EFFECT OF SELECTED INSECTICIDE ON WHITEFLY (Bemisia tabaci) INFESTING BRINJAL PLANTS


 
227 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TRADITIONAL FOOD PLANTS CULTIVATED AND MANAGED IN HOME GARDENS IN 
SOUTH AFRICA’S EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE 
 
 
Alfred Maroyi  Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South 

Africa. 
 

 amaroyi@ufh.ac.za  

 

Article History ABSTRACT 
Received: 19 February 2022  
Revised: 23 September 2022 
Accepted: 10 October 2022 
Published: 19 October 2022 

 

Keywords 
Eastern Cape province 
Ecosystem services 
Food provisioning 
Local communities 
Local ecological knowledge 
Plant diversity 
South Africa. 

 

This study aimed to document the diversity of traditional food plants 
in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. The survey was carried out 
in six local municipalities in the province, between March 2016 and 
September 2020. Information on the socio-economic characteristics of 
the informants and on traditional food plants collected from the wild 
and cultivated and managed in home gardens was recorded using 
questionnaires, personal observations, and guided field walks with 145 
informants. A total of 58 edible plants belonging to 46 genera and 29 
families were recorded. The plant families with the largest number of 
species were Solanaceae (six species), followed by Amaranthaceae and 
Asteraceae (five species each), Rosaceae (four species), and Apiaceae, 
Cactaceae, and Fabaceae sensu lato with three species each. The main 
uses of the documented species were edible fruits (56.9%), leafy 
vegetables (29.3%), and edible tubers (12.1%). Species that were 
categorized as valuable, with relative frequency of citation (RFC) 
values exceeding 0.3, were Solanum tuberosum, Allium cepa, Zea mays, 
Beta vulgaris, Cucurbita moschata, Brassica oleracea, Spinacia oleracea, 
Cucurbita maxima, Daucus carota, and Lycopersicon esculentum. The 
findings highlight the significance of edible plant species to the well-
being of local communities in the Eastern Cape province within the 
context of food provisioning. 

   
 

Contribution/Originality: This study documented edible plants cultivated and managed in home gardens. This study 
also documented Indigenous knowledge of edible plants. There is an increasing realization of the need to increase our 
understanding of edible plants in home gardens to preserve and protect the traditional knowledge associated with 
this practice. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

DOI: 10.55493/5005.v12i3.4638 
ISSN(P): 2304-1455/ ISSN(E): 2224-4433 

 

How to cite: Alfred Maroyi (2022). Traditional Food Plants Cultivated and Managed in Home Gardens in South 
Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 12(3), 227-235. 
10.55493/5005.v12i3.4638  
© 2022 Asian Economic and Social Society. All rights reserved. 
 

 
 

1. INTRODUCTION  
Plant species growing in natural or semi-natural ecosystems and agroecosystems play an important role in the 

provision of food and other nutritional needs (Carvalho & Barata, 2016; Turner et al., 2011; Vincent et al., 2013). 
Galhena, Freed, and Maredia (2013) argued that the plants growing and managed in home gardens are an important 
component of food systems and agricultural landscapes. Literature studies have shown that plant species managed by 
households in home gardens contribute to food security, human nutrition, enhanced incomes, and other ecosystem 

  

Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development 
Volume 12, Issue 3 (2022): 227-235. 

 
 
 

 
 

http://www.aessweb.com/journals/5005 
 

 

mailto:amaroyi@ufh.ac.za
http://www.aessweb.com/journals/5005


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228 

goods and services associated with maintaining or increasing local biodiversity (Galhena et al., 2013; Guell et al., 
2021; Ngcaba & Maroyi, 2021). Turner et al. (2011) argued that people living in the same community have different 
food choices determined by biodiversity levels, necessity or opportunity, and territorial differences or resource 
availability. Similarly, Garn and Leonard (1989) argued that there are about 30,000 edible plant species on the 
planet, of which approximately 7,000 are either cultivated or collected from the wild as food (Chivenge, 
Mabhaudhi, Modi, & Mafongoya, 2015; Marrelli, Statti, & Conforti, 2020; Motti, Bonanomi, Lanzotti, & Sacchi, 
2020). Nevertheless, research by Prescott-Allen and Prescott-Allen (1990) showed that about 20 plant species 
account for approximately 90% of the planet's food requirements, with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oryza 
sativa L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) accounting for 60% of the human diet. Therefore, edible plants harvested 
from the wild or cultivated or managed in home gardens play a significant role in maintaining human culture, as 

