Possible benefits and challenges associated with production of chickpea in inland South Africa

In South Africa, chickpea is becoming one of most consumed pulses but its demand is currently met through imports. In general, the imported chickpea grain is likely costly with a relatively lower nutritional value as is largely the case with most imported food products. In this review paper, we discuss how its production in South Africa would improve the nutritional status of humans and livestock and enhance the fertility status of cropping fields. Other benefits include that its production would be of financial reward to local farmers and ensure better nutritional quality and boost the country's economy and global competiveness. Studies conducted in South Africa have assessed the crop's suitable planting season and where planted in winter, irrigation has sustained its growth. We discuss challenges of its plantation in the dry winter season given the on-going water restrictions on agricultural activities, drought, low water levels in dams, and water scarcity. Suggestions include identification of low-temperature locations and fields experiments be established to assess the crop's adaptation to summer cropping. Field studies conducted locally have also included the nutritional requirements of chickpea. The review discusses possible solutions to low soil fertility suggest the use of plant biostimulants for enhanced fertiliser use

Biofortification of common bean as a complementary approach to addressing zinc deficiency in South Africans

Deficiencies of vitamin A, iodine, iron and zinc (Zn) in humans are caused partly by the consumption of food that has insufficient quantities of these. Their deficiency has a negative impact on the health, wellbeing, social and economic status of human beings. A national survey conducted in 2012 identified deficiencies of vitamin A, Fe, and Zn among other nutrients in South Africans and regarded the deficiencies of vitamin A and Fe as a moderate but not Zn. This review discusses causes of Zn prevalence in low-income South Africans and that it is largely caused by the low content of Zn in their diets. Initiatives to reduce Zn deficiency include fortification of wheat products and maize meal which has failed to address it successfully. Weaknesses of fortification include high cost of fortified food products to low-income populations, poor regulation in ensuring compliance in fortification, non-fortification of sorghum meal, and leaching of fortified nutrients during processing. This review suggests Zn-biofortification of locally-preferred common bean cultivars as an alternative strategy to compliment fortification. The review also discusses advantages of adopting biofortified Nutritional Andean common beans. Furthermore, the review suggests initiatives including evaluation of the common bean genotypes’ adaptation to different agro-ecologies