Reviving “lost crops” could be part of a solution to reducing hunger in Africa – and language translation would play a role.
The National Research Council has published a three-volume series about traditional African grains, vegetables and fruits. Entitled “Lost Crops of Africa,” the volumes’ goal is to help fight hunger by making organizations and citizens more aware of the existence of “lost crops.”
First, one might ask why these crops were “lost” in the first place. The main reason is insufficient research. However, the crops are not lost forever; they are used and even well-known in certain regions. But, unlike international commodities such as coffee and cocoa, they have not been extensively studied by academics.
In an article on VOA News, researcher Jane Guyer explains one of the reasons these crops never made it to the forefront of agricultural science. “They’re in regional markets, they’re sold from Africans to Africans, and there was much less of an incentive for colonial governments to invest in those crops because they were not going to reap tax benefits or duties…” Other historical factors also limited the crops’ development.
According to Guyer, language translation could play a part in familiarizing the world with these foods. She suggests that sections of the “Lost Crops” books be translated into languages that are frequently used in Africa, such as French, Portuguese and Swahili.
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Betty Carlson
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