Consumption Profile and Usage Pattern of Selected Indigenous Foodcrops in Okigwe Local Government Area, Imo-State

AbstractThe study assessed the consumption profile and usage pattern of selected indigenous foodcrops in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. A well-structured and pilot tested questionnaire was used for the study. Simple random sampling technique of balloting without replacement was used to select the sample. Ten out of the fourteen communities in Okigwe were randomly selected. A total of 300 respondents were used for the study; thirty from each community. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Result showed that the foodcrops; Ocimum gratissimum, Gnetum africanum, Gongronema latifolia, Piper guineense, Carica papaya, Tetracapidium conophorum, vernonia amygdalina and Telferia occidentalis were commonly consumed vegetables, seed and fruit in both rural and urban communities of Okigwe. There was however low consumption of Solanum species. Ocimum gratissimum, Gongronema latifolia, Gnetum africanum, Carica papaya and vernonia amygdalina, were found to be medicinal plants. Gnetum africanum , Tetracapidium conophorum, Telferia occidentalis and vernonia amygdalina were cash crops. Most problems encountered in using these foodcrops include the labourious processing for vernonia amygdalina, high fuel consumption of Tetracapidium conophorum during cooking; seasonality and lack of appropriate preservative methods for the vegetables and fruit.