Forsythe, Lora ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9931-4453, Nyamanda, Mala, Mbachi Mwangwela, Agnes and Bennett, Ben (2015) Beliefs, taboos and minor crop value chains: the case of Bambara Groundnut in Malawi. Food, Culture and Society, 18 (3). pp. 501-517. ISSN 1552-8014 (Print), 1751-7443 (Online) (doi:10.1080/15528014.2015.1043112)

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Abstract

Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) is a source of food for smallholder farmers that is increasingly promoted for its drought tolerance, soil enhancing qualities and nutritious properties. Being an accessible crop to smallholders, it has also recently been the focus of support to develop its value chain in Malawi. However, bambara groundnut is featured in the belief systems of rural people in Malawi, and may effect and be effected by market development. Beliefs and taboos reflect the life/death meanings symbolically represented in bambara groundnut, which influences how and by whom the crop is produced and consumed. These practices lend significant control over the crop to women. These findings have important implications for development and market related interventions that work with food crops, which need to be taken into account during the design phase.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	women; gender, minor crop; beliefs; taboos; local knowledge
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Food & Markets Department Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
Last Modified:	03 May 2020 01:18
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/12559

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