Endogenous Knowledges and Diversity of Amaranths (Amaranthus ssp) Grown in Burkina Faso

Abstract

he present study is an ethnobotanical survey on Amaranthus spp coupled with accessions collection carried out in ten (10) provinces of Burkina Faso. It aims at contributing to a better knowledge of the extent of the culture and the agricultural management modes of the cultivated species of Amaranthus spp. Ninety-nine (99) accessions were collected. The ethnobotanical survey showed that the cultivation of amaranth is clearly increasing (67.57%). Agro-morphological and organoleptic characteristics are used by farmers for cultivars identification. Thus, three main morphotypes (dark-green, light-green and red) with several variants were identified. Among these morphotypes, the morphotype dark green was cited by respondents in the ten provinces surveyed. In this study, a greater number of morphotypes were recorded in three provinces (Houet, Oubbritenga and Yatenga). Three (3) areas of use and fifteen (15) specific uses of the different organs of amaranth were reported by the 270 respondents. For 99.6% of the respondents, it is mainly used for human consumption (vegetable sauce, baag-benda, gnougou and couscous). Amaranth’s leaves are sold at on-farm level or in markets and yaar. The price of these leaves packaged in bags of 50 kg bags, varies from 1,500 to 2,500 FCFA. How to Cite: Ouedraogo Jacques, Kiébré Mariam, Sawadogo Pingawindé, Kiébré Zakaria, Bationo/ Kando Pauline, 2023. "Endogenous Knowledges and Diversity of Amaranths (Amaranthus ssp) Grown in Burkina Faso." Journal of Agriculture and Crops, vol. 10, pp. 1-10.