Awareness of Food Nutritive Value and Eating Behaviors Among Peri-Urban Vegetable Farmers: Implications for Extension Services and Rural Education

Subject Areas : Adult Education

Uzoh Nwagbo ¹ , David Okoronkwo ² , Chimagbanwe Mbah ³

1 - Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
2 - Department of Sustainability in Agriculture, Food Production and Food Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
3 - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Received: 2023-03-03 Accepted : 2023-03-22 Published : 2023-03-31

Keywords: teaching, Farming, Agricultural extension, Smallholders,

Abstract :

This study sought to investigate the awareness of food nutritive value and eating behaviors among peri-urban vegetable farmers in Southeastern Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. A sample of 300 vegetable farmers took part in the study. Means and t tests were employed for data analysis. Results showed that peri-urban vegetable farmers were aware that nutrients are transported to cells in the body by water, water supports the removal of waste materials from the body, water helps to maintain stable internal body temperature and so on, but were unaware that fat and oils provides energy for the body, blood sugar levels can be raised by carbohydrates, and that production of insulin is supported by glucose. Eating practices commonly adopted included skipping breakfast, eating in between meals, and buying snacks as lunch, among others. There were no significant differences between male and female vegetable farmers in mean responses on food nutritive value or in eating practices adopted. Good eating habits will help farmers not only to improve their nutritional well-being, but also to prevent nutrition-related diseases. The implications for extension services and rural education are discussed in the context of these findings.

References:

1. Adeyanju, A. (2014). Consumption of leafy vegetables in rural households in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 14(1), 8518–8528.


2. Ahouéfa, N. L., Cissé, I., Soro, L. C., Yépié, A. H., Diagou, J. J., Yao, J.-B. K., & Atchibri, L. A. (2021). Associated Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Disease in Three Sites across Ivory Coast: An Urban (Cocody), Peri-Urban (Abobo) and Rural (Yocoboué) Area. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 12(5), 462–478.


3. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2020). Outcome of a public consultation on the draft update of the risk assessment of nickel in food and drinking water. Wiley Online Library.


4. Awosan, K. J., Ibrahim, M. T. O., Essien, E., Yusuf, A. A., & Okolo, A. C. (2014). Dietary pattern, lifestyle, nutrition status and prevalence of hypertension among traders in Sokoto Central market, Sokoto, Nigeria. International Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 6(1), 9–17.


5. Baltić, B., Starčević, M., Đorđević, J., Mrdović, B., & Marković, R. (2017). Importance of medium chain fatty acids in animal nutrition. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 85(1), 012048.


6. Bonis-Profumo, G., do Rosario Pereira, D., Brimblecombe, J., & Stacey, N. (2022). Gender relations in livestock production and animal-source food acquisition and consumption among smallholders in rural Timor-Leste: A mixed-methods exploration. Journal of Rural Studies, 89, 222–234.


7. Brouns, F. (2018). Overweight and diabetes prevention: Is a low-carbohydrate–high-fat diet recommendable? European Journal of Nutrition, 57(4), 1301–1312.


8. Eze, N. M., Maduabum, F. O., Onyeke, N. G., Anyaegunam, N. J., Ayogu, C. A., Ezeanwu, B. A., & Eseadi, C. (2017). Awareness of food nutritive value and eating practices among Nigerian bank workers: Implications for nutritional counseling and education. Medicine, 96(10).


9. Gelli, R., Ridi, F., & Baglioni, P. (2019). The importance of being amorphous: Calcium and magnesium phosphates in the human body. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 269, 219–235.


10. Hermann, J. R. (2019). Protein and the Body. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved from https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/protein-and-the-body.html


11. Jäckering, L. (2018). Communication Networks and Nutrition-sensitive Extension in Rural Kenya: Essays on Centrality, Network Effects and Technology Adoption [PhD Thesis]. Niedersächsische Staats-und Universitätsbibliothek Göttingen.


12. Koppmair, S., Kassie, M., & Qaim, M. (2017). Farm production, market access and dietary diversity in Malawi. Public Health Nutrition, 20(2), 325–335.


13. Ludwig, D. S., Hu, F. B., Tappy, L., & Brand-Miller, J. (2018). Dietary carbohydrates: Role of quality and quantity in chronic disease. Bmj, 361.


14. Lunterova, A., Spetko, O., & Palamas, G. (2019). Explorative visualization of food data to raise awareness of nutritional value. International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, 180–191.


15. Mbwana, H. A., Kinabo, J., Lambert, C., & Biesalski, H. K. (2016). Determinants of household dietary practices in rural Tanzania: Implications for nutrition interventions. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2(1), 1224046.


16. Michel, M. (2019). The mismeasure of consciousness: A problem of coordination for the Perceptual Awareness Scale. Philosophy of Science, 86(5), 1239–1249.


17. Michels, N., Vynckier, L., Moreno, L. A., Beghin, L., De La O, A., Forsner, M., Gonzalez-Gross, M., Huybrechts, I., Iguacel, I., & Kafatos, A. (2018). Mediation of psychosocial determinants in the relation between socio-economic status and adolescents’ diet quality. European Journal of Nutrition, 57(3), 951–963.


18. Ngozika, E. B., & Ifeanyi, O. E. (2018). A review on fast foods and family lifestyle. International Journal of Current Research in Biology and Medicine, 3(4), 26–30.


19. Nnadi, O. I., Liwenga, E. T., Lyimo, J. G., & Madukwe, M. C. (2019). Impacts of variability and change in rainfall on gender of farmers in Anambra, Southeast Nigeria. Heliyon, 5(7), e02085.


20. Nti, C. A. (2008). Household dietary practices and family nutritional status in rural Ghana. Nutrition Research and Practice, 2(1), 35–40


21. Nwouzuke, A. I., Jeremiah, Z. A., & Hamza, B. (n.d.). Two hours postprandial effect of commonly used soft drink (Coke) on plasma glucose level in Nigeria.


22. Odebode, S. O. (2012). Gender issues in agricultural extension and rural development in Nigeria. In S. D. Sharma & S. D. Sharma (Eds.), Rural Development-Contemporary Issues and Practices (pp. 116–132). Citeseer. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.432.9612&rep=rep1&type=pdf


23. Okunade, O. O. (2020). Adults and social supports for older parents in peri-urban Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Caring Sciences, 9(2), 65–74.


24. Olaitan, O. O., Fadupin, G. T., & Adebiyi, A. A. (2018). Dietary pattern, lifestyle and nutritional status of hypertensive outpatients attending University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 21(1), 29–36.


25. Olowogbon, T. S., Yoder, A. M., Fakayode, S. B., & Falola, A. O. (2019). Agricultural stressors: Identification, causes and perceived effects among Nigerian crop farmers. Journal of Agromedicine, 24(1), 46–55.


26. Olowogbon, T. S., Yoder, A