Sweet potato has gained prominence due to its ability to adapt to wide production ecologies and yield response to minimal external inputs. Orange-fleshed cultivars in particular have immense potential to improve household income and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the sweet potato value chain (SPVC) is not well-developed in many producing countries. The study was conducted in two regions to characterize the production operations as well as identify opportunities to propel the SPVC in Northern Ghana. Data were collected using mixed methods including structured questionnaires via face-to-face interviews. Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) was conducted at multistakeholder platforms with different actors. Gross margin profit and benefit-cost ratios were determined by using six cost variables. Overall, the industry was largely a fresh produce market, targeting food vendors, processors, and direct selling to wholesalers, retailers, and household consumers. The SWOT analysis revealed wide-ranging opportunities including favourable production ecologies, processing options, and insatiable local and international markets. The institutional actors need to network the primary actors to synergistically operate with a collective profit motive. The most prioritized production constraints such as access to seed, cost of chemical fertilizer, short shelf-life, field pests and diseases, and declining soil fertility should be addressed.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of packaging materials and storage periods on seed quality and longevity dynamics of an endangered tropical tree species, Pericopsis elata. The experimental period was December, 2015 to June, 2016. Seed collection was done at the Bobiri Forest...

Seed vigour tests were conducted to identify differences in physiological potential among seed lots of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) with the potential to perform well after sowing and/or during storage. The present study aimed at investigating rapid vigour testing methods for estimating the relative physiological potential of T. tetraptera (Schum. & Thonn.) to provide relevant information to guide its domestication and ex-situ conservation. Eight (8) seed lots of T. tetraptera were subjected to the accelerated ageing and the electrical conductivity tests to determine their physiological potential. For the accelerated ageing tests, the traditional accelerated ageing (TAA) and the salt-saturated accelerated ageing (SSAA) tests were performed. In the TAA tests, seed lots were exposed to 100% RH at 38 and 41°C for 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. In the SSAA tests, seed lots were exposed to saturated NaCl solution with RH of 76% at temperatures and durations similar to the TAA tests. For the electrical conductivity tests, leachates conductivity of the 8 seed lots, were measured after 20 seeds of each lot had been placed in beakers and soaked in 50 ml of de-ionized water for 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 24 h at room temperature (24-28°C). Seed moisture content was determined and seed germination tests of seed lots were conducted before and after the accelerated ageing tests. Seedling root, shoot and total length as well as seedling dry weights were also recorded after accelerated ageing and germination of the seeds. The experimental design was 8 x 7 factorial (lots x soaking period) for the conductivity test and 8 x 2 x 3 factorial (lots x temperature x exposure time) for the accelerated ageing tests, in a completely randomized design. Results showed that seed emergence and seedling length were effective to distinguish the physiological quality of T. tetraptera seeds while seedling dry weights were not. Accelerated ageing test influenced the percentage of germination, but showed low sensitivity in lots differentiation. For the electrical conductivity test, 24 h was the most promising soaking period for effective stratification in determining the physiological quality of T. tetraptera seed lots and was significantly correlated with seed emergence (-0.76, p < 0.01) and seedling length (r = -0.72, p < 0.01). Electrical conductivity test may therefore be a more feasible option for vigour testing of T. tetraptera seeds.