Onion farming in Ghana

Abstract

Onions (Allium cepa L.) and shallots have been put to almost identical use in Ghana and one can hardly talk about onions without mentioning shallots as well. Though the origin of shallots has been traced by Sinnadurai (6), that of onions is not quite well known. The local names given to onions (European shallots) suggest that onions were not known in Ghana before Europeans came to the country. For example, the English translation of the Ga3 and Akan3 names for onions, "blofo sabolai" and "abrofo gyenee" respectively, are European shallots. The Hausas3 call onions as 'albassa' which has no meaning in relation to Europeans or white men. Shallots are virtually unknown in Hausa Land (most of Northern and Upper regions). Apart from their usual uses as a flavourer in foods, appetizer and mouth refresher, onions and shallots are of medicinal importance in Ghana and other West African countries. When feverish the juice is rubbed on the body or taken in with palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) and hot pepper (Capsicumfrutescens). The green leaves from harvested bulbs are rolled into balls and used in the same way as the bulbs, in the off season, in the Northern and Upper regions. In some parts of Ghana they are used as an antidote for snakebite. The scent of onions and shallots is said to repel snakes and they are planted near houses (4).