This project will target four underutilized vegetable crops, selected based on diversity and relevance to the food and nutritional value chain of the communities where they are cultivated, and their potential in relation to research and impact (Table 1). We will deliver substantial benefits to small-scale farmers endeavouring to produce high quality planting material of these underutilized crops for their own use and for use by others. We will: identify gaps in the knowledge base of stakeholders regarding the seed systems, multiplication and utilization of the selected crop species; document the nutritional, genetic and phenotypical diversity of the crop species; and build the capacity of women and youths in production, seed systems and value-addition of the selected crops. Four PhD students will contribute to the project to gain invaluable experience and learning outcomes, and to prime them to contribute to future agricultural research in Nigeria.

Table 1 The underutilized crops that will be studied in this project.

Common name	Species	Family	Use
Soko yòkòtò	Celosia argentea L.	Amaranthaceae	Leafy vegetable
Bambara groundnut	Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.	Fabaceae	Seeds cooked as a pulse and used for flour
Jute leaf	Corchorus olitorius L.	Malvaceae	Leafy mucilaginous vegetable
African eggplant	Solanum macrocarpon L.	Solanaceae	Leafy vegetable