Two related projects:

A) One study is designed to evaluate the current situation with regard to the use of traditional crop plants under water scarce conditions in Ghana. The study will in particular look at the cereal-root crop farming systems in the Ashanti region of South-Central Ghana, with regard to the use of underutilised (i.e. indigenous and traditional) crops, their role in household nutrition and their status in Ghana’s research establishment.

B) The second project will study the potential for processing and subsequent marketing of traditional African vegetable crops. In the initial phase the study will involve the following steps:

1. Feasibility study of the processing of a range of vegetables. This study will result in a short-list of potential species and their products for the domestic (Tanzanian) and international (UK) market.
2. Assessment of production volume, ongoing trade routes and participants of value chains for selected products/species in Tanzania and in UK.
3. Development of recommendations to develop production areas, train small-scale entrepreneurs in the processing and strengthen the chain actors.

A.1. Inventory of the underutilized crops used in Ghana

· Through a representative household survey, prepare an inventory of underutilized crops based on the following definition: species with under-exploited potential for contributing to food security, health (nutritional/medicinal), income generation, and environmental services. This definition distinguishes underutilized species from mainstream crops and their wild relatives.

· List the published attributes of these species with regard to the following parameters: drought tolerance, tolerance to soil nutrient deficiency, nutritional value as well as their agronomic and water management practices (such as whether grown under rainfed or irrigated conditions, their cropping calendar, planting methods etc.).

A.2. Assess their role in household nutrition

· Through representative household interviews, assess the current role these crops play in household nutrition. Which family members consume which part of the plant, when, how is it prepared?

· If possible, confirm this information with laboratory tests of nutritional properties of several priority species

A.3. Determine their status as a national priority

· Through literature review and key informant interviews, analyse the level of national research and policy support to the underutilized crops vis-à-vis introduced crops through a review of policy documents such as national agricultural plans, research funding levels etc.

A.4. Develop recommendations for national policy makers and research managers

· Based on the above assessments, develop a set of recommendations for use by policy makers (for example, for facilitating access to germplasm of important species, for inclusion of particularly valuable foods into school feeding programmes etc.) and research managers (for example, for prioritising certain research activities when preparing budget plans).



B.1. Through desk and field studies assess the current and potential production volume of selected African vegetables;

B.2. Through a survey including producers, processors (if any) and traders of African vegetables, as well as other chain actors (e.g. exporters and importers in UK and possibly other countries) map the existing value chain for African vegetables.

B.3. From this information, develop recommendations for AVRDC, ICUC and local decision makers

B.4. Publish the information gathered in a research report to be published in ICUC’s Research Report series.

• IWMI Ghana
• AVRDC Regional Center for Africa

DFID