well as nutritional needs (Bacchetta et al., 2016; Borelli et al., 2020; Gębczyński, Bernaś, & Słupski, 2022; 
Ray, 2022). For example, Van Wyk (2011) listed more than 120 plant species in South Africa with commercial 
potential as food plants. Although the food plants of South Africa are relatively well studied compared to those of 
other developing countries (Bhat & Rubuluza, 2002; Fox & Norwood, 1982; Liengme, 1981; Magwede, Van Wyk, & 
Van Wyk, 2019; Moffett, 2010), other researchers, like Welcome and Van Wyk (2019), have emphasized the need for 
detailed research on the traditional food plants of South Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to document the diversity 
of traditional foods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. 

This study forms part of a wider research project on floristic composition and plant utilization patterns in 
Eastern Cape province conducted by a multidisciplinary team composed of social and natural scientists (Atyosi, 
Ramarumo, & Maroyi, 2019; Maroyi, 2017; Thinyane & Maroyi, 2019a, 2019b). Eastern Cape province is the second-
largest province of South Africa, covering 168,966 km2 of land area (Statistics South Africa (STATS SA), 2018). It is 
regarded as a rural province and is inhabited mainly by isiXhosa-speaking people of Cape Nguni descent, and some of 
the local communities are highly dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods (Hamann & Tuinder, 2012).  
 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 
2.1 Study Area 

This study was carried out in six local municipalities in Eastern Cape province, namely Elundini, Mbhashe, 
Mbizana, Ntabankulu, Raymond Mhlaba, and Umzimvubu (see Figure 1).  

 

 
Figure 1. Map of South Africa showing the geographical position of the sites. 

 
All six local municipalities are in the Savanna Biome (Mucina & Rutherford, 2006) dominated by grasslands, 

succulent plants, thickets, and Acacia bushveld. The altitude of the study area is between 0 and 1860 m a.s.l., with 
summer rainfall and dry frosty winters with approximately 500–1069 mm precipitation per year (Jari & Fraser, 2012; 
Manyevere, Muchaonyerwa, Laker, & Mnkeni, 2014). Mean monthly temperatures range from 38°C in summer to 
4°C in winter (Jari & Fraser, 2012; Manyevere et al., 2014; Palmer, Timmermans, & Fay, 2000).  
 
2.2 Data Collection 

The sampling occurred during a series of one-week field excursions conducted between March 2016 and 
September 2020. Sampling was carried out in six local municipalities (Figure 1). Standardized plant sampling 
procedures were used to collect specimens (Bridson & Foreman, 1998; Victor, Koekemoer, Fish, Smithies, & 



Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 12(3)2022: 227-235 

 

 
229 

Mössmer, 2004). This involved transect walks in home gardens, farms, and the surrounding landscapes. Interviews 
and discussions were conducted in isiXhosa and translated into English with the assistance of an interpreter. We 
recorded plant names, their uses, plant parts used, different plant use categories, and preparation methods of useful 
plants. A list of edible plant species and plant-use categories, such as edible fruits, culinary herbs, leafy vegetables, 
cereals, edible roots, seeds, and tubers, was developed, and documented species were placed into these plant-use 
categories. These categories were expanded or modified based on information obtained during fieldwork, focus group 
discussions, and field observations. Germishuizen and Meyer (2003) and the Plants of the World Online (2021) were 
used to authenticate the plant names.  

