-species.org