A baseline survey of tiger nut (<i>Cyperus esculentus</i>) production in the Kwahu South District of Ghana

Abstract

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is a minor but important crop in Ghana. In a survey conducted on the production and marketing of the crop at Aduamoa in the Kwahu South District of Ghana, it was observed that tiger nut production was predominantly the work of women, with 70 per cent of farmers being women and 30 per cent men. Most men farmers were younger, with 73 per cent of them within age group 15-40 years. The women farmers were older, with 70 per cent of them within the age group 41-65 years. Farm sizes were small, ranging from 576 to 4200 m2. Two distinct types of tiger nuts, the Kwahu type with yellowing brown nuts and the Fanti type with a mixture of dark brown and black nuts, are cultivated in the area. Consumer preference for the Kwahu type is higher. The crop is grown on mounds, and it may be intercropped with maize, cassava, or cocoyam. Yields range between 2.3 and 11.3 t/ha. Harvested nuts may be dried with or without washing, and stored up to 6 - 12 months in aerated containers. Themajor constraints to production include high labour cost for land preparation and harvesting. However, the crop has a high export potential.


Ghana Jnl agric. Sci. Vol.31(2) 1998: 211-216