Ethnobotanical data were gathered from 145 purposively sampled participants using a snowball sampling 
approach (Etikan, Alkassim, & Abubakar, 2016; Heckathorn, 2011; Waters, 2015). The participants were asked to 
sign an informed consent form (MAR011). Most of the informants (56.6%) were female, and their ages ranged from 
18 to 84 years (see Figure 2). More than three-quarters of the informants (83.4%) were more than 59 years of age, 
while 31.0% were less than 40 years of age. The majority of the participants were single (43.4%), followed by married 
(29.7%), widowed (15.2%), and divorced (11.7%). Close to half of the sample (46.2%) had completed primary level 
education, while 23.4% of the informants had completed secondary level education, and 15.9% and 14.5% of the 
informants had attained tertiary education or had no formal education, respectively. About half of the informants 
(49.7%) were unemployed, surviving on South African government social grants and remittances from relatives.  
 

 
Figure 2. Participants’ demographic information. 

 
2.3. Data Analysis 

The relative frequency of citation (RFC) of the species was determined using the following equation:  
RFC = FC/N (0<RFC<1) 

This index shows the significance of each species as determined by the frequency of citation (FC) and the number 
of participants (Ahmad et al., 2014; Faruque et al., 2018). 
 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
3.1. Floristic Composition 

This study recorded 58 species widely utilized as food plants in the Eastern Cape province (see Table 1). Of the 
recorded species, 15 species were native to South Africa (25.9%), and 43 species (74.1%) were exotic, mainly 
naturalized as agricultural weeds in home gardens. The high proportion of exotic species observed in this study was 
consistent with observations made by Akinnifesi et al. (2006); Akinnifesi et al. (2008a); Akinnifesi et al. (2008b); 
Akinnifesi et al. (2010), who argued that the introduction of exotic species often offers protection to indigenous 
species against over-exploitation. 

 Some exotic plant species categorized as problem plants and invasive weeds, which were introduced in South 
Africa but are now widely grown and collected from natural or semi-natural ecosystems in the Eastern Cape 
province, included Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alson, Harrisia balansae (K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor & Zappi, Opuntia ficus-
indica (L.) Mill., Opuntia monocantha Haw., Psidium guajava L., and Rubus fruticosus L. (Table 1). According to the 
South African National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), Act Number 10 of 2004 enacted on 
1 October 2014, these species must be managed, controlled, or eradicated as they are aggressive invaders, capable of 
forming dense thickets with the potential to displace native vegetation and thereby transform the landscape 
(Bromilow, 2018).  

Therefore, the balance between their valuable contribution to food production and their invasive potential 
requires careful consideration. 
 
 
 



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Table 1. Diversity of food plant species in the Eastern Cape province. Plants with an asterisk (*) are not indigenous to South Africa. 

Species name  Family Vernacular 
name 

Habit Parts 
used 

Uses RFC 

*Allium cepa L. Amaryllidaceae Itswelle Herb Bulbs Edible bulbs 0.57 

*Allium sativum L. Amaryllidaceae Ivimbampunzi Herb Bulbs Edible bulbs 0.16 

*Amaranthus hybridus L. Amaranthaceae Nomdllomboyi Herb Leaf Leafy vegetable 0.07 

*Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Utyuthu Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.05 

*Beta vulgaris L. Amaranthaceae Bhettruthi Herb Leaf and 
tubers 

Tubers and leaves 
sold in local 

markets 

0.41 

*Bidens pilosa L. Asteraceae Umhllabangulo 
and ucadollo 

Herb Leaf Vegetable 0.08 

*Brassica oleracea L. Brassicaceae Ikhaphetshu Herb Leaf Vegetable sold in 
local markets 

0.67 

*Brassica spp. Brassicaceae - Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 
sold in local 

markets 

0.12 

*Caesalpinia decapetala 
(Roth) Alson 

Fabaceae Bobo Shrub Fruits Edible fruits 0.03 

*Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae Itshilisi Herb Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.25 

Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. 
ex Brenan 

Apocynaceae Beta-umtumzi Shrub Fruits Edible fruits 0.02 

Catha edulis (Vahl.) Endl. Celastraceae Iqwakka Tree Leaf Leafy vegetable 0.12 

Centella coriacea Nanf. Apiaceae Unongottyozana Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.05 

