Rural Households’ Preference and Consumption Patterns of African Breadfruit in Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for Food Security

Authors: Afolabi AA*, Abulude IA, Ojo OK and Odekuoye JP

DOI: 10.23880/fsnt-16000350

Volume 9, Issue 3

Abstract

The study assessed the acceptance, frequency of consumption and mode of consuming African breadfruit among rural households in Osun State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the socio-economic characteristics of the rural household; examines rural households’ frequency and mode of consumption of African breadfruit; and determines the attitude of rural households towards the production and consumption of African breadfruit in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select 288 respondents and a structural interview schedule was used to collect data for the study. Data collected was analysed using appropriate descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency count, and percentages and inferential statistics such as chi-square and correlation analysis. The results revealed that the mean age was 47.8 ± 1.32 years; the majority (62.2%) of the respondents were male. Also, the majority (85.4%) of the respondents were Yoruba, 12.2 percent were Igbo, and 2.4 percent were Hausa. The mean years of formal schooling was 9.7 ± 4.67 years. The mean average monthly income was ₦41,759 ± 19,461. Similarly, the findings indicated that boiling of breadfruit ranked first (mean =3.11) as the most preferred mode of consumption while puree ranked least (mean = 0.22) as the least preferred mode of consuming African breadfruit. The findings also indicated that the rural household had an indifferent attitude towards the production and consumption of African breadfruit. There was a significant relationship between level of education (r = 0.202), years of formal schooling (r =- 0.165) and cosmopoliteness (r = 0.172) and acceptance of African breadfruit in the study area at p ≤ 0.01. Also, there was a positive and significant relationship between rural households’ attitudes towards the production and consumption of African breadfruit and acceptance of African breadfruit (r = 0.219, p ≤0.01). The study concluded that African breadfruit has the potential to increase the health status of the inhabitants in the study area if well consumed, it can benefit the nation and possibly enhance food security among the Nigerian populace. The study recommended among others that agricultural and rural development stakeholders should help in the organisation of the rural households through training, seminars and so on about the importance of African breadfruit thereby promoting its acceptance.

Keywords: Acceptance; African Breadfruit; Rural Households; Food Security

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