Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana

Issah Sugri; Francis Kusi; Roger Adamu L. Kanton; Stephen K. Nutsugah; Mukhtar Zakaria

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana

Issah Sugri, Francis Kusi, Roger Adamu L. Kanton, Stephen K. Nutsugah, Mukhtar Zakaria

Published in Journal of Plant Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 4)

Received: 12 September 2013 Published: 20 December 2013

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Abstract

Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.)is one underutilized crop species which is critical to improving food security in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. Food dishes of Frafra potato (FP) are a delicacy particularly for children. The tubers have high marketing potential even compared with its counterpart, sweet potato. However, crop improvement programmes in FP have been slow leading to the current varieties being recycled for several decades. Research tools such asfield survey, focused group discussions and key informant interviews were employed to gather information on production practices, challenges and strategies to improve FP production and utilization. Information was generated from 10 focused group discussions and 270 respondents in 5 districts. Overall, FP is produced under rain-fed agriculture by less than 30% farmers on less than ¼hectare/farmer. In Bongo, Kongo and Bolgatanga environs, FP is cultivated by over 70% of households to supplement household food. Production is primarily planned for domestic consumption; contributing up to 20% of household food between Octoberto December. Consumer preference traits included tuber size, starch, low water content, taste and ease of peeling. Key problems identified were decreasing soil fertility, lack of improve varieties, labour-intensive operations, insect pests and high postharvest losses. Crop improvement should target high yielding cultivars, large tuber size, white and pink flesh and biofortification with micro-nutrients. Processing tubers into stable preservable products using low-cost roasting, dry-frying and solar dehydration methods should be evaluated. Dissemination of current improved technologies to increase productivity requires prompt attention by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Published in	Journal of Plant Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14
Page(s)	68-75
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Coleus dysentericus, Utilization, Food Security, Underutilized Crops, Challenges

References

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[2]	Vasudevan K and JS Jos. 1992. Variation of yield and quality in Coleus mutants. MadrasAgric. Journal. 9(3):135-138.
[3]	Bejoy MK, A Vincent, M Hariharan. 1990. In-vitroshoot regeneration of Coleus parviflorusBenth. India J. of Plant Physi. 33(2):175-176.
[4]	Mohankumar CR and PG Nair. 1990. Production potential and economics of tuber crop based cropping system for low lands. Indian J. of Agron. 35:1-2, 44-49.
[5]	Kyesmu PM and CO Akueshi. 1989. Effects of relative humidity variation on crude protein, crude fibre, fats and ash contents of Coleus potato (Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br.) under storage. Nigerian J. of Bot. 2:1-7.
[6]	Yayock JY, G Labin, JJ Owonubi and OC Onazi. 1988. Crop Science and Production in the Hot Climates. Macmillan Publications Ltd.
[7]	Abbiw DK 1990. Useful Plants of Ghana. Public Intermediate Technology. Publication and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew p.37.
[8]	Opoku-Agyeman, MO, SO Bennett-Lartey, RS Vodouhe, C Osei, E Quarcoo, SK Boatengand EA Osekere (2007). Morphological characterization of Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius) germplasm from the savannah regions of Ghana. Editors: Vodouhe, RAtta-Krah, K.Achigan-Dako GE, Eyog-Matig, O.;Avohou, H. In Plant GeneticResources and Food security in West and Central Africa. Regional Conference, Ibadan Nigeria, 26-30, 2004. ISBN: 978-92-9043-750-5
[9]	Nkansah GO. 2004. Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir.) JK Morton In: Grubben GJH and Denton OA. (Editors). PROTA 2: Vegetables/Légumes. [CD-Rom]. PROTA,Wageningen, Netherlands
[10]	Dittoh JS, TB Bayorbor, JAYidana, RR Abapol and JA Otoo. 1998. The potential andconstraints of persa (Frafra potato) as a food security crop in Northern Ghana. A paper for the 1st Biennial National Research Systems (NARS) workshop on the theme‘Sustainable Agriculture Production and Food Security’ Accra International ConferenceCentre, 16-20 November, 1998. pp. 2-15.
[11]	Bennett-Lartey SO and AA Oteng-Yeboah. 2008. Ghana country report on the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. In Second Report on the State of World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Organization. PP.1-33.
[12]	Tetteh JP and JI Guo. 1997. Problems of Frafra potato production in Ghana. Ghana J. AgriSci. 30(2):107-113.
[13]	Bayorbor TB and AY Gumah. 2007. Effect of ‘seed’ tuber weight and spacing on the yield of Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius).Ghana J. of Hort. 6:41-48.
[14]	Tanzubil PB, AAlem and M Zakaria. 2005. Agronomic performance and pests of Frafra potato in the Sudan savannah of Ghana. Trop. Sci. 45(1):10-13.
[15]	Aculey K, AK Quainoo and G Mahanu. 2011. Feasibility studies on the potential of grafting and budding of Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius). J. of Bacteriology Res. 3(10): 327-332.
[16]	Quainoo K and TB Bayorbor. 2002. The Frafra potato: a neglected crop in Ghana. Agric.Res. and Ext. Network, Newsletter No. 46, p. 13.