*Chenopodium album L. Amaranthaceae Iphunga Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.06 

*Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. Rutaceae Lamunni Tree Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.12 

*Citrus sinensis (L.) 
Osbeck 

Rutaceae Iorrenji Tree Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.18 

*Colocasia esculenta (L.) 
Schott 

Araceae Idumbe Herb Tubers Edible tubers 0.03 

*Cucurbita maxima 
Duchesne 

Cucurbitaceae Ithannga Creeper Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.48 

*Cucurbita moschata 
Duchesne ex Poir. 

Cucurbitaceae Ithannga Creeper Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.52 

*Daucus carota L. Apiaceae Kharothi and 
umnqathi 

Herb Taproots Edible taproots 
sold in local 

markets 

0.33 

Diospyros lycioides Desf. Ebenaceae Umbhonngisa Shrub Fruit Fruits 0.03 

Dovyalis caffra (Hook. f. & 
Harv.) Hook. f. 

Salicaceae Incaggolo Shrub Fruit Fruits 0.05 

Dovyalis rhamnoides 
(Burch. ex DC.) Burch. ex 
Harv. & Sond. 

Salicaceae Umkhamgwinnqi Shrub Fruit Fruits 0.06 

*Ficus carica L. Moraceae Ikwiwwane Tree Fruits Edible fruits 0.03 

*Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Apiaceae Imboziso Herb Leaves Culinary herb 0.04 

Grewia occidentalis L.f. Malvaceae Umgaqqombo 
and umvilani 

Shrub Fruit Fruits 0.03 

Harpephyllum caffrum 
Bernh. 

Anacardiaceae Umggwenye Tree Fruits Edible fruits 0.06 

*Harrisia balansae 
(K.Schum.) N.P.Taylor & 
Zappi 

Cactaceae Ukatyi Shrub Stems Fruits 0.02 

*Ipomoea batatas (L.) 
Lamm. 

Convolvulaceae Bhattata Creeper Roots Edible tubers sold 
in local markets 

0.21 

*Lactuca sativa L. Asteraceae Ilethasi Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 
sold in local 

markets 

0.11 

*Lycopersicon esculentum 
Mill. 

Solanaceae Tumata Climber Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.35 

*Malus domestica Borkh. Rosaceae Apile Tree Fruits Edible fruits 0.14 

Mentha longifolia (L.) 
Huds. 

Lamiaceae Inxxina Herb Leaf Culinary herb 0.04 

*Musa X paradisiaca L. Musaceae - Tree Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.17 

*Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) 
Mill. 

Cactaceae Itolofiya Tree Fruit Fruits sold in local 
markets 

0.19 

*Opuntia monocantha 
Haw. 

Cactaceae Tollofiya Shrub Fruits Fruits 0.06 



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Species name  Family Vernacular 
name 

Habit Parts 
used 

Uses RFC 

*Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae - Tree Fruits Edible fruits 0.11 

*Phaseolus vulgaris L. Fabaceae Mbottyi Herb Seeds 
and fruits 

Edible fruits and 
seeds 

0.16 

*Pisum sativum L. Fabaceae Erityisi Herb Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.12 

Portulaca oleracea L. Portulacaceae Igwannisha Shrub Leaf and 
stem 

Leafy vegetable 0.03 

Portulacaria afra Jacq. Didiereaceae Igwanisha Shrub Leaves 
and 

stems 

Leafy vegetable 0.02 

*Prunus armeniaca L. Rosaceae - Tree Fruit Fruits 0.03 

*Prunus persica (L.) 
Batsch 

Rosaceae Ippesika Tree Fruit Fruits 0.13 

*Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Gwavva and 
ugwava 

Shrub Fruit Fruits sold in local 
markets 

0.17 

*Punica granatum L. Lythraceae Rhanati Tree Fruits Edible fruits 0.03 

*Rubus fruticosus L. Rosaceae Qunnube Shrub Fruit Fruits and wine 0.03 

Solanum aculeastrum Dun. Solanaceae Umthuma Shrub Fruits Edible fruits 0.02 

*Solanum nigrum L. Solanaceae Umsobo Herb Fruits Edible fruits 0.06 

Solanum retroflexum Dun. Solanaceae Umsobbo 
wehllathi 

Shrub Fruit and 
leaves 

Ripe fruits are 
eaten, and leaves 
used for flavor 
when cooking  

0.02 

*Solanum tuberosum L. Solanaceae Amazzambane Herb Tubers Edible tubers sold 
in local markets 

