Evaluation of some common leafy vegetables used in Ghana

Abstract

Twenty different types of exotic and local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were evaluated on the bases of their agronomic and nutritive values. The study showed that availability and consumption of leafy vegetables in Ghana is culture and region based. Some of the vegetables indicated good plant morphology and architecture, yield and resistance to pest damage. Nutrient contents of local Ghanaian leafy vegetables were better than the exotic types. Leaves of species like cleome, sweet potato, celosia, and cassava indicated high nutritive values as compared to well known leafy vegetables like amaranth and cocoyams (taro and tannia). The country is however endowed with large number of under exploited local leafy vegetable crop plants which need to be harnessed and studied for recommendation in the area of agronomy, crop improvement, recipe formulation and promotion