ISHS Acta Horticulturae 380: Symposium on Tropical Root Crops in a Developping Economy
PROSPECTS AND CONSTRAINTS TO YAM PRODUCTION IN GHANA |
| Authors: | J.P. Tetteh, C. Saakwa |
| Abstract:
Yam production in Ghana has been on the decline despite the increasing demand for local consumption and for export. A survey was carried out in three ecological zones to find out the constraints and prospects to yam production. Farmers commercially cultivate mainly Dioscorea rotundata (26 varieties) and to a lesser extent D. alata (13 varieties). A few farmers grow D. cayenensis, D. bulbifera, D. dumetorum, and D. esculenta for home use. Factors influencing the choice of varieties that farmers grow include: consumer taste preference, early maturity, storability, yield, adaptability, and availability of planting materials in decreasing order of importance. Constraints to production include high labor demand for most cultural operations, high cost of labor, and other inputs such as planting materials, unreliable sources of credit, pests and diseases, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable weather conditions. There is need to adopt new cultural practices such as planting on ridges or on flat instead of on mounds to reduce costs. Also the introduction of the minisett technique for seed yam production to make seed yam available at affordable prices, and the establishment of woodlots near yam fields to provide cheap staking materials are recommended. | |
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