0.56 

*Sonchus asper (L.) Hill Asteraceae Irwabbe Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.03 

*Sonchus oleraceus L. Asteraceae Ihlaba Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.02 

*Spinacia oleracea L. Amaranthaceae Imifuno Herb Leaf Vegetable sold in 
local markets 

0.54 

*Syzygium paniculatum 
Gaertn. 

Myrtaceae Irharinati Tree Fruits Fruits 0.03 

*Taraxacum officinale 
Weber 

Asteraceae Ikhokhhoyi Herb Leaves Leafy vegetable 0.04 

*Vitis vinifera L. Vitaceae Umdiliya Climber Fruits Edible fruits sold 
in local markets 

0.08 

Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) 
Spreng. 

Araceae Ntebbe Herb Bulbs Edible tubers 0.02 

*Zea mays L. Poaceae Umbonne Grass Fruits Edible seeds and 
fruits sold in local 

markets 

0.86 

    Note: Plants with an asterisk (*) are not indigenous to South Africa. 

 
The species used as traditional foods were distributed among 29 families and 46 genera. Most of the food plants 

(68.6%) used in the Eastern Cape province were from 14 families (see Table 2). The families with the largest number 
of food plant species were: Solanaceae (six species), followed by Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae (five species each), 
Rosaceae (four species), Apiaceae, Cactaceae, and Fabaceae sensu lato (three species each), Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, 
Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, and Salicaceae (two species each). The remainder of the plant 
families were represented by a single species each (Table 1). Bennett (2011) categorized 58.6% of the plant families 
recorded in the current study as important for human activities, that is, Anacardiaceae, Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, 
Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae sensu lato, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, 
Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, and Vitaceae. Similarly, Hammer and Khoshbakht (2015) argued 
that Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae are among the most important plant families in the world as these families 
have high numbers of domesticated and semi-domesticated species.  Previous research conducted in South Africa by 
Welcome and Van Wyk (2019), focusing on edible plant species, categorized 55.2% of the plant families recorded in 
this study as important sources of food, that is, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, 
Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Ebenaceae, Fabaceae sensu lato, Lamiaceae, 
Malvaceae, Moraceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae. The genera with the largest number of species used for food were 
Allium, Amaranthus, Brassica, Citrus, Cucurbita, Dovyalis, Opuntia, Prunus, Solanum, and Sonchus with at least two species 
each. 
 
3.2. Growth Habit and Use Categories 
Herbs (43.0%) are the most frequent type of food plants in Eastern Cape province, followed by shrubs (24.0%) and 
trees (22.0%) (see Figure 3A). Similar research findings were reported by Reta (2016), who recorded 44.6% herbs, 
27.1% shrubs, 24.8% trees, and 6.2% climbers as the most dominant forms of edible plants in the Hawassa region of 
Ethiopia. The different plant parts used as sources of traditional foods included bulbs, leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, 
stems, taproots, and tubers. 



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232 

Table 2. Plant families with the highest number of food plant species (≥2 species) in the Eastern Cape. 

