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African Indigenous Vegetables and their Production Practices: Evidence from the HORTINLEA Survey in Kenya

Kebede SW and Bokelmann W

Although indigenous vegetables (AIVs) have always been a staple food crop, the promotion of their production, marketing and consumption is a recent phenomenon. There is already consensus that AIVs contribute to food security by providing a variety of nutrients, while easing food insecurity tensions during periods of food shortages. This study found that the AIV producers sampled in Kenya followed sustainable production practices by predominantly using organic fertilizer and thus maximizing natural biological processes and promoting local biodiversity, both of which help improve soil fertility and environmental sustainability. In addition, the use of local seeds minimized farm expenses and the cost of non-renewable inputs. This study focused on fertilizer use, with the aim of identifying the main socioeconomic factors determining the use of different types of fertilizer among AIV farmers. The ordered probit model found that larger (in terms of household size) and better-off households were more likely to use organic fertilizer. In addition, receipt of remittances, distance to market, access to information about fertilizer application and living in a rural area increased the likelihood of organic fertilizer being used. Given the contribution of AIVs to food security and their production processes complying with sustainable production, it is recommended that their production and marketing should be promoted and scaled up.