Making a real difference in people's lives
June 07, 2004 Edition 1
Malegapuru W Makgoba
It is difficult to overlook the irony inherent in the recently publicised move by upmarket South African chainstore Woolworths to sell organically grown amadumbe, the traditional vege-table widely grown for subsistence by people in KwaZulu-Natal and often compared - for the benefit of the uninitiated - to the humble potato. Now, the nutritious but unassuming little tuber is being stylishly packaged and marketed to health-conscious middle-class housewives and husbands in stores around the country.
In an article published last month, a Cape Times consumer journalist admitted that some of the press members who received the Woolworths press release launching the new product actually had no idea what a madumbe was (May 21 2004).
But now, it seems that the rightful status of indigenous African foods is on its way to being restored. By adding Woolworths to the list of amadumbe retailers, a new and potentially lucrative market has opened up for the amadumbe - and for the group of rural farmers from Umbumbulu who grow them.
Much of the present-day appeal of the amadumbe for the commercial markets lies in the method of its cultivation.
Traditional African farming methods which have been practised for decades by rural farmers follow very closely the principles of modern organic farming, a method which precludes the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
The so-called organic foodstuffs being produced are becoming increasingly sought-after by middle to high-income consumers throughout the world, and this is also true of South Africa.
That many traditional practices and products have enormous potential value for society presents a major challenge for the African university, particularly one such as the University of KwaZulu-Natal which has committed itself to playing an active role in community development.
However, we are fortunate to have, at the university, people who have the expertise and intellectual focus to assist the institution to play a leading role in meeting this challenge.
For the crop and seed scientist Albert Modi, of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the appearance of amadumbe on the shelves of Woolworths has particular significance. For a number of years, Modi worked in the Umbumbulu area researching indigenous agricultural systems, and advising the community on how to improve seed quality of indigenous plants, improve production outputs and understand the nutritional value of traditional crops.
Having made the link between traditional farming practices and organic farming techniques, Modi was, with the help of agricultural entrepreneur James Hartzell, also instrumental in helping the community to set up a farmers' organisation and tap into new commercial markets.
Among the results of this collaboration has been the formation of a community-based farmers' organisation and a vast improvement in the amount of food available to the community itself.
Modi's research shows that traditional practices make a lot of sense because they are well-tuned to local conditions.
Growing traditional crops also makes sense because they have a high nutritional value, they are drought resistant and are relatively simple to grow as long as basic production principles are adhered to. In the amadumbe case, exploiting indigenous knowledge has resulted in direct economic benefits for the community and an increased status for indigenous African foods. For the academic world, there is a greater appreciation for the way in which the insights and lived experiences of ordinary people can underpin research agendas.
By looking at traditional practices, the university has an opportunity to develop expertise which can make a unique contribution to the global store of knowledge, at the same time as it serves national development needs and priorities.
The amadumbe project gives practical expression to a number of principles embraced by the University of KwaZulu-Natal as "the Premier University of African Scholarship". What African scholarship is and how it is taken up in the academic curriculum of an institution of higher learning is currently under intense intellectual scrutiny at the university.
The institution is embracing the opportunities provided by the current restructuring process to ensure that the university reflects society, not only in terms of demographics - although this is obviously important - but also in terms of how the values and priorities of the institution attempt to address social needs.
How, for example, is the university contributing in the fight against hunger and unemployment?
Through the amadumbe project I am reminded of Nkrumah's comment that "once (the university) has been planted in African soil, it must take root amidst African traditions and cultures". It is in among these traditions and cultures that Modi has discovered a wealth of indigenous knowledge which has been used to the direct benefit of that community and to the benefit of society more broadly.
The tale of the amadumbe's journey from south-east KwaZulu-Natal to the city stores of South Africa brings to life the vision of a university deeply rooted in its society, a university drawing a great deal of inspiration from that society.
It is also a vivid reminder to those of us involved in research and academia of the capacity for knowledge to be a powerful instrument for development and to make a real difference in people's lives.