Plant family Number of food plant species % 

Solanaceae 6 10.3 
Amaranthaceae 5 8.6 
Asteraceae 5 8.6 
Rosaceae 4 6.9 
Apiaceae 3 5.2 
Cactaceae 3 5.2 

Fabaceae sensu lato 3 5.2 

Amaryllidaceae 2 3.4 
Araceae 2 3.4 
Brassicaceae 2 3.4 
Cucurbitaceae 2 3.4 
Myrtaceae 2 3.4 
Rutaceae 2 3.4 
Salicaceae 2 3.4 

 
The plant parts most frequently consumed were fruits (55.2%), followed by leaves (32.3%), tubers (6.9%), stems 

(5.2%), bulbs (3.4%), roots, seeds, and taproots (1.7% each) (see Figure 3B). The majority of encountered species 
(56.9%) were collected or grown for their edible fruits, compared to 32.8% of species that were sold in local markets 
and 29.3% of species that were collected or grown as leafy vegetables (see Figure 4). Other use categories for the 
documented species (in descending order of importance) included edible tubers (12.1%), culinary herbs (5.2%), edible 
seeds (3.4%), cereals, edible taproots, and wine production (1.7% each) (Figure 4). These findings corroborate 
observations made by Welcome and Van Wyk (2019), who argued that edible fruits are the most valuable use 
category of traditional food plants, and this plant part is usually followed by leaves and perennial storage organs, like 
bulbs, rhizomes, roots, and tubers. The dominance of Zea mays as a cereal crop and the important role of leafy 
vegetables and fruits as supplementary food crops are widely acknowledged in South Africa (Lerato, Stefan, Sarel, 
Catharina, & Rie, 2010; Maroyi, 2021; Mosina & Maroyi, 2016; Nemudzudzanyi, Siebert, Zobolo, & Molebatsi, 2010). 
Similarly, research by Van Wyk and Gericke (2018) classified food plants in South Africa into six main categories, 
namely, nuts and seeds, cereals, berries and fruits, bulbs, tubers, roots, vegetables, and beverages. 
 

 
Figure 3. Characteristics of the plant species used as sources of traditional foods in the Eastern Cape province. A: Plant habit 
shown in pie chart; B: Utilized plant parts shown in bar graph. 

 

 
Figure 4. Major plant use categories identified in the study. Some plant species are represented in more than one use category. 

 



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233 

The species regarded as important with RFC values >0.3 (in descending order of importance) were: Zea mays L. 
(cereal, edible seeds and fruits sold in local markets), Brassica oleracea L. (leafy vegetable), Allium cepa L. (edible 
tubers), Solanum tuberosum L. (edible tubers sold in local markets), Spinacia oleracea L. (leafy vegetable sold in local 
markets), Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. (edible fruits sold in local markets), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne 
(edible fruits sold in local markets), Beta vulgaris L. (edible tubers and leaves sold in local markets), Lycopersicon 
esculentum Mill. (edible fruits sold in local markets), and Daucus carota L. (edible taproots sold in local markets) (Table 
2). Plant species reported to have little value, with RFC values of 0.02, were Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan 
(edible fruits), Harrisia balansae (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor & Zappi (edible fruits), Portulacaria afra Jacq. (leafy 
vegetable), Solanum aculeastrum Dun. (edible fruits), Solanum retroflexum Dun. (ripe fruits are eaten and leaves used for 
flavor when cooking), Sonchus oleraceus L. (leafy vegetable) and Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. (edible tubers) 
(Table 1). 
 

4. CONCLUSION 
The results of this study have shown that locally harvested plants provide essential food and some cash income 

for local communities. These research findings contribute to the wider body of knowledge on ecosystem goods and 
services derived from plant species, livelihood benefits derived by local communities from plant species, and how 
these benefits influence local support for plant resource management initiatives in the region and other provinces of 
South Africa. 
 

Funding: This work is supported by the Govan Mbeki Research and Development Centre 
(GMRDC) (Grant number: C169); the University of Fort Hare, the National Research 
Foundation (NRF) (Grant number: TC90); and South Africa, and the Water Research 
Commission (WRC), South Africa (Grant number: KV 328/1/14). 
Competing Interests: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interests regarding the 
publication of this paper. 

Views and opinions expressed in this study are those of the authors views; the Asian Journal of 
Agriculture and Rural Development shall not be responsible or answerable for any loss, damage, 
or liability, etc. caused in relation to/arising out of the use of the content.   

 

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