The Role of Traditional Leafy Vegetables in Informal Settlements

Abstract

The need for food security within informal settlements in South Africa and the world is crucial due to the increase of famine globally. Traditional leafy vegetables offer solutions towards food security in rural communities and informal settlements. This paper aims to understand the roles traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) play and their importance in food security within the Plastic View low-income community. Using a mixed-method research design, this study involved fieldwork to gather primary data through semi-structured questionnaires administered by the researchers in an informal settlement called Plastic View. The data was statistically analysed by using basic spreadsheets and the bivariate Pearsons test in IBM SPSS Statistics software. Plastic View is an informal settlement situated on a large piece of open land, surrounded by residential properties in Pretoria-East. It is home to roughly fifteen-thousand residents. The site was originally living quarters for the construction workers who built the neighbouring church. Through a comprehensive understanding of the crucial roles that the daily intake of TLVs have on food security, encompassing aspects pertaining to nutrition, agriculture, economic value, and various social factors such as enjoyment, culture, and childhood memories, their promotion and implementation becomes increasingly pertinent. This study reveals that preferred TLVs of the Plastic View residents were mainly influenced by the ease of preparation, followed by accessibility, nutritional value, taste, and cultural factors. This study’s findings suggest that factors related to convenience and practicality significantly impact food choices and preferences of the Plastic View residents. These results may have important implications for promoting healthy eating habits and improving overall health outcomes. Wild cultivation and marketing of TLVs in informal shops also contribute significantly to the economic value of these plants in food security. The study concludes that the accessibility to TLVs, their preparation methods and how informal shops supply TLVs play important roles in food security in Plastic View and can be implemented in rural communities across the global south.