Constraints and Breeding Priorities for Increased Sweetpotato Utilization in Ghana

Abstract

Sweetpotato is used in various food preparations in place of rice, cassava, yam and plantain in Ghana. In spite of this it does not have the same importance in Ghanaian diet as other root and tuber crops. Consumer taste, preference and acceptance are critical in determining the suitability of sweetpotato cultivars to any locality. A study was carried out in some selected communities of Ghana where sweetpotato is popular which span all five ecozones of Ghana in February, 2012. The main objective was to investigate why sweetpotato has low utilization compared with other root and tuber crops and to increase its utilization through breeding. The study employed Focus Group Discussion (FGD) followed by administration of Semi-structured Questionnaire (SSQ). Data collected were analysed using Genstat and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Seventy-nine people consisting of 63% males and 37% females, and 178 people consisting of 52% female and 48% males were involved in the FGD and SSQ, respectively. Majority (94%) of farmers' ranked sweetpotato from 1 to 5 among 24 cultivated crops. Only about 28% of consumers ate sweetpotato at least six days per week. The survey revealed that consumers in Ghana desired non-sweet, high dry matter sweetpotato cultivars. Therefore, there is need for Research and Development to adjust sweetpotato breeding objectives and selection procedures to develop high dry matter non-sweet sweetpotato varieties in Ghana.

Sweet Potato Value Chain Analysis Reveals Opportunities for Increased Income and Food Security in Northern Ghana

“…In Ghana, cultivars with descriptors such as starchiness and stickiness, less dense texture requiring little chewing with strong flavour, and good mouth-feel were appealing to consumers [30]. Quite recently, the need to reduce the sweetness of existing and/or new genotypes has been suggested [16].…”

“…This leads to seasonal glut and low prices which affect the economic returns to actors. Another constraint is the low patronage compared to other root crops which is attributed to lack of end-user preferred cultivars that allow for daily consumption as a staple [16].…”

Genetic incompatibilities in sweetpotato and implications for breeding end-user preferred traits

“…Consumers in Ghana prefer nonsweet, high dry matter sweetpotato cultivars (Sam and Dapaah, 2009;Baafi, 2014;Baafi et al, 2015). However, locally available clones are very sweet, limiting their consumption as a staple food (Missah and Kissiedu, 1994;Baafi et al, 2015). Recently introduced orange-fleshed varieties, which possesses the vitamin A precursor to combat vitamin A deficiency at relatively lower cost, have low dry matter content (Baafi et al, 2015).…”

“…However, locally available clones are very sweet, limiting their consumption as a staple food (Missah and Kissiedu, 1994;Baafi et al, 2015). Recently introduced orange-fleshed varieties, which possesses the vitamin A precursor to combat vitamin A deficiency at relatively lower cost, have low dry matter content (Baafi et al, 2015). High dry matter is one of the important consumer preferences in most of Sub-Saharan Africa (Tumwegamire et al, 2004).…”

“…Sweetpotato preference varies with ethnic background as well as geographic location. Consumers in Ghana prefer nonsweet, high dry matter sweetpotato cultivars (Sam and Dapaah, 2009;Baafi, 2014;Baafi et al, 2015). However, locally available clones are very sweet, limiting their consumption as a staple food (Missah and Kissiedu, 1994;Baafi et al, 2015).…”