Africa-Press – Eswatini. Through the Taiwan Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI) in Eswatini, the World Vegetable Centre (World VEG) has donated 5 120 seeds to the country.
The donated seed kits will be distributed to deserving beneficiaries.
According to a press statement released by TAVI, the seeds would be distributed to 16 primary schools, 51 Neighbourhood care points, 53 farmer groups, 80 champion farmers, and approximately 5 000 farming households by the ministry of agriculture and TAVI in partnership with the World Vegetable Centre.
“The seed kits that are being donated contain the following traditional African vegetables that are well adapted to the Eswatini environment which include African eggplant, African nightshade, amaranth, Ethiopian mustard, jute mallow, mungbean, okra, pumpkin and vegetable cowpea,” read the statement.
It was further mentioned that each kit would provide enough seed for a household to grow vegetables on at least 100 square metres and the vegetables could provide adequate vitamins A and C requirements for a family of eight, as well as supplementary protein and iron.
“Successful production and utilisation of the traditional African vegetables is expected to improve food security and nutrition in the country,” read the statement.
It was said that the vegetables were easy to grow, could easily fit into the cropping systems, they are prone to fewer pests and diseases and could be grown without the use of chemicals, which makes them safe for human health and the environment.
“These vegetables can be grown at low cost in many different contexts, including school gardens, home gardens, community gardens and farm fields,” said the statement.
It was mentioned that by distributing these seed kits, TAVI would be giving beneficiaries the means to plant high-yielding, nutrient dense vegetables.
“After distributing the seed kits, TAVI trains the beneficiaries on production and utilisation of the traditional African vegetables. In the schools, gardens will be established to enhance hands-on learning by the pupils,” the statement reads. It was explained that the vegetable kits were expected to have an immediate impact on the availability of diverse meals for the families and schools that the project is able to reach.
“The World Vegetable Centre is grateful for the funds provided by the Taiwan Council of Agriculture (COA) and the Taiwan ministry of finance (MOFA) to implement the TAVI project in Eswatini. TAVI is complementing on-going national programmes to ensure hunger and malnutrition is eradicated through access to improved seed of nutritious and healthy traditional vegetables,” part of the statement reads.
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