Sustainable Food System in Ghana: Role of Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species and Diversity

This paper examines the neglected and underutilized crop diversity in four selected districts of Eastern Region Ghana to make conservation production meaningful local people. Through direct observation, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, study identified 27 species districts. The availability these varies from high moderate, including root tuber, vegetables, cereals, fruits, trees, medicinal plant species, legumes. According respondents, Garcinia kola was highly diverse terms spread. commonly grown, but included Dioscorea spp. (kookoo ase bayere afasie), Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Colocasia esculenta (taro), Phaseolus (white-Apatram), Capsicum chinense (Kpakposhito), Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Afii ntoose/Ntos pa). Neglected are essential for reducing high-input demand enhancing climate-resilient agriculture. Ensuring sustainability food system requires adding value species.