Indigenous Crop Utilization and Livelihood Contribution to Rural Agrarian Households in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

The cultivation of indigenous crops (ICs) has long been regarded as an essential social and economic activity for rural households, providing a diverse and consistent supply of products and benefits. Despite this, ICs have not been sufficiently integrated into stable diets and remain underutilized across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Accordingly, this review examines the utilization trends and contributions of ICs to rural agrarian households in SSA. A systematic search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was conducted across two databases and identified 76 relevant studies. The findings highlight that rural socio-economic conditions, including poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, necessitate the utilization of these crops. The review further reveals that while some rural agrarian households have made efforts to utilize these crops to improve their livelihoods through food provision, income generation, medicinal support, and ecological resilience, various constraints limit their utilization and full potential. These constraints include limited market access, a lack of appropriate-quality seeds, inadequate production knowledge, and insufficient government support and investment. These findings underscore the need to implement policies, institutional frameworks, and increased investment to address these constraints and promote the widespread utilization of these crops, thereby contributing to improved rural livelihoods across SSA.