4th Annual Soweto Conference, CSBD, UJ 2013 African leafy vegetable enterprises: What are the prospects for these enterprises to be entrepreneurial and socio-economically viable in peri-urban and rural South African conditions? By: V M Mmbengwa1,2*, C P Du Plooy1, W Jansen van Rensburg1, N Mavhungu1, L 1 1 2 Zulu , S Mulandana , and H D van Schalkwyk 1Agricultural Research Council (ARC-VOPI), Pretoria, Republic of South Africa 2 North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, Republic of South Africa Paper presented at the UJ CSBD 4th Annual Soweto Conference 28th & 29th October 2013 Turning Tangible and Intangible Assets/Resources in Townships into Business Opportunities Centre for Small Business Development (CSBD) University of Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 559 5649/5518 Potcheefstroom Road www.uj.ac.za Fax: +27 11 559 5696 Soweto [email protected] 4th Annual Soweto Conference, CSBD, UJ 2013 Table of Contents Abstract ____________________________________________________________________ 2 Acknowledgements: .................................................................................................................................. 2 1. Introduction _____________________________________________________________ 3 2. Literature review _________________________________________________________ 4 2.1 Importance of the establishment of indigenous African vegetable enterprises in South Africa .... 4 2.2 Nutritional value of African leafy vegetables ................................................................................. 5 2.3 Production of and demand for African leafy vegetables across countries .................................... 5 3. Methodology ____________________________________________________________ 7 4. Results and discussion ____________________________________________________ 9 4.1 Descriptive analysis ...................................................................................................................... 9 4.1.1 Selection of entrepreneurs in Kwazulu-Natal province ......................................................... 9 4.1.2 Selection of entrepreneurs in North West Province ............................................................ 10 4.1.3 Selection of farmers in Limpopo Province .......................................................................... 11 4.2 Assessment of farmers according to mean age .......................................................................... 13 4.3 Assessment of farmers according to educational achievement .................................................. 14 4.4 Assessment of farmers according to food processing capacity .................................................. 15 4.5 Assessment of available on-farm infrastructure, including water and electricity ........................ 18 4.6 Assessment of market status ...................................................................................................... 18 5. Conclusions ____________________________________________________________ 21 6. References _____________________________________________________________ 22 1 | P a g e 4th Annual Soweto Conference, CSBD, UJ 2013 Abstract The primary aim of this study was to identify entrepreneurial and socio-economic conditions of African leafy vegetable enterprises in both rural and peri-urban South African communities, with the secondary aim of using such information to empower these communities with skills, expertise, and business opportunities. The main objective was to solve the challenges of poverty, malnutrition, and under- nutrition in these poverty-stricken areas. In designing an appropriate sampling process for the study, a specific sampling frame was drawn. A non-probability sampling method was preferred, due to the nature (categorical) of the data collected. A purposive sampling procedure, where respondents (n=1093) from Kwazulu-Natal (n=96), North West (n=267), and Limpopo (n=730) provinces were interviewed, was used. The data collected were analysed using the IBM SPSS Exact Tests software. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. The results show that, for these enterprises to make tangible contributions towards socio-economic conditions and alleviate the lack of entrepreneurship, serious attention should be given to low educational levels of entrepreneurs, infrastructural challenges, and strategic location of the enterprises. The study recommends strong support for these enterprises, as their potential for attracting younger entrepreneurs, despite their survivalist nature, has been proven. It appears that these enterprises have high potential to reduce youth unemployment and poverty. Keywords: entrepreneurs, leafy, potential, poverty, malnutrition Corresponding Author: VM Mmbengwa, Tel: +2712 841 9696, Fax: +2786 515-3308, E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) and Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Institute (ARC-VOPI) for their valuable contributions in the study. However, the information provided is the opinion of the authors. 2 | P a g e 4th Annual Soweto Conference, CSBD, UJ 2013 1. Introduction African vegetables (often called ‘indigenous vegetables’) are well known in the rural and peri-urban areas as a reliable source of micronutrients for the poorest African societies. The role that African vegetables play in these societies has been reorganised without scientific and commercial value. Recently, scientific and commercial societies have shown renewed interest in either commercialising or propagating these commodities. It is reported that various organisations in Africa and abroad have done research on indigenous leafy, seed, and tuber plants that are used as vegetables and pot herbs, but this research is fragmented and not always well documented (Oelofse and Van Averbeke, 2012). This interest manifested in the recognition of the role that these vegetables are playing in these societies, makes them to be more important in addressing the socio-economic challenges (socio-economic problems, such as the increase in the rural population, climate change, growing unemployment, food insecurity, economic slowdown, and malnutrition particularly prevalent in impoverished societies) through amongst others, the provision of reliable and available high value nutrients. These challenges have prompted the whole world to opt for cost-effective and easily available sources of micronutrients, in order to avert malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies. It is an established fact that African vegetables are a reliable source of nutrients for vulnerable, poor societies across the globe (Jansen van Rensburg et al., 2007). Oelofse and Van Averbeke (2012) reported that indigenous (traditional African) vegetables are rich in micronutrients, and increase the bioavailability and absorption of micronutrients from staple foods. These authors further pointed out that the awareness of the nutritional benefits that can be derived from the consumption of these vegetables is part of indigenous knowledge. For example, after giving birth, women in Uganda consume Cleome gynandra, which is rich in iron and other micronutrients (Chweya and Mnzava, 1997). Rural people grow up eating these vegetables, and most like their taste, which is not always the case with exotic vegetables (Oelofse and Van Averbeke, 2012). However, these authors argued that the contribution that indigenous (traditional) vegetables make to human nutrition depends heavily on the way in which they are prepared, and on the quantity and frequency of consumption. Generally, the leaves are a good source of calcium, magnesium, beta carotene, iron, and vitamin C, whereas the roots and seeds are rich in proteins (Oelofse and Van Averbeke, 2012). 3 | P a g e 4th Annual Soweto Conference, CSBD, UJ 2013 2. Literature review 2.1 Importance of the establishment of indigenous African vegetable enterprises in South Africa The establishment of indigenous African vegetable enterprises is seen by many experts as not only critically important for the economy of rural, economically depressed areas, but also for the health of their inhabitants. Various authors have acknowledged the importance of indigenous vegetables, especially in the rural parts of South Africa (Jansen van Rensburg et al., 2007; Modi et al., 2006; Vorster et al., 2007; Vorster et al., 2008; Shackleton, 2003). Shei (2008) reported that many species of African traditional vegetables are not known, and are only used locally. However, they are extremely important for nutrition and farming income throughout Africa, often supplying most of the daily requirements of vitamins A, B complex, and C (ascorbic acid) for rural people. The production and utilisation of vegetables can make a much-needed contribution to better nutrition and income in many African countries, but there is a serious threat that many species will fall into disuse in some areas if appropriate countermeasures are not taken (Shei, 2008). Knowing the nutritional, medicinal, and economic value of native West African vegetables could definitely add value to the cultivation, consumption, conservation, and regional/international commercialisation of indigenous African vegetables. Such knowledge, if well exploited, could also serve as one of the main corridors for hunger and poverty alleviation in Africa. According to Mavengahama et al. (2013), some of the very poor families in South Africa are using indigenous vegetables as