IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/ajosrd/342397.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pitfalls and potential pathways to commercialization of indigenous food crops, fruits, and vegetables in Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Onomu, Achoja Roland

Abstract

All foods have local origins, but their commercialization and global acceptance remain challenging. Agricultural commercialization involves producing agricultural products for financial gain and market purposes beyond family consumption. Indigenous foods have vast societal benefits, including cultural, employment, medicinal, food security-related, nutritional, and financial. However, indigenous food consumption and demand are constantly declining because exotic foods are replacing them, despite recent campaigns for their increased commercialization. The study investigates the challenges associated with indigenous food commercialization, possible pathways to commercialization, and the role of the government in commercializing indigenous food. It offers a hypothesized structure and essential blueprint for sustainable indigenous food (crop) commercialization. The methodology involved a review of the literature using various search engines, scholarly sites, and print books, combining quantitative and qualitative research. Scaling indigenous food for sustainable commercialization beyond dependency on the wild product takes specific steps, including domestication, certification, and effective government-private collaboration. Policies to improve the sustainability of indigenous food are urgently required to save them from extinction and meet future demand. Many indigenous foods are hindered by low-status perception, poor value addition, inadequate knowledge of their potential, lack of market penetration, and global acceptability challenges. Indigenous food commercialization lacks a holistic and systematic approach involving careful planning, procedural steps, and an aggressive market-spreading mechanism for global adoption. An excellent strategic relationship between government and stakeholders is a prerequisite for indigenous food commercialization, but the onus is on the government to commit to indigenous food commercialization programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Onomu, Achoja Roland, 2023. "Pitfalls and potential pathways to commercialization of indigenous food crops, fruits, and vegetables in Africa," Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asian Economic and Social Society (AESS), vol. 13(01), January.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:ajosrd:342397
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.342397
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/342397/files/Pitfalls%20and%20potential%20pathways%20to%20commercialization%20of%20indigenous%20food%20crops%2C%20fruits%2C%20and%20vegetables%20in%20Africa.pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.342397?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Racheal Akinola & Laura Maureen Pereira & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Francia-Marié de Bruin & Loubie Rusch, 2020. "A Review of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa and the Implications for more Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-30, April.
    2. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2020. "Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Inclusion of Indigenous Plants for Food Security among Rural Households in the North West Province of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Maurice Tibiru Apaliya & Emmanuel Kwaw & Richard Osae & Rapheal Nammahime Alolga & Augustina Sackle Sackey Aikins & Gifty Serwaa Otoo & Sandra Ama Kaburi & Francis Padi Lamptey & Celestina Amo-Broni, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security: Ghana in Review," Journal of Food Technology Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 9(3), pages 160-175.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nonkululeko Thandeka Brightness Zondi & Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi & Temitope Oluwaseun Ojo & Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo, 2022. "Impact of Market Participation of Indigenous Crops on Household Food Security of Smallholder Farmers of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Similoluwa Felicia Olowo & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Ibraheem Oduola Lawal & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2022. "Improving Rural Livelihood through the Cultivation of Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables: Evidence from Ondo State, Nigeria," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Innocensia John, 2024. "Indigenous or Exotic Crop Diversity? Which Crops Ensure Household Food Security: Facts from Tanzania Panel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Yevheniia Varyvoda & Douglas Taren, 2022. "Considering Ecosystem Services in Food System Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Lindiwe M. Sibanda & Sithembile N. Mwamakamba, 2021. "Policy Considerations for African Food Systems: Towards the United Nations 2021 Food Systems Summit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Carla Vanessa Alves Lopes & Seema Mihrshahi & Rimante Ronto & John Hunter, 2023. "Aboriginal Food Practices and Australian Native Plant-Based Foods: A Step toward Sustainable Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-25, July.
    7. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Abeeb Babatunde Omotoso & Saidat Adebola Daud & Oluwadara Pelumi Omotayo & Babatunde Afeez Adeniyi, 2022. "Rising Food Prices and Farming Households Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Implications from SouthWest Nigeria," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, March.
    8. Achoja Roland Onomu, 2024. "Determinants of Indigenous Floral Foods’ Commercialization among Rural Households: The Outcome of Double and Triple Hurdles in Amathole District Rural Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-25, September.
    9. Mengyi Zhang & Peter Dannenberg, 2022. "Opportunities and Challenges of Indigenous Food Plant Farmers in Integrating into Agri-Food Value Chains in Cape Town," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Hillary Mugiyo & Vimbayi G. P. Chimonyo & Mbulisi Sibanda & Richard Kunz & Cecilia R. Masemola & Albert T. Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Suitability Methods with Reference to Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species: A Scoping Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, January.
    11. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2020. "Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Inclusion of Indigenous Plants for Food Security among Rural Households in the North West Province of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Dolapo B. Adelabu & Angelinus C. Franke, 2022. "The Beneficial Effects of Insect Pollination and Biochar Seed Coating on Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) Seed Quality at Varying Temperature Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Peter Tshepiso Ndhlovu & Seleke Christopher Tshwene & Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2021. "Determinants of Household Income and Willingness to Pay for Indigenous Plants in North West Province, South Africa: A Two-Stage Heckman Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi & Sinethemba Sibusisiwe Zulu & Temitope Oluwaseun Ojo & Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo, 2023. "Effect of Consumers’ Acceptance of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables and Their Contribution to Household Food Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, March.
    15. Nomfundo Shelembe & Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo & Albert Modi & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi & Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas Ngidi, 2024. "The Association of Socio-Economic Factors and Indigenous Crops on the Food Security Status of Farming Households in KwaZulu-Natal Province," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    16. Ifeoluwapo Oluwaseun Amao & Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & George Mavrotas & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, 2023. "Factors Affecting Food Security among Households in Nigeria: The Role of Crop Diversity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.
    17. Hema Kesa & Alex D. Tchuenchieu Kamgain & Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma & Xikombiso Mbhenyane, 2023. "Knowledge, Perception and Consumption of Indigenous Foods in Gauteng Region, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-13, October.
    18. Sabrina Jannat Mitu & Petra Schneider & Md. Shahidul Islam & Masud Alam & Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder & Mohammad Mosarof Hossain & Md. Mostafa Shamsuzzaman, 2021. "Socio-Economic Context and Community Resilience among the People Involved in Fish Drying Practices in the South-East Coast of Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-25, June.
    19. Jamilah Mohd Salim & Siti Nursyadiq Anuar & Khatijah Omar & Tengku Rozaina Tengku Mohamad & Nur Azura Sanusi, 2023. "The Impacts of Traditional Ecological Knowledge towards Indigenous Peoples: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, January.
    20. Qhelile Ntombikayise Bhebhe & Mjabuliseni S. C. Ngidi & Muthulisi Siwela & Temitope O. Ojo & Simphiwe Innocentia Hlatshwayo & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2023. "The Contribution of Trees and Green Spaces to Household Food Security in eThekwini Metro, KwaZulu-Natal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:ajosrd:342397. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/aesstea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.