Problems of utilization of tropical root crops for food in the Caricom region
Wilson, L.A. (West Indies Univ., St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago). Faculty of Agriculture)
Limited availability and practice of adequate utilization technology lead to some of the major problems in the tropical root crops (TRC) in the Caribbean region. These problems include: (1) food and nutrition problems including limited regional and national consumption due to low availability, seasonal production, post harvest losses and poor regional trade; poor convenience for food preparation due to poor tuber quality in terms of size, shape, maturity and absence of commercial processing enterprises and an unawareness of the nutritive value of TRC tubers, (2) problems of handling, distribution, quality and storage and (3) food processing problems. The paper concludes that efforts to increase the production and hence consumption of TRC tubers in region will be frustrated unless the many utilization problems associated with these commodities are solved.
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