Crop
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Water requirement
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Preservation possibilities
|
Remarks
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Sweet potato
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- Drought tolerant
- Waterlogging should be avoided
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- Can be stored in the soil for limited time
- Dry chips and flour can be used, even after several months
|
- Propagated by vegetative planting material (vines to be cultivated in nurseries for replanting)
- Leaves are a popular vegetable
- Tuber is a good source of energy
|
Cassava
|
- Drought tolerant
- Often planted as emergency food source
|
- Harvested as required or stored as dried chips
- Processed into gari or flour for later use Warning: toxicity of some cultivars
|
- Tuber is a good source of energy
|
Taro or
cocoyam
|
- Suitable for waterlogged areas
|
- Perennial
- Can be harvested as required
|
- Leaves are of high nutritional value
|
Yam
|
|
|
|
Groundnut
|
|
|
- Good source of fat/oil
- Excellent when ground up and mixed into weaning foods
|
Pigeon pea
|
|
- Many plant parts are used, fresh and dried
|
|
Beans
|
- Planted at the end of the rains
|
- Dried bean flour produced
|
|
Onion and shallot
|
- Particularly high for bulb development
|
- Can keep for several months, cured and stored in cool, dry place
|
- Varieties are daylight sensitive
|
Tomato
|
- High, but does best in dry season, to limit diseases
|
- Traditional sun drying possible
|
|
Eggplant
|
- African varieties have low water requirements, even to limited drought tolerance
|
|
- Local varieties are preferred
|
Leafy vegetables
|
- High, but short growth period
|
- Possible sun drying, but fresh product preferred
|
- Medium to good source of vitamins A and C
|
Oil crops
|
- Many drought-tolerant species, such as safflower, sesame, nug
|
- Household- and community-level processing possible
|
- Home garden production needs promotion
Concentrated source of energy
|
Mango
|
- If well established, can withstand periods of water scarcity
|
- Solar drying produces a good, storable product
|
- Solar drying needs promotion, as mangoes are abundant when in season and many go to waste
- Good source of vitamin A
|
Papaya
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- Water for seedling establishment is extremely important
|
- Once mature, difficult to keep
|
- Productivity declines drastically after three years
- Good source of vitamin A
|
Banana or plantain
|
|
- If water supply is sufficient, year-round bearing is possible
|
- Can also be dried
- Excellent snack food for children, fresh or dried
|
Guava
|
|
|
- Important in emergencies
- Excellent source of vitamin C
|