Gender-Disaggregated Consumer Testing and Descriptive Sensory Analysis of Local and New Yam Varieties

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Science
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Gender-disaggregated sensory evaluation is crucial for improving crop breeding and adoption rates.
• Understanding consumer preferences for yam (Dioscorea spp.) is essential for variety development and market acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of age, sex, and geographical location on sensory descriptor preferences for boiled and pounded yam.
• To compare consumer acceptance of local and new yam varieties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized descriptive and consumer testing with defined attributes and measurement scales to create yam lexicons.
• Employed statistical analyses including independent t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney test, and Relative Importance Index (RII).

Main Results:

• All Dioscorea rotundata varieties were rated as good for boiling and pounding.
• Dioscorea alata varieties 'afase soanyinto' and 'afase biri' were most preferred; 'afase pa' and 'ahodenfo' were least preferred.
• Sex significantly influenced preferences for pounded yam descriptors (mouldability, lumpiness, colour); age did not significantly affect preferences. Rural consumers preferred boiled D. rotundata, while urban consumers preferred pounded yam.

Conclusions:

• Local Dioscorea alata varieties maintain high acceptability, often surpassing new varieties due to aroma.
• Market availability of preferred yam varieties can enhance consumption and adoption rates.
• Tailoring yam variety development to specific consumer demographics and preferences is key for successful breeding programs.