Vegetables: Traditional ways of managing their diversity for food security in southern Ghana - Managing Agrodiversity the Traditional Way - page 118

• Viability of stored seeds is closely monitored using indigenous technologies.

• Strategic exploitation of wild annual vegetables and leaves of tree species help

to supplement the cultivated types.

Conclusion

The vegetable germplasm, especially of the fruit vegetables and legumes, is very
scant compared to the roots and tubers, especially yams. Even though as many as
20 different leafy vegetables exist in the three demonstration sites in southern
Ghana, the utilization of many vegetables is dictated by ethnic origin.
There is a need to promote the utilization of indigenous vegetables, notably
the leafy vegetables. At the village level the use of S. torvum is ubiquitous owing
to its perceived health benefits and, possibly, its drought tolerance.
A number of factors, both natural and man-made, now threaten the continued
maintenance of the diversity. Fortunately, the farmers are keen on conserving the
heirloom varieties. With a little support, they can be counted on to maintain the
diversity for posterity.
Among the knowledge gaps identified was the need to develop the post-harvest
and processing aspects of both fruiting and leafy vegetables. This problem should
be addressed to ensure year-round supply of vegetables.

REFERENCES

Irvine, F. R., West African Crops , London: Oxford University Press, 1979.
Martin, F. W. and R. M. Ruberte, Edible Leaves of the Tropics , Mayaguez, Puerto Rico:
Antillian College Press, 1975.
Norman, J. C., Tropical Vegetable Crop , Devon: Arthur H. Stockwell, 1992.
Sinnadurai, S., Vegetable Cultivation , Accra: Asempa Publishers, 1992.