Unpacking the Multifaceted Benefits of Indigenous Crops for Food Security: A Review of Nutritional, Economic and Environmental Impacts in Southern Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

While this is an excellent contribution to the importance of indigenous foods from herbaceous species, it completely omits any reference to the hundreds of culturally-important and locally marketed tree food species of which some 60 species are being domesticated in 34 African countries - including 13 species from southern Africa. Much has also been written about the environmental, social, livelihood, economic and productivity benefits (both local, and global) from these new tree crops.

There is something missing in Line 73.

To help the authors better understand an area of literature they seem to be unaware, it would be helpful to point them in the direction of the attached paper with a long list of relevant citations, list of species and Supplementary Data indicating the scale of their omissions.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewer, 

Thank you for taking your time to review our manuscript. Find attached the our response to your review comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Congratulations to the authors! The manuscript is a comprehensive analysis of the benefits of indigenous crops for food security in southern Africa. Structured as a systematic review, the article examines the nutritional, economic and environmental impacts of these crops and highlights their role in food diversification and climate change adaptation. Although the material is well documented, there are areas that could be improved to increase the clarity and practical value of the conclusions.

 

1. Introduction

The introduction is well written, but presents too much general information about the decline of indigenous crops without clearly highlighting the specificity of the South African context.

The importance and contribution of the study in relation to the existing literature is not sufficiently highlighted.

Comment 1. Detail the specific relevance of indigenous crops to food security in southern Africa, through concrete examples from the region.

Comment  2. Clearly highlight the gaps in previous research that this review addresses and its unique contribution.

 

2. Methodology

The methodology includes a general description of the review process, but does not provide sufficient details about the criteria for selecting the literature.

The process for validating the extracted data is not clearly explained.

Comment 3. Present a detailed table with the inclusion and exclusion criteria for studies, as well as their justifications.

Comment 4. Explain more clearly how any disagreements between reviewers were handled and how the conclusions were validated.

 

3. Benefits of indigenous crops for food security in Southern Africa

The analysis of the section is well documented, but sometimes excessive detail dilutes the main message.

There is a lack of synthetic comparisons between nutritional, economic and environmental benefits to highlight the global impact of indigenous crops.

Comment 5. Nutritional benefits: Highlight the role of indigenous crops in combating malnutrition, focusing on a few relevant examples (e.g. their richness in vitamins and minerals compared to exotic crops).

Comment 6. Economic benefits: Present the direct impact on farmers’ incomes and their potential in local and international markets, avoiding technical details about distribution chains.

Comment 7. Environmental benefits: Highlight the adaptability of indigenous crops to local climatic conditions and their capacity to support biodiversity, using a clear example of success.

 

4. Initiatives implemented in improving food security across Southern Africa

Initiatives are described in general terms, without details about their measurable impact.

Private or community-based initiatives are not sufficiently discussed.

Comment 8. Present data on the results of government initiatives, such as increased production or reduced food insecurity.

Comment 9. Include examples of community initiatives that have been successful in promoting indigenous crops.

 

5. Food security policy implication for Southern Africa

The section is too general and does not provide sufficient detail on the concrete measures needed to implement food security policies.

Legislative or economic obstacles that could affect the implementation of these policies are not discussed.

Comment 10. Detail specific measures that governments can take to support the integration of indigenous cultures into food security policies.

Comment 11. Discuss possible challenges and how they can be overcome.

 

6. Measures to Address Cultural and Social Differences among Smallholder Farmers

The section mentions cultural barriers, but does not provide detailed solutions to overcome them.

Strategies for training and educating smallholder farmers are not sufficiently discussed.

Comment 12. Propose specific training programs for farmers, tailored to their cultural and social needs.

Comment 13. Include successful examples of integrating indigenous cultures into diverse communities.

 

7. Summary of study findings

The summary is well structured, but does not sufficiently highlight the unique contributions of this review.

A critical analysis of the gaps in the literature is not provided.

Comment 14. Clearly highlight the contributions of this review to the understanding of the benefits of indigenous crops.

Comment 15. Include a section dedicated to gaps in the literature and suggestions for future research.

 

8. Conclusion and Recommendation

The conclusions are general and do not sufficiently highlight concrete steps that should be taken.

The applicability of the conclusions to other regions with similar contexts is not discussed.

Comment 16. Formulate more detailed recommendations for decision-makers and farmers.

Comment 17. Propose the extension of the research and the applicability of the conclusions to other regions of Africa or the world.

 

9. Limitations of the Study

Comment 18. Limitations are briefly mentioned, without an in-depth discussion of their implications for the conclusions.

No ways to address these limitations in future research are suggested.

Comment 19. Expand the section by discussing how methodological limitations might affect the validity of the results.

Comment 20. Suggest directions for future research that would overcome these limitations.

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewer,

Thank you for taking your time to review our manuscript. Find attached the our response to your review comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

A description containing the properties and benefits of consumption for the promoted plants, as well as how they can be consumed should be added. 

The paper states that bambra, cowpea, taro and synapsis are plants adapted to dry climates. Under these conditions, it should be explained whether tastier hybrids can be obtained in order to increase consumption rate in South Africa.

The measures taken by authorities and population regarding storage, food waste prevention and hygiene throughout the food chain should be described more precisely.

More statistical data must be provided to support the hypotheses formulated in the paper.

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewer, 

Thank you for taking your time to review our manuscript. Find attached the our response to your review comments. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I appreciate the authors additions, and understand their time constraints.

However, it seems odd to acknowledge that there is literature that you were aware of until mentioned by reviewers, and then not to add at least one citation - perhaps in line 819.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English in some of the new paragraphs needs improvement and has some duplication 

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewer, 

Thank you for taking your time to go through our manuscript. 

Your suggestions have been noted. A reference has been added in Line 819 (now 826 of the revised manuscript).

The repetition of information, even though not specified where, has been addressed in the Limitations subsection (Line 817 to 820). 

Thank you once again and we would appreciate your feedback if we missed anything from your suggestions. 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript has been improved and can now be published in its present form.

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewer, 

Thank you for your feedback.