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Issah Sugri, Francis Kusi, Roger Adamu L. Kanton, Stephen K. Nutsugah, Mukhtar Zakaria. (2013). Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. Journal of Plant Sciences, 1(4), 68-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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ACS Style

Issah Sugri; Francis Kusi; Roger Adamu L. Kanton; Stephen K. Nutsugah; Mukhtar Zakaria. Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. J. Plant Sci. 2013, 1(4), 68-75. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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AMA Style

Issah Sugri, Francis Kusi, Roger Adamu L. Kanton, Stephen K. Nutsugah, Mukhtar Zakaria. Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. J Plant Sci. 2013;1(4):68-75. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14,
  author = {Issah Sugri and Francis Kusi and Roger Adamu L. Kanton and Stephen K. Nutsugah and Mukhtar Zakaria},
  title = {Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana},
  journal = {Journal of Plant Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {68-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jps.20130104.14},
  abstract = {Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.)is one underutilized crop species which is critical to improving food security in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. Food dishes of Frafra potato (FP) are a delicacy particularly for children. The tubers have high marketing potential even compared with its counterpart, sweet potato. However, crop improvement programmes in FP have been slow leading to the current varieties being recycled for several decades. Research tools such asfield survey, focused group discussions and key informant interviews were employed to gather information on production practices, challenges and strategies to improve FP production and utilization. Information was generated from 10 focused group discussions and 270 respondents in 5 districts. Overall, FP is produced under rain-fed agriculture by less than 30% farmers on less than ¼hectare/farmer. In Bongo, Kongo and Bolgatanga environs, FP is cultivated by over 70% of households to supplement household food. Production is primarily planned for domestic consumption; contributing up to 20% of household food between Octoberto December. Consumer preference traits included tuber size, starch, low water content, taste and ease of peeling. Key problems identified were decreasing soil fertility, lack of improve varieties, labour-intensive operations, insect pests and high postharvest losses. Crop improvement should target high yielding cultivars, large tuber size, white and pink flesh and biofortification with micro-nutrients. Processing tubers into stable preservable products using low-cost roasting, dry-frying and solar dehydration methods should be evaluated. Dissemination of current improved technologies to increase productivity requires prompt attention by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana
AU - Issah Sugri
AU - Francis Kusi
AU - Roger Adamu L. Kanton
AU - Stephen K. Nutsugah
AU - Mukhtar Zakaria
Y1 - 2013/12/20
PY - 2013
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14
DO - 10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14
T2 - Journal of Plant Sciences
JF - Journal of Plant Sciences
JO - Journal of Plant Sciences
SP - 68
EP - 75
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2331-0731
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14
AB - Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.)is one underutilized crop species which is critical to improving food security in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. Food dishes of Frafra potato (FP) are a delicacy particularly for children. The tubers have high marketing potential even compared with its counterpart, sweet potato. However, crop improvement programmes in FP have been slow leading to the current varieties being recycled for several decades. Research tools such asfield survey, focused group discussions and key informant interviews were employed to gather information on production practices, challenges and strategies to improve FP production and utilization. Information was generated from 10 focused group discussions and 270 respondents in 5 districts. Overall, FP is produced under rain-fed agriculture by less than 30% farmers on less than ¼hectare/farmer. In Bongo, Kongo and Bolgatanga environs, FP is cultivated by over 70% of households to supplement household food. Production is primarily planned for domestic consumption; contributing up to 20% of household food between Octoberto December. Consumer preference traits included tuber size, starch, low water content, taste and ease of peeling. Key problems identified were decreasing soil fertility, lack of improve varieties, labour-intensive operations, insect pests and high postharvest losses. Crop improvement should target high yielding cultivars, large tuber size, white and pink flesh and biofortification with micro-nutrients. Processing tubers into stable preservable products using low-cost roasting, dry-frying and solar dehydration methods should be evaluated. Dissemination of current improved technologies to increase productivity requires prompt attention by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
VL - 1
IS - 4
ER -

