ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
CONTRIBUTIONS OF ROOT AND TUBER CROPS TO SOCIOECONOMIC CHANGES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD: THE CASE OF AFRICA, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON GHANA |
| Author: | S.K. Dapaah |
| Abstract:
The paper analyzes the contributions that root and tuber crops can make to enhance socioeconomic developments in many developing countries, particularly in Africa. It describes their role in meeting both current and future food security objectives in the face of rapid population growth in Africa with particular reference to Ghana. Cassava is the most dominant root crop; however, yam, cocoyam, and plantain are also important crops in West Africa. In Ghana, cassava, yam, plantain, and cocoyam contribute about 59% of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product compared with cocoa's contribution of 13%. Some of the factors that have militated against the development of root and tuber crops in developing economies include: limited allocation of resources, imbalance in agricultural production and population growth, increasing maize imports to meet food requirements of urban dwellers, drought, pests, inappropriate monetary and fiscal policies, uncoordinated research program, inefficient marketing, lack of infrastructure, and processing. It is concluded that root and tuber crops could lead to economic prosperity in many developing countries, including Ghana, if these obstacles are adequately addressed. | |
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