Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study

Abstract Background As much as local communities have employed traditional techniques of preservation to enhance availability and utilization of cowpea leaves, the efficiency of these techniques in achieving food security need to be established. The current study sought to document trends and constr...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	J. O. Owade, G. O. Abong’, M. W. Okoth, A. W. Mwang’ombe
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Traditional Drying Cowpea leaves Availability Utilization Agriculture (General) S1-972
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/4c9fa103cb6844f0950689dfce499560
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:4c9fa103cb6844f0950689dfce499560
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:4c9fa103cb6844f0950689dfce4995602021-11-21T12:05:26ZTrends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study10.1186/s43170-021-00064-52662-4044https://doaj.org/article/4c9fa103cb6844f0950689dfce4995602021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00064-5https://doaj.org/toc/2662-4044Abstract Background As much as local communities have employed traditional techniques of preservation to enhance availability and utilization of cowpea leaves, the efficiency of these techniques in achieving food security need to be established. The current study sought to document trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in order to overcome of seasonal availability of the vegetable. Method A mixed method convergent design that included household survey of randomly sampled cowpea producing households and focus group discussion and key informant interviews with stakeholders in the ASAL areas of Kitui and Taita Taveta Counties of Kenya was conducted. Results The study found that the utilization of preserved forms of cowpea leaves in the in-season was by 58% of the respondents. Three quarters (73.6%) of the households could not get the vegetables from their own sources during scarcity, whereas 25% did not consume the vegetables at all at such times. The preserved forms of the vegetables was utilized among 24.0% of the households, with significantly (p < 0.05) higher utilization in less arid areas. Households that were involved in commercialization of cowpea leaves and sale of the preserved forms in the open air market had significantly higher likelihood (p < 0.001, OR = 2.47 and p < 0.001, OR = 2.3, respectively) of utilization of the vegetables during scarcity. Emerging themes from the qualitative survey showed that weaknesses in the policy environment, stakeholder interest, marketing and accessibility to proper equipment were the deterrents of traditional preservation of the vegetable. Conclusion In conclusion, the preserved forms of cowpea leaves promoted availability of the vegetable especially in the dry seasons. In as much as there is limited practising of preservation of the vegetables, its availability is enhanced through dehydration and other value-addition techniques among a significant number of the households.J. O. OwadeG. O. Abong’M. W. OkothA. W. Mwang’ombeBMCarticleTraditionalDryingCowpea leavesAvailabilityUtilizationAgriculture (General)S1-972ENCABI Agriculture and Bioscience, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Traditional Drying Cowpea leaves Availability Utilization Agriculture (General) S1-972
spellingShingle	Traditional Drying Cowpea leaves Availability Utilization Agriculture (General) S1-972 J. O. Owade G. O. Abong’ M. W. Okoth A. W. Mwang’ombe Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
description	Abstract Background As much as local communities have employed traditional techniques of preservation to enhance availability and utilization of cowpea leaves, the efficiency of these techniques in achieving food security need to be established. The current study sought to document trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in order to overcome of seasonal availability of the vegetable. Method A mixed method convergent design that included household survey of randomly sampled cowpea producing households and focus group discussion and key informant interviews with stakeholders in the ASAL areas of Kitui and Taita Taveta Counties of Kenya was conducted. Results The study found that the utilization of preserved forms of cowpea leaves in the in-season was by 58% of the respondents. Three quarters (73.6%) of the households could not get the vegetables from their own sources during scarcity, whereas 25% did not consume the vegetables at all at such times. The preserved forms of the vegetables was utilized among 24.0% of the households, with significantly (p < 0.05) higher utilization in less arid areas. Households that were involved in commercialization of cowpea leaves and sale of the preserved forms in the open air market had significantly higher likelihood (p < 0.001, OR = 2.47 and p < 0.001, OR = 2.3, respectively) of utilization of the vegetables during scarcity. Emerging themes from the qualitative survey showed that weaknesses in the policy environment, stakeholder interest, marketing and accessibility to proper equipment were the deterrents of traditional preservation of the vegetable. Conclusion In conclusion, the preserved forms of cowpea leaves promoted availability of the vegetable especially in the dry seasons. In as much as there is limited practising of preservation of the vegetables, its availability is enhanced through dehydration and other value-addition techniques among a significant number of the households.
format	article
author	J. O. Owade G. O. Abong’ M. W. Okoth A. W. Mwang’ombe
author_facet	J. O. Owade G. O. Abong’ M. W. Okoth A. W. Mwang’ombe
author_sort	J. O. Owade
title	Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
title_short	Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
title_full	Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
title_fullStr	Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
title_full_unstemmed	Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study
title_sort	trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in kenya: a convergent mixed method study
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/4c9fa103cb6844f0950689dfce499560
work_keys_str_mv	AT joowade trendsandconstraintsofutilizationofpreservedcowpealeavesamonghouseholdsinaridandsemiaridlandsinkenyaaconvergentmixedmethodstudy AT goabong trendsandconstraintsofutilizationofpreservedcowpealeavesamonghouseholdsinaridandsemiaridlandsinkenyaaconvergentmixedmethodstudy AT mwokoth trendsandconstraintsofutilizationofpreservedcowpealeavesamonghouseholdsinaridandsemiaridlandsinkenyaaconvergentmixedmethodstudy AT awmwangombe trendsandconstraintsofutilizationofpreservedcowpealeavesamonghouseholdsinaridandsemiaridlandsinkenyaaconvergentmixedmethodstudy
_version_	1718419243099226112

Trends and constraints of utilization of preserved cowpea leaves among households in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya: a convergent mixed method study

Ejemplares similares