Microgreens are innovative vegetable products whose production and consumption are gaining popularity globally thanks to their recognized nutraceutical properties. To date, the effects of lighting conditions and growing substrate on the performances of Brassica carinata microgreens (indigenous to Africa) remain underexplored. The present study aimed at providing insights into the influence of different lighting treatments provided by LEDs, namely monochromatic blue (B), red (R), cool white (W) and a combination of three color diodes (B + R + W), and substrates (cocopeat, sand and cocopeat–sand mix (v/v) (1:1)) on the growth, yield and bioactive compounds of B. carinata microgreens. Seeds were germinated in dark chambers and cultivated in growth chambers equipped with LED lighting systems for 14 days under a fixed light intensity of 160 ± 2.5 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and photoperiod of 12 h d⁻¹. The best performances were associated with the spectrum that combined B + R + W LEDs and with substrate resulting from the cocopeat–sand mix, including the highest yield (19.19 g plant⁻¹), plant height (9.94 cm), leaf area (68.11 mm²) and canopy cover (55.9%). Enhanced carotenoid and flavonoid contents were obtained with B + R + W LEDs, while the B LED increased the total amount of chlorophyll (11,880 mg kg⁻¹). For plants grown under B + R + W LEDs in cocopeat, high nitrate levels were observed. Our results demonstrate that substrate and light environment interact to influence the growth, yield and concentration of bioactive compounds of B. carinata microgreens.

Agricultural productivity impacts the environment and natural resources in various ways. The severity of these impacts has triggered the emergence of natural resource management and the related, highly criticized science of agroecology. Vegetable production has known environmental impacts. However, the extent of its participation in sustainable production has not been adequately explored. This review sought to explore the spaciotemporal position of vegetables in a suite of existing sustainable agricultural practices, explore regional variations and discover lessons that can guide the future of vegetable production. There are regional differences regarding sustainable production practices and the associated barriers to their adoption. Generally, sustainable agricultural practices with a societal history in a region tend to be successful, unlike when they are “new” innovations. The major barriers to sustainable agricultural practices in vegetable production are economy-related (total investment cost) and crop-related and are also related to the technology transmission approaches. Unfulfilled expectations and a lack of community participation in technology development are noted challenges, which have led to dis-adoption. A farmer-centered approach to technology promotion could help. Comparatively, southern Africa has the most challenges in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. From the lessons learned from other regions, agroecology in vegetable cultivation is not unachievable in Africa. The projected challenges mean that sustainable vegetable production is inevitable.

Globally, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae), commonly known as roselle or hibiscus, is a multipurpose vegetable crop. In Malawi, where it is referred to as ‘Chidede’ (Chichewa), it is recognized as an underutilized traditional plant with significant potential. Traditional vegetable production in Malawi is being promoted to enhance nutritional food security and climate change mitigation. Recently, biochar has become increasingly used to improve agricultural productivity through climate-smart technologies. To date, the influence of rice husk biochar (RHB) on H. sabdariffa remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effects of RHB on the vegetative growth, response to water stress, and post-stress recovery of H. sabdariffa using a greenhouse pot experiment. Our findings indicate that biochar-amended soil enhanced plant height, stem thickness, and total leaf area by 16.5%, 12.0%, and 12.9%, respectively. Water stress significantly reduced all assessed growth parameters (p < 0.05) except total leaf area and average leaf area per plant. Under water stress conditions, biochar-treated plants were significantly taller (p < 0.05) and had a higher specific leaf area (p < 0.05), demonstrating a positive effect. A post-stress recovery analysis revealed that H. sabdariffa fully recovered in height and biomass, while partial recovery was observed for root collar diameter and compensatory recovery for total leaf area and average leaf area. Biochar-treated plants exhibited superior post-stress recovery compared to those grown in unamended soil. Overall, plants grown with biochar were taller and had a larger root collar diameter, higher stem and leaf fresh biomass, and greater total leaf area. These findings underscore biochar’s potential as a sustainable soil amendment for enhancing growth and resilience in underutilized crops. Further studies should explore field experiments to access environmental heterogeneity and examine the diverse factors influencing biochar efficiency.

Casual wage labour (known as ganyu in Malawi) is a widely adopted strategy to cope with insufficient income and food production in rural households. Although previous studies have discussed the magnitude of the contribution of ganyu to rural livelihoods, the actual conditions of individual rural households have not been studied in detail. The current research conducted a detailed village-level case study to analyse the relationship between ganyu and rural livelihoods in Malawi. The characteristics of three categories of households were examined: those that engaged in ganyu, those that employed ganyu, and those that engaged in and employed ganyu. The study found that: (1) income from ganyu and its contribution to household food security differed considerably based on age, gender, household circumstances, and local conditions; (2) households that employed ganyu were not necessarily wealthy or achieved self-sufficiency in maize production; and (3) contradictory behaviour of a household to engage in and employ ganyu was a result of the context-specific needs of that household. Rather than viewing ganyu as poorly paid agricultural wage labour, the study propose acknowledging that each household has its own rationale for engaging in or employing ganyu. Such an understanding from a household-level perspective would better inform poverty and food security policies.

Chirwa M, Mazibuko DM, Sagona WCJ. 2024. Population structure and distribution of baobab (Adansonia digitata) in Malawi in an era of enhanced forest resource utilization. Asian J For 8: 88-97. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) contribute to people's livelihood security, especially those in rural areas. However, there is a growing concern that NTFP-providing trees are declining due to land-use change, use intensi?cation, and over-harvesting, therefore an urgent need for sustainable use. This study was conducted in six districts in Malawi: Mangochi, Salima, Mwanza, Neno, Chikwawa, and Nsanje, to understand the population dynamics of Adansonia digitata L., which would inform sustainable management of the species. The study aimed to investigate the ecological conditions supporting A. digitata growth and assess human impacts on regeneration and seedling recruitment. The assessments were done on 1,223 trees in baobab clusters overlaid with systematic grids with a 500 m spacing interval between individual plots. The trees' diameter ranged between 230 and 305 cm, translating to yield estimates between 520 and 1,084 fruits per tree for the districts. The species was most prevalent in settlements and farmlands and least likely in grasslands. Population structures showed that the species is unstable in replenishment, with a limited number of saplings and juveniles in the sampled locations. Generally, the baobab population seemed less affected by diseases or pests, as no more than 3 % of the assessed population was infested. Deliberate efforts are required to promote raising baobab trees by nurturing the existing few seedlings and saplings or up-scaled integration of the resource on farmlands.