Enhancing nutrition security and incomes through adding value to indigenous vegetables in East and Central Uganda.

Elizabeth B. Kizito1, John N. Jagwe2, Michael Masanza1 , Apolo K. Kasharu3, Agnes . Namutebi1, Deborah Rees4

1Uganda Christian University2Farmgain Africa

3Coalition for Health and Agricultural Income Networks in Uganda4Natural Resource Institute, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom

BACKGROUND High postharvest (PH) losses are encountered along most food plant value

chains in Uganda and low developing countries.

The losses in vegetables, specifically Solanum aethiopicum (Shum group) is the focus of this work.

Currently high micronutrient deficiencies is a health burden Uganda is tackling, specifically Vitamin A, iron and zinc deficiencies (UBOS and MoH, 2012).

PH losses are categorized as quality (nutritional value) and quantity (volume), which all can translate to monetary loss.

A Typical journey from field to plate

Specific objectives1. Better knowledge of indigenous vegetable varieties

with prolonged shelflife.

2. Increased knowledge about technologies and processes for prolonging shelflife of indigenous vegetables.

3. Better understanding of efficient delivery pathways for value added indigenous vegetables to end-markets.

4. Information on utilization of indigenous vegetables shared with a wide array of stakeholders through appropriate pathways.

Research Questions & Methods

Question 1: Are there some indigenous vegetable landraces that have good post-harvest qualities?

Method: -Through a farmer participatory method, establish a collection & evaluate it -Characterize the collection morphologically and biochemically-Develop on-farm varietal line purification systems through participatory variety selection.

PROGRESS SO FAR

• A collection of about 190 different indigenous vegetables was assembled at UCU (YR 1)

• Baseline reports on production, consumption and utilization of AIV have been generated (YR 1)

• on-station and on-farm morphological evaluation of at least 10 vegetable accessions done in East & Central Uganda (YR 1,2)

•Nutritional characterization of the accessions of 6 different variables done. (YR 1)

• 1 PhD and 3 masters students enrolled at MAK and UCU respectively; over 120 farmers involved (YR 1)

Participatory germplasm collection & evaluation

Field & participatory evaluation of collected germplasm

Biochemical Characterization

• Key biochemical parameters for the PAEPARD vegetable project. Total Anti-oxidant Capacity (TAC), Vitamin C, phytate, Iron, Zinc, Carotenoids

• Results showed that S. aethiopicum generally had a higher TAC potential compared to the Amaranthus vegetable species.

• A manuscript is in final stages of preparation

• Molecular characterization currently ongoing

Research question 2Which technologies, in Uganda, can be adopted that prolong the shelf life of indigenous vegetables, such as Nakati ?Methods1.Determine post harvest losses (qualitative – micro-nutrient & quantitative) occurring along value chains2.Pilot test simulated post harvest (PH) handling practices and storage methods that enhance the shelf life3.Conduct participatory evaluation of best PH technologies

Charcoal cooler store being tested

Locally available packaging being tested

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a) Perforated polyethylene material, 100 µm

(b) 0.5 cm pore size meshed polyethylene material

(c) 0.1 cm pore size meshed (gauze) polyethylene material

Preliminary results

Appearance of Nakati leafy vegetables subjected to three types of storage conditions: ambient (25±5 °C; 75±5% RH), cold room (7.2 to 9.1 °C; 99.1 to 101.7 % RH) and charcoal cooler (20.9 to 21.9 °C; 98.5 to 99.1 % RH)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 4 Day 5

Ambient

Cold room

Charcoal cooler

Day 3

15

Moisture and weight changes of Nakati leafy vegetable subjected to three types of storages conditions

Result 4: Knowledge sharing• 5 talk shows have been held so far

• The website is up: www.afrisol.org

• One Video documentary on indigenous vegetable production

• Conducted Schools/community outreach programs

• Participated in 2 innovation platforms (CABI and HumidTropics)

• Several posters and brochures on each of these work packages has been produced

Knowledge sharing activities

AcknowledgementsVegetable farmers in Wakiso, Jinja & Mbale districts, Uganda

Respective Local Governments

CABI, HumidTropics, AVRDC, NARO, KCCA

Makerere University for research facilities

EU (PAEPARD/CRFII) through FARA for funding