ABSTRACT

Amaranthus spp occupies a strategic position in combating food and nutrition insecurity, as it is widely consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is drought tolerant and can grow on marginal soils, however, with adequate management; it can produce about 40 tons/ha of fresh leaves. The leaves are rich in nutrients that can combat malnutrition and support healthy eating. Despite the huge benefits offered by amaranth, it has been underutilized in South Africa. Its consumption is concentrated in rural areas, where it is harvested from the wild during the rains. There are no large-scale productions of amaranth, hence the lack of data on its production. Inadequate knowledge of its uses, agronomic requirement, low research efforts and the absence of an organized market are part of the reasons why amaranth is still underutilized in South Africa. This paper argues that with increased awareness of the benefits of amaranth and research geared towards agronomic improvement, social and economic acceptance, amaranth will be utilized nationwide with time. It recommends that conscious effort should be aimed at introducing amaranth into mainstream agricultural value chains through increased research attention and awareness of its nutritional benefits. This will ensure sustainable production to match the anticipated increase in consumption.

摘要

苋菜spp 在应对粮食和营养不安全方面具有战略地位，因为它在撒哈拉以南非洲被广泛消费。它耐旱，可以在边缘土壤上生长，但如果管理得当；可生产约40吨/公顷的鲜叶。叶子富含营养，可以对抗营养不良并支持健康饮食。尽管苋菜提供了巨大的好处，但它在南非并未得到充分利用。它的消费集中在农村地区，在雨季从野外收获。苋菜没有大规模生产，因此缺乏有关其生产的数据。对其用途的了解不足、农艺要求、研究工作量低以及缺乏有组织的市场是苋菜在南非仍未得到充分利用的部分原因。本文认为，随着人们对苋菜益处的认识提高以及针对农艺改良、社会和经济接受度的研究，苋菜将随着时间的推移在全国范围内得到利用。它建议有意识地努力将苋菜引入主流农业价值链，增加对其营养益处的研究关注和认识。这将确保可持续生产与预期的消费增长相匹配。它建议有意识地努力将苋菜引入主流农业价值链，增加对其营养益处的研究关注和认识。这将确保可持续生产与预期的消费增长相匹配。它建议有意识地努力将苋菜引入主流农业价值链，增加对其营养益处的研究关注和认识。这将确保可持续生产与预期的消费增长相匹配。