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Author Information

Issah Sugri

CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga Agriculture Station P.O. Box 46 Bawku, UER-Ghana
Francis Kusi

CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga Agriculture Station P.O. Box 46 Bawku, UER-Ghana
Roger Adamu L. Kanton

CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga Agriculture Station P.O. Box 46 Bawku, UER-Ghana
Stephen K. Nutsugah

CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga Agriculture Station P.O. Box 46 Bawku, UER-Ghana
Mukhtar Zakaria

CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Manga Agriculture Station P.O. Box 46 Bawku, UER-Ghana

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APA Style

Issah Sugri, Francis Kusi, Roger Adamu L. Kanton, Stephen K. Nutsugah, Mukhtar Zakaria. (2013). Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. Journal of Plant Sciences, 1(4), 68-75. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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ACS Style

Issah Sugri; Francis Kusi; Roger Adamu L. Kanton; Stephen K. Nutsugah; Mukhtar Zakaria. Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. J. Plant Sci. 2013, 1(4), 68-75. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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AMA Style

Issah Sugri, Francis Kusi, Roger Adamu L. Kanton, Stephen K. Nutsugah, Mukhtar Zakaria. Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana. J Plant Sci. 2013;1(4):68-75. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14

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@article{10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14,
  author = {Issah Sugri and Francis Kusi and Roger Adamu L. Kanton and Stephen K. Nutsugah and Mukhtar Zakaria},
  title = {Sustaining Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.) in the Food Chain; Current Opportunities in Ghana},
  journal = {Journal of Plant Sciences},
  volume = {1},
  number = {4},
  pages = {68-75},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20130104.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jps.20130104.14},
  abstract = {Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir.)is one underutilized crop species which is critical to improving food security in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana. Food dishes of Frafra potato (FP) are a delicacy particularly for children. The tubers have high marketing potential even compared with its counterpart, sweet potato. However, crop improvement programmes in FP have been slow leading to the current varieties being recycled for several decades. Research tools such asfield survey, focused group discussions and key informant interviews were employed to gather information on production practices, challenges and strategies to improve FP production and utilization. Information was generated from 10 focused group discussions and 270 respondents in 5 districts. Overall, FP is produced under rain-fed agriculture by less than 30% farmers on less than ¼hectare/farmer. In Bongo, Kongo and Bolgatanga environs, FP is cultivated by over 70% of households to supplement household food. Production is primarily planned for domestic consumption; contributing up to 20% of household food between Octoberto December. Consumer preference traits included tuber size, starch, low water content, taste and ease of peeling. Key problems identified were decreasing soil fertility, lack of improve varieties, labour-intensive operations, insect pests and high postharvest losses. Crop improvement should target high yielding cultivars, large tuber size, white and pink flesh and biofortification with micro-nutrients. Processing tubers into stable preservable products using low-cost roasting, dry-frying and solar dehydration methods should be evaluated. Dissemination of current improved technologies to increase productivity requires prompt attention by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.},
 year = {2013}
}

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