Diversity and Socio-Economic Value of Fruits and Leafy Vegetables Sold in the Markets of the City of Soyo, Northern Angola

Abstract

This study aimed to document the fruits and leafy vegetables sold in the markets of Soyo City, Angola. The data were collected from May to November 2025. Data collection was carried out through a semi-structured questionnaire, followed by direct field observations. In total, 81 fruit and leafy vegetable vendors were surveyed, of which 62.96% were men and only 37.04% were women. The main occupation of the respondents is trade (66.67%). The ethnobotanical inventory identified a total of 36 species of fruits and leafy vegetables, distributed across 33 genera and 18 botanical families. The most represented families are Malvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Solanaceae (4 species), and Arecaceae, Brassicaceae (3 species). Fruits are more abundant (62.96%) than leaves (37.04%). Most of the leafy fruits and vegetables (93.83%) documented in this study are cultivated, with only 6.17% being native. It is recommended that scientific research on this topic be conducted throughout the entire Angolan territory in order to better document all the different leafy fruits and vegetables produced nationally and to establish economic policies that allow their export, thus contributing to the country's economic diversification. Finally, it is also recommended to carry out economic studies to assess the quantities produced and harvested annually.