Identification Domestication and Cultivation Practices of Underutilized Vegetables in Morogoro and Dodoma

Underutilized Vegetables (UVs) are nutrient dense crops with substantial potential to enhance food security and dietary diversity, yet remain largely overlooked in mainstream agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the diversity, domestication and cultivation practices of UVs in Morogoro and Dodoma regions of Tanzania through across sectional survey of 307 respondents. Chi- square test was performed to assess associations between categorical variables such as Dodoma and Morogoro. 30 species of underutilized vegetables consumed both in Morogoro and Dodoma regions were identified. Overall, 75.6% (n=232) of respondents demonstrated high familiarity with UVs, reflecting their cultural and dietary relevance. Domestication rates varied significantly by region, 83.2 % (99/119) of Morogoro farmers reported cultivating UVs in home gardens, compared with just 29.3%(55/188) in Dodoma with a highly significant difference (χ² = 84.805, p =0.000). The main reason hindering UVs domestication was water scarcity in semi-arid Dodoma (68%), as well as the availability of underutilized vegetables in wild areas. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to further identify factors that independently influenced the respondents’ practices score. Region, age, and education level affected the practices score, with regression p-values of 0.001, 0.021, and 0.014 respectively. In Morogoro, 54 respondents (n = 119) achieved higher GAP scores, while none in Dodoma did. These interregional disparities appear to be driven by differential access to water resources, extension services, and functional market linkages. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, including water management strategies in semi-arid Dodoma, Community based training, seed multiplication initiatives and integrating UVs into national research, policy and market development frameworks. Such efforts could transform UVs from neglected wild forages into climate resilient, nutrient-rich crops, enhancing both sustainable agriculture and nutrition security in Tanzania.