Research and development on neglected and underutilized food crops in Africa: A review

Abstract Background : Africa is endowed with many neglected and underutilized crop species (NUCs) that have immense potential to significantly contribute to food and nutrition security, household incomes and health (medicinal values) to many rural communities in the continent. Despite the abundance of these NUCs, many countries in Africa are food insecure compared to the other continents in the world. The objectives of this review were to (1) identify NUCs and highlight their diverse uses in Africa; (2) synthesize information on the nutritional value of selected NUCs; (3) identify the key actors in research and development of NUCs and (4) highlight key research gaps to be addressed for promoting wider cultivation and commercialization of NUCs in Africa. Methods : The review involved a systematic literature search of reports and studies published in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, theses and dissertations for native, introduced and naturalized species in Africa that have received limited or no research and improvement efforts. The search strings used included ‘forgotten’ OR ‘minor crops’ OR ‘neglected’ OR ‘opportunity’ OR ‘orphan’ OR ‘underutilized’ OR ‘traditional’ AND ‘crop’ AND ‘Africa’ in relevant search engines used include Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, CABI Direct, African Journals Online and websites of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Various key words for specific native or indigenous crops were also used in searching the databases. Results : This review identified a total of 39 NUCs among cereals (3), pulses or legumes (11), roots and tubers (5), vegetables (6), oil crops (3), cooking bananas (3) and fruit tree crops (8). Cultivation and use of these NUCs are predominantly by resource-poor households. Research institutions have invested in research and development, but a few NUCs have benefitted from significant genetic improvement and viable export markets. For example, varietal development for some NUCs and vitamin A biofortified varieties of cooking bananas and sweet potato have benefitted from research and improvement efforts whereas limited progress has been made on underutilized fruit crops to bring them into wider cultivation and commercialization. Conclusions : The NUCs are resilient and adapted to the local environment making them reliable alternative crops for diversification, food security and income generation to many smallholder farmers if domesticated and promoted as commercial crops. There is need for major investment in research and development to improve and bring many NUCs into wider cultivation and commercialization.