Workshop on vegetable leafy/food fair held

Koforidua, Dec 16, GNA - The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, on Tuesday stressed the need for research scientists to identify additional alternative uses of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables(ILV) and their by-products and develop them for adoption. Speaking at the ILV workshop and Food Fair organized by the Plant Genetic Resource Centre (PGRC) he said the possibilities of using them for medicinal and other bio-chemical purposes could also be explored.

The workshop has as its theme: "Indigenous vegetable: our health, our future."

Nana Adjei Boateng commended the management of PGRC of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR for its initiative in organising the workshop and said he hoped it would not relent in the efforts at exposing the values of indigenous leafy vegetables and other less publicised indigenous foods to the public.

He expressed regret that during the recent National Farmers Day and AGRIFEX celebrations, although various farm produce, which constitute the daily meals were put on display, conspicuously missing were the various indigenous leafy vegetables.

The Director of PGRC, Dr Samuel O. Bennett-Lartey, who spoke on the importance of indigenous leafy vegetables, said they promote good health as well as being a source of income and therefore, called on Ghanaians to cultivate the habit of consuming the leafy vegetables daily to reduce their health bills.

On the economic advantage of the lLV, he said their cultivation is a source of employment for many people, especially urban dwellers, who realise appreciable incomes from their produce.

He said the cost of cultivating ILV is relatively lower than some other vegetables or crops, while on health advantages, they provide vitamins, source of minerals in the diet and also promote longevity.