Foods

Food fortification or enrichment is the umbrella term which means the addition of nutrients to food in order to increase its nutritional value. This is practised in order to fortify foods with rich nutrients so as to fight nutrient deficiency among people.   Types of Food Fortification  There are two types or methods of fortification, … Read moreCrop Bio-fortification: Objectives, Processes, Benefits and Limitations

Sweet potato is one of the root crops with a relatively high nutritive value and yet only about 5% of world production comes Africa. It is mostly grown with other arable crops. Asia produces over 90% of the crop with China alone accounting for over 85% of world production. Origin It originated from central and … Read moreSweet Potato Plant

Jute is perhaps the most important of all bast fibres. The fibre is obtained from the stems of two cultivated species of Corchorus, namely, C. Capsularis L. and C. olitorius L. It is mostly produced in Asian countries especially China, India and Bangladesh.   Origin The primary centre of origin of C. olitorius is Africa … Read moreJUTE (Corchorus spp.) Family: Tiliaceae

Kenaf is an important bast fibre crop. It is however grown largely in small backyard gardens in most parts of Nigeria especially in the north. India is the major producer. Origin It originated from the tropical and subtropical Africa where it is commonly wild plant. It has now been taken to most tropical and subtropical … Read moreKENAF (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Family: Malvaceae

Origin Cucumber probably originated in northern India and was introduced to the Mediterranean. It is now widespread throughout the world. Ecology Cucumbers are well adapted to warm climates but will grow well at lower temperatures than melons. The optimum range of day-night temperatures is 21-28°C. Water requirement is high but a very humidity encourages the … Read moreCUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.)

Origin Carrot (D. carota L. sub so. sativus (Hoffm.) Thell.) is derived from the wide carrot (D. carota L. sub sp. carota) which occurs naturally in Europe, Asia and Africa. It is of ancient cultivation in the Mediterranean region and has now spread throughout the tropical world. Ecology Soils which are well drained with a … Read moreCARROT (Daucus carota L.)

Okra is a common vegetable crop grown in many part of the tropics for its mucilaginous fruits. It is a dicotyledonous annual herbaceous plant that’s  widely grown in all ecological zones of Nigeria but is not of much economic importance compared with tomatoes. Origin The okra plant originated in central Africa but is now cultivated … Read moreOKRA (Abelmoshus esculentus (L.) Moench).

Lettuce is a seasonal herb which is considered the world’s most important salad crop. Origin and distribution The centre of origin of L. sativa appears to be the middle east. The first records of lettuce as a vegetable is a long leaved from depicted on Egyptian tombs dated 4500 B.C. Lettuce was grown by the … Read moreLETTUCE (Latuca sativa L.)

Bitter leaf plants are shrubs and their leaves are used as a vegetable. Vernonia amygdalina, V. colorata and V. calvoana are the three species usually grown. Ecology Vernonia grows in all types of soils. It is fairly drought resistant except the species V. calvoana, which is more sensitive. Vernonia plants thrive in full sunlight. Botany … Read moreBITTER LEAF (Vernonia spp.)

The term cocoyams is used to refer collectively to members of the genus Colocasia and the genus Xanthosoma which are grown for food in many parts of Africa, especially the wetter parts. They are grown in small plots, often inter cropped with food food or cash crops. They are volunteer crops in many places and … Read moreCOCOYAMS (Colocasia esculenta (L.), Schott (Taro) (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.), Schott (Tannia)

Potato is a temperature crop which is being increasingly cultivated in the tropics in areas with high elevations and cool temperatures. It is referred to as Irish potato to differentiate it from the sweet potato though it did not originate from Ireland. It is regarded as a valuable vegetable and generally highly priced compared with … Read moreIRISH POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Yams are grown throughout the wetter parts of the tropics. They are climbing monocotyledonous plants with opposite or alternate leaves and they produce large storage tubers. Yams are obtained from several species of the genus Dioscorea, a very large genus with about 600 tropical or subtropical species of which only a few are grown for … Read moreYAMS (Dioscorea spp.) Family: Dioscoreaceae

Cassava is the major source of dietary energy for low-income consumers in many parts of tropical Africa. It has become the most important food crop of tropical Africa and had been aptly described as the ‘staff of life’. It is also known as Manioc or Tapioca.   Origin Cassava originated in parts of central and … Read moreCASSAVA (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Pigeon pea is one of the most heat and drought resistant legumes as its root oils deep and extensive. India is the leading producers, accounting for about 90% of the total world population. It is an important legume of East Africa but not so important in West Africa. It’s lack of acceptance is due to … Read morePIGEON PEA (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp)

Soyabean is a crop that has great potentials as a source of inexpensive protein in human diets and many valuable use. It is fairly new crop in West Africa and has not been quite incorporated into the traditional foods of the people. Research efforts on the crop have been limited due to rapid loss of … Read moreSOYABEAN (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Groundnut is also called peanut and can be grown as a grain legume as well as oil seed crop. It has the highest oil content (44-50% oil) among tropical grain legumes. It is a major cash crop, which is widely grown in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Africa, where 20% is … Read moreGROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Wheat is a temperate crop but is grown on a large scale in a sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. Africa is however not important for wheat production. Origin Wheat is of Asian origin in areas around southern Turkey, Iraq and adjacent territories of Syria and Iran. The cultivation of wheat spread from its … Read moreWHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)

There are many species of millet but the most important is Pennisetum typhoides which is known as Bulrush or Pearl millet. Among cereals, it is the crop of the driest region. It is very drought resistant and gives reasonable yields in infertile sandy soils, which would be unsuitable for other important cereal. The total production of … Read moreMILLET (Pennisetum typhoides Burn .f.)