This study provides a template for developing a roadmap for promoting NUS that could be transposed and replicated among the 14 other southern African states. It is envisaged that through this roadmap, NUS could be transformed from the peripheries into mainstream agriculture. This would assist to attract more funding for NUS research, development and innovation in South Africa. This should be underpinned by science to provide evidence-based outcomes. Focus should be on developing value chains for the priority NUS. It is recommended that the available limited resources should be targeted on improving these priority NUS as they offer the best prospects for success. The study identified 13 priority NUS, categorized into cereals, legumes, root, and tuber crops and leafy vegetables based on drought and heat stress tolerance and nutritional value. The objective of this follow-up study was then to (i) identify priority NUS, and (ii) articulate a strategy and actionable recommendations for promoting NUS in South Africa. The current study is a sequel to an initial study that assessed the status of NUS in South Africa. Additionally, the NUS community's inability to articulate a roadmap for NUS' promotion may have unintentionally contributed to this. The latter points also explain the lack of interest from emerging and established researchers. This has been attributed to lack of clear research goals, limited funding directed at NUS and journal apathy toward publishing work on NUS.

Reports of neglected and underutilized crops' (NUS) potential remain mostly anecdotal with limited and often incoherent research available to support them. Crop Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Wrc 10 roadmap