Authors : Celestine Kiminou Ngounga, Anicet Frédéric Binaki, Feueltgaldah Christian Bopoundza, Bob Wilfrid Loumouamou and Marie Geneviève Maloumbi
Abstract: Given the negative impacts of the bitter Manihot esculenta Crantz varieties on the health of consumers and although retting techniques improve the nutritional quality of these bitter varieties, it is necessary to encourage Manihot esculenta Crantz producers to grow also sweet varieties. This study which set the aim of knowing how the farmers producing Manihot esculenta Crantz perceive cultivation of sweet varieties in the Republic of Congo, revealed after investigation in the departments of high production of Manihot esculenta Crantz that: 95% of the respondents know the sweet varieties and 65% know the negative impacts of bitter varieties However, only 20% make the choice of cultivating sweet varieties compared to 77.5% which would prefer bitter varieties. This attitude is justified by several major constraints such as the sweet taste that exposes these varieties to wild animals (24.7%), susceptibility to pests (31.8%), the short cycle that would justify poor conservation in the soil (29.9%). A low appreciation of products made from sweet cassava varieties is also worth noting (60%). Indeed, the lack of products resulting from the transformation of sweet cassava into products corresponding to the eating habits of the populations and the low appreciation of products such as “chikwangue” and “foufou” resulting from the transformation of sweet varieties of cassava, limit the cultivation from these sweet varieties to a subsistence and non-commercial crop.
Celestine Kiminou Ngounga, Anicet Frédéric Binaki, Feueltgaldah Christian Bopoundza, Bob Wilfrid Loumouamou and Marie Geneviève Maloumbi, 2021. Peasant Perception of Sweet Varieties of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in the Republic of Congo. Agricultural Journal, 16: 16-23.