Biomass in different biotopes – an extensive resource - Biomass as Energy Source: Resources, Systems and Applications - page 103

Figure 5.19. Tropical trees in Ghana (photo E. Dahlquist).
Figure 5.20. Palm trees in Ghana (photo E. Dahlquist).
and Zaire, but is also cultivated in West Africa. The most important cereals in tropical Africa
are maize ( Zea mays , corn), rice ( Oryza spp.) and sorghum and millets. In the savannah areas in
northern Ghana also Guinea corn is important and is a major staple food. Many vegetables are
also cultivated in the tropics; condtions for growing are given in Sinnadurai (1992).
Of economic interest are also cacao, coffee and other crops produced for export. There are also
many types of fruits like mango, kiwi and other. A typical view of rain forest is seen in Figure 5.19
while the view in Figure 5.20 show palm trees at the coast of Ghana, which is another type of trees
common in this climate. Coconut is one type of palm tree of commercial interest, although oil
palm is the most important. In Dupriez and De Leener (1988), Twenneboah (2000) and Longman
(2002) production of tropical trees and crops is discussed from different perspectives.