Women's Contribution to Household Improvement Through Neglected and Underutilized Crops (NUCs) Cultivation: Evidence from the Highland Kivu Region

Heliyon, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e42990 - e42990

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Yam urban market characteristics and consumer preferences in Bukavu City, eastern D.R. Congo

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: April 1, 2025

Demand-led breeding is essential for developing crop varieties that suit market requirements. This study employed surveys targeting both yam ( Dioscorea spp.) traders and consumers in Bukavu city, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to assess characteristics trait preferences. The results showed the operates predominantly informally dominated by women traders. peak supply period occurs from March May, characterized relatively stable prices, while availability gradually decline rare August January, prompting price increases approximately 23% towards October. Income trade plays crucial role meeting family basic needs, including food, child education, healthcare expenses, underscoring its importance food income security community. Market surveys, household interviews, regression analyses consistently identified taste, softness, tuber flesh color, shape, size as primary varietal preference criteria urban settings, with slight differences across gender age groups. Socioeconomic factors such location, education level, dietary integration yam, awareness nutritional benefits emerged key drivers consumption, regardless categories. Our helped differentiate four segments develop corresponding target product profiles (TPPs) inform initiatives tailored needs DRC. These findings provide valuable insights into characteristics, sustaining livelihoods, priority traits should be addressed plant enhance consumption.

Language: Английский

Climate-smart agronomic practices and their appraisal among smallholder sorghum farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo wetlands

Sustainable Futures, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100606 - 100606

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский