Conservation and seed production of African leafy vegetables at Maseno University botanic garden, Kenya

Abstract

African leafy vegetables (ALVs) have been grown for centuries on the African continent. Although neglected they havemany advantages that include, nutritional and medicinal value, agronomic advantages and potential as income generation Despitethese advantages they have been neglected and are threatened by extinction. This calls for in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategiesfor these species. The objective of the study was to: identify and Collect germplasm of the priority African leafy vegetables in theLake Victoria region, propagate, multiply the collected germplasm of the Priority African leafy vegetables and set up seed supp ortsystems for the priority African leafy vegetables. Household and market surveys and germplasm collection were undertaken inWestern Kenya. Seed propagation, bulking, processing, packaging and distribution was also doneThe priority African leafy veg-stables in Western Kenya were cowpeas, leaf amaranths, African nightshades, Jute mallow, spiderplant, slenderleaf, African kale andpumpkin leaves. Propagation, seed multiplication, processing and distribution of the priority vegetables was undertaken. Seedsupport system was set up at Maseno University Botanic garden and research on priority ALVs is being undertaken