Potential of egusi for food and nutrition security in Northern Ghana: gender perspectives and social constructs underpinning cultivation and use

Abena Boakye^1,2*Mary Sefa Boampong^3*Andrew John Dougill^4,5David Akyen³Theophilus Tengey⁶Charles Naapoal⁶Addobea Addow Koranteng¹Agnes Mwangwela⁷Heather Legodi⁸William Otoo Ellis¹

• ¹Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• ²Food Systems Research Network for Africa, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
• ³Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• ⁴Department of Environment and Geography, Faculty of Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
• ⁵School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, United Kingdom
• ⁶Other, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana
• ⁷Department of Food Science and Technology; Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
• ⁸Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa., Pretoria, South Africa

Using indigenous underutilized crops as a sustainable measure to mitigate food and nutrition insecurity is recommended globally. Few studies have explored the factors influencing the value placed on indigenous underutilized crops such as egusi in African food systems. Egusi, oleaginous edible seeds of cucurbitaceous plants with inedible pulp, are cultivated for the seeds and commonly used in West African cuisines. This study investigates the gender perspectives and social dimensions underpinning the value placed on egusi production and use and documents the existing production practices in Northern Ghana. Gender and age-differentiated Focus Group Discussions (10) and Key Informant interviews (14) were conducted in Chereponi and Kpandai Districts. Our findings show that the primary factors influencing the premium placed on the crop(s) differ between males and females. There has also been a change in the social construct of egusi in recent years due to the impact of climate-induced food insecurities. For Chereponi which is relatively drier than Kpandai, egusi is now a must-farm crop if one’s household is to survive during lean seasons. It is no longer viewed as a woman’s crop. However, Kpandai, with a wetter climate, has other cropping alternatives. A unanimous response from all study participants reveals latent functions of cultivating egusi, which includes children’s education and reduced financial burdens. This study underscores how egusi plays critical roles in the nutrition and livelihood of Ghanaian communities and can be the starting point for tailored and extensive investigations on the value of egusi to both enhance climate resilience and sustainable nutrition. The findings further demonstrate the critical need for a comprehensive study of the foodscapes of malnourished communities to enable appropriate policy directives for sustainable nutrition interventions.