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Poverty and malnutrition are two big words. We often hear them being cited as two of the most emerging global issues we face today. For a developing country like the Philippines, these issues are already humdrum to the ears. We witness and feel them mostly in the rural areas where livelihood opportunities are scarce and nutrition advocacy programs of the government fail to reach those in the far-flung areas of the country.

Poverty, malnutrition, and Philippine indigenous vegetables. What is the connection?

They don't seem to rhyme or make a significant combination either but these three big concepts play an important role in a project implemented by Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC) -The World Vegetable Center, the principal international center for vegetable R&D, based in Taiwan. It aims to reduce poverty and malnutrition in developing countries through improved production and consumption of vegetables.

The project, “Promotion of Indigenous Vegetable for Poverty Alleviation and Nutrition Improvement of Rural Households in the Philippines,” aims to strengthen food security, improve nutrition and the income-generating capacity of the rural poor, at the same time conserving the biodiversity of Philippine vegetables.

It is coordinated by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with DA-Regional Field Units (RFUs), the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the local government units (LGUs).

Indigenous vegetables
According to the World Indigenous Vegetables (2006), indigenous vegetables (IVs) refer to those vegetable species native to or originating from a particular region or environment. It includes those species that are naturalized or varieties that have evolved from materials introduced to the region from another geographical area over a long period of time. High-yielding vegetables as products of scientific breeding are not indigenous.

Examples of Philippine indigenous vegetables are: alugbati, ampalaya, bayok-bayok, himbabao, kulitis, labong, upo, malunggay, pako, saluyot, talinum, talong, amaranths, cucurbits, radish, luffa, wax gourd, snake gourd, squash, jute, basella, kangkong, ivy gourd, basil, lablab, rosella, okra, yardlong bean, winged bean, cucumber, tomato, and vegetable soybean.

These vegetables are easier to grow, more resistant to pests, and acceptable to local tastes. It is due to these reasons that indigenous veggies are suitable as cash crops in peri-urban systems, source of vegetables for daily sustenance in home gardens, source of new crops, and as source of variation for diversification of production systems and diet.

Unfortunately, these vegetables are at risk in many countries. This is because traditional varieties are being replaced by high yielding commercial varieties, which are more proficient and are preferred by most producers.

Why indigenous vegetables?
Vegetables are cheap sources of food in promoting health and are also the most sustainable. Indigenous vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals and other health promoting factors such as high anti-oxidant activity.

Indigenous vegetables can play a major role in the diversification of Filipino diet leading to a more balanced source of micronutrients. AVRDC studies showed that the diversification of diets can increase in nutritional content. Although the production of indigenous vegetables is challenged by the extensive cultivation of high value commercial vegetables, the value and desirable traits of indigenous vegetables are comparable and sometimes better than the commercial varieties. They are resistant to pests and diseases, easier to cultivate, and acceptable to local taste.

Moreover, the integration of indigenous vegetables in the backyard garden or as intercrop to major crops and in other production systems could provide livelihood opportunities and an increase in income of the resource-poor households thus, addressing the issue of poverty.

Despite the recognized importance of indigenous vegetables in supplementing food and nutritional need of the people, they are underutilized. The possible reasons are lack of available germplasm for widespread use, lack of seeds, inadequate information on use and importance, lack of information about their performance and input requirements, and insufficient information on how indigenous vegetables can fit into production systems.

Through this AVRDC project, introduction and selection of indigenous vegetables is promoted through technology demonstrations on proper cultivation and utilization in selected, target rural areas in the Philippines. The priority areas include those with high prevalence of malnutrition and poverty, specifically the poorest provinces of the country in Regions 5, 6, and 10. Likewise, the project promotes the use and benefits of cultivating indigenous vegetables in home gardens and in the production of seeds.

Among the 10 priority indigenous vegetables for promotion are: alugbati (Basella alba), ampalaya for leaves or bayok-bayok (Momordica charantia), himbabao (Allaeanthus luzonicus), kulitis (Amaranthus spp.), labong (bamboo shoot), upo or bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceria), malunggay (Moringa spp.), pako (fern), saluyot (Corchorus spp.), and talinum (Talinum triangulare). These indigenous vegetables were chosen based on: 1) nutrient content, 2) medicinal and health benefits, 3) non-food uses, and 4) volume of production and food preparation.

These vegetables are considered “indigenous” to the Philippines because they grow abundantly in the rural areas, although not everybody is aware of their value as food and as affordable and alternative sources of essential nutrients.

Indigenous vegetables field day
With more than a hundred attendees (farmers, traders, students, and consumers) during the Indigenous Vegetable Field Day held in Eastern Visayas in October and Northern Mindanao in November, who were thrilled at the sight of flourishing plots with diverse indigenous species of vegetables of different shapes, sizes, vibrant color variations, and texture the activity was considered a success.

The field day served not only as an eye opener for hopeful growers but a wider opportunity for other concerned stakeholders to learn the importance and essence of the project.

The effective networking of concerned agencies like the Eastern Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (EVIARC), the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (NOMIARC), and the LGUs also contributed a lot to the success of the activity.

Among the indigenous vegetables exhibited in plots include: eggplants, amaranths, cucurbits, radish, bottle gourd, luffa (smooth and ridged types), wax gourd, bittergourd, snake gourd, squash, jute, basella, kangkong, ivy gourd, basil, lablab, rosella, okra, yardlong bean, winged bean, cucumber, tomato, and vegetable soybean.

The attendees selected the vegetables based on overall appearance, yield and high fruiting ability which are also the standards for high demand and profitability in the local market. The size and appearance of the vegetables also made a great impact particularly those in the food and eatery business.

These field days are parts of the AVRDC and its Philippine partners’ efforts to collect and conserve indigenous vegetables. As Dr. Liwayway Engle, head of the AVRDC Genetic Resources and Seed Unit, emphasized initiating the awareness about these kinds of veggies and collecting the seeds are just part of the initial steps. The ultimate goal is an increase in the actual utilization of these vegetables.

At the moment, promising lines are being identified and their seeds are being purified before distribution. Nutritional tests have also been conducted and production strategies are being developed. In no time, these so-called underutilized vegetables will be known and used in the mainstream vegetables arena.

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Sources:
1.  Indigenous Vegetables. Info can be retrieved at: http://203.64.245.173/world_iv/iv.asp
2.  “Thousands of indigenous vegetables conserved” Info can be retrieved at: http://www.avrdc.org/news/03indigenous.html
3.  “A Field Day of Indigenous Vegetables Signals a 'Sunrise' Vegetable Industry to Eastern Visayas of the Philippines” by Flordeliza C. Faustino and Liwayway M. Engle, published on 02 November 2006. Info can be retrieved at: http://203.64.245.173/world_iv/News/news.asp
4.  “Indigenous Vegetables Demo Excites Visitors in DA- Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Center's 13th-Year Field Day” by Flordeliza C. Faustino and Liwayway M. Engle, published on 01 October 2006. Info can be retrieved at: http://203.64.245.173/world_iv/News/news-10-01-2006.asp