scholarly journals Short Communication: Ethnobotanical study of wild and cultivated vegetables in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Spinacia Oleracea ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Ethnobotanical Study ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Maroyi A. 2020. Short Communication: Ethnobotanical study of wild and cultivated vegetables in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 3982-3988.  Vegetables are an important component of agricultural biodiversity required for providing a wide range of ecosystem goods and services. The current study was undertaken in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa to document wild and cultivated vegetables. Research data were collected by means of interviews and field surveys carried out in different seasons with one hundred and thirty-eight randomly selected participants. During the interviews, we documented information on names of edible vegetables, uses, plant parts consumed, and their preparation. A total of 32 species belonging to 26 genera and 15 families were recorded in the study area. The plant families with highest number of vegetable species were Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, and Solanaceae with at least four species each. The main uses of vegetables identified in the study area were leafy vegetables (59.4%), edible fruits and tubers (21.9% each), culinary herbs or spices (12.5%), edible seeds (9.4%) and edible stems (6.3%). The species which were categorized as important with relative frequency of citation (RFC) values >0.3 were Brassica oleracea, Solanum tuberosum, Cucurbita moschata, Spinacia oleracea, and Cucurbita maxima. Both vegetable species collected from the wild and conventional vegetables cultivated in home gardens are important to livelihoods needs of the local people.

scholarly journals A survey of plants used by rural small-scale farmers to control pests of cabbage in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nolitha L. Skenjana ◽  
Maxwell A. Poswal
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Botanical Insecticides ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Background: Resource-poor small-scale farmers often cannot afford the high prices of chemical insecticides to control pests on crops; as a result, some use botanical insecticides. Aim: The aim of the study was to document ethnobotanical pest control methods used by rural small-scale farmers to control pests of cabbage in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Setting: 217 rural small-scale crop-producing farmers from 14 towns in the Amathole, Joe Gqabi, Alfred Nzo, Chris Hani and OR Tambo Districts participated in the study. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to consenting farmers between July and November in 2012, using the convenience and stratified purposive sampling techniques. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Results: The majority of farmers using botanical insecticides were females above the age of 60 years. The farmers identified 23 plants, which they use in their pest control strategies against seven pests of cabbage. The annual herb Tagetes minuta L. (Asteraceae) was cited as the most commonly used herb by 47% of the respondents, followed by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiceae), Aloe ferox Mills. (Asphodelaceae) and Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae). Various plant parts were used in combinations or alone in the preparation of formulations mainly against aphids, cutworms and the diamondback moth. Conclusion: The plants, plant parts, combinations and formulations used by farmers in their cabbage pest control strategies need to be scientifically authenticated for efficacy.

scholarly journals Short Communication: Local perceptions about utilization of invasive alien species Opuntia ficus-indica in three Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
LULEKA MDWESHU ◽  
A. Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Alien Species ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Local Perceptions ◽  
Opuntia Ficus Indica ◽  
Local Municipalities

Abstract. Mdweshu L, Maroyi A. 2020. Short Communication: Local perceptions about utilization of invasive alien species Opuntia ficus-indica in three Local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas 21: 1653-1659.  Opuntia ficus-indica is a succulent plant species categorized as invasive in South Africa but has both commercial and non-market uses. This study evaluated local people’s perceptions about utilization of O. ficus-indica in three local Municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Data on the local perceptions on O. ficus-indica in the study area were documented through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews via questionnaires with households between June 2018 and August 2019. A sample of 150 participants chosen using snowball-sampling method provided information on utilization of O. ficus-indica. The importance of O. ficus-indica as a useful plant species was ubiquitously perceived, with all participants reporting its contribution as an important component of their livelihood needs and more than three quarters (88.0%) were using the species on a regular basis. Close to half of the respondents (49.3%) regarded O. ficus-indica as an important source of cash income. The positive socio-economic contributions of O. ficus-indica need to be taken into account when evaluating the costs and benefits resulting from invasions caused by alien plant species.

scholarly journals A preliminary report on the use of FAMACHA© for haemonchosis in goats in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa during the late autumn / early winter period : short communication

2007 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sri Jeyakumar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Preliminary Report ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Study Sites

From May to July 2005 a study was conducted on the prevalence and effects of haemonchosis in goats farmed on communal grazing belonging to resource-poor farmers at two study sites, namely Mlungisi (26°53'E, 31°53'S) and Ezibeleni (26°58'E, 31°53'S), situated within the Chris Hani District Municipality in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The usefulness of the FAMACHA© system for identifying goats needing treatment was confirmed. It allowed stock owners to identify badly affected goats accurately, as borne out by the agreement between FAMACHA scores and corresponding haematocrits.

scholarly journals Home gardens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A promising approach to enhance household food security and well-being

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pelisa Ngcaba ◽  
Alfred Maroyi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Home Gardens ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Household Food

Abstract. Ngcaba P, Maroyi A. 2021. Home gardens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A promising approach to enhance household food security and well-being. Biodiversitas 22: 4045-4053. The current study is aimed at documenting the diversity and composition of food plants cultivated and maintained in home gardens; and also assessing their role at enhancing household food security and well-being in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. This study was undertaken in six villages in the province, between June 2014 and March 2016. Information on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, home garden practices, food plants grown and maintained in home gardens were collected by means of questionnaires and guided field walks with 129 respondents. A total of 32 edible plants belonging to 27 genera and 18 families were recorded. The main uses of plants grown and managed in home gardens were edible fruits or seeds (56.3%), leaves cooked as leafy vegetables (28.1%), edible bulbs, roots and tubers (21.9%), beverage, cereal, and culinary herb or spice (3.1% each). The most preferred species were Zea mays (64.3%), followed by Brassica oleracea (59.7%), Solanum tuberosum (58.9%), Spinacia oleracea (52.7%), Allium cepa (51.9%), Cucurbita moschata (44.2%), Capsicum annuum (38.0%), Cucurbita maxima (31.8%) and Daucas carota (31.0%). This study showed that home gardens can provide alternative sources of diverse and nutritious food to households, making home gardens an important agricultural resource for increasing food security in the province.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document