Exploring the Potential of Banana SAP as Dye for the Adinkra Industry in Ghana

A study was carried out to explore the potential of banana sap as a dye for the Adinkra industry in Ghana. Pseudostem extract of banana and stem bark extract of Bridelia micratha were compared as dyeing stuff. A consumer preference study was also conducted to assess the acceptability of the products developed. The results revealed that a combination of banana sap and B. micratha dye ensures a high levelness on fabrics. It also showed that banana sap could serve as a good mordant. The result on consumer acceptability showed that product from 50% by volume of banana sap and 50% of B. micratha recorded a good acceptance by manufacturers. The colour of the cloth which was deep brown colour was also preferred by many people as a peculiar product used by royals. The results showed that dyes with no or little of B. micratha dye inclusion showed no sign of solidi-fication. It could be concluded that equal volumes of banana sap and B. micratha dye could be used for the Adinkra industry as an alternative for the sole B. micratha dye that requires a mor-dant. This would reduce the cost of buying and using synthetic dyes. Further study should be con-ducted to explore the potential of other banana and plantain saps as a dyeing agent for the Ad-inkra industry in Ghana

Production and marketing challenges of vegetable farming: a case study of Kumasi metropolis of Ashanti region, Ghana

The availability of large markets in urban communities has given cities enormous potential for food production especially vegetables. This potential partly accounts for mass exodus of people into cities. Poverty is however accompanying urbanisation but food production potential of cities could reduce urban poverty. This study assesses the production and marketing challenges of urban vegetable production in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. A simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 300 urban vegetable farmers from the study area. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data for analysis. Vegetable producers were basically smallholder farmers with land sizes between 0.1 and 3.2 ha. The result also revealed that greater proportion of cultivated land was put to leafy vegetables (lettuce, cabbage and spring onions). Again, majority (97.3 percent) of the respondents disposed of their produce through middle men at the farm gate level. The Kendall's coefficient of concordance analysis also showed that there was 51.8 percent agreement among respondents on the ranking of vegetable production challenges they encountered at 5 percent significant level. On the contrary, only 40.8 percent among the respondents agreed on the ranking of the marketing challenges they were confronted with. Agricultural extension training and education on innovative agricultural practices would increase farmers' income and enhance their livelihood. This study seeks to identify the production and marketing constraints urban vegetable farmers face in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ashanti Region, Ghana.Keywords: Urbanisation, urban vegetable farmers, urban poverty, production, respondent