Postharvest Barriers, Marketing, and Consumer Preferences of Indigenous Green Leafy Vegetables (IGLVs) in Urban Greater Accra, Ghana

Abstract:

Indigenous Green Leafy Vegetables (IGLVs) are underutilized but grown extensively in peri-urban gardens in Ghana. They provide affordable vitamins, dietary fiber, and bioactive substances that contribute to health benefits. However, challenges in post-harvest management, marketing, and consumption limit their usage. This study aimed to identify challenges in post-harvest management, consumer preferences, and perceived benefits associated with the consumption of IGLVs in urban areas of Greater Accra. A quantitative survey was used to retrieve data from 150 participants, consisting of 80 urban consumers of IGLVs and 70 retailers of IGLVs. Descriptive analysis (frequencies, percentages), and the chi-square test were used to determine significant associations. The study showed that cocoyam leaves, jute mallow, waterleaf, moringa, baobab leaves, and roselle are the most marketable IGLVs in urban Greater Accra Region. It was also observed that almost 21% of the respondents consumed IGLVs daily, 32.5% at least once a week, of which 40% cited health and nutritional benefits as their motivation for consumption. More than half (59 %) of the respondents indicated their non-preference for already processed IGLVs due to contamination, nutritional loss, and the use of unsafe preservatives. It was also observed that the availability and marketability of IGLVs are affected by the primary post-harvest management obstacles of contamination and storage conditions, particularly during the dry seasons. Finally, 45% of the respondents suggested that encouraging farmers and using media to promote IGLVs could increase consumption in urban Greater Accra. The study recommends an urgent need for increased research to address identified post-harvest challenges to increase the consumption of IGLVs in Ghana.