African Leafy Vegetables Programme: Bioversity Impact Assessment

A project by Bioversity and several partners in Kenya to increase the production, consumption and marketing of a wide range of African leafy vegetables and to improve household welfare.

Local leafy vegetables have long been an important part of people's diet in Africa - nutritious, affordable and adapted to local growing conditions and cultural traditions. But in the latter part of the 20th century, they fell out of fashion.

Between 1996 and 2004, Bioversity International worked with partners in Kenya to revive the interest of researchers and ordinary people in these valuable foods.

An impact assessment study showed that the project increased the number of households growing African leafy vegetables by almost a third in rural areas and more than doubled the households growing them in Peri-urban areas.

Nearly two-thirds of households increased their incomes from growing African leafy vegetables, while nearly half had increased their consumption. People used this income primarily to buy extra food for the household and to pay for schooling.

Bioversity was ranked by the other project partners as the most influential partner in promoting production and use of African leafy vegetables and in raising awareness of their value.

Contact:

 Elisabetta Gotor