ABSTRACT
This wide range of uses and processes creates significant challenges for establishing breeding objectives. One challenge is how to balance the requirements of farmers with those of processors and end users, especially in the case where there may be a trade-off in productivity for varieties with highest expression of processor and consumer-preferred traits (Egesi et al., 2012). In one study, for example, Kamau et al. (2001) showed that farmers preferred a local variety to two improved varieties developed, in the view of the breeders, for better appearance, taste and texture. Farmers tend to prefer varieties with characteristics such as resistance to pests and diseases as well as more established quality characteristics such as low cyanogenic potential (Khizzah et al., 2013). Nweke et al. (1994) also added that the most important farmers’ preferences are characteristics such as disease and pest tolerance, early bulking, high root yield, weed suppression and good in-ground storability – all traits which will not be of importance to consumers and processors, unless related to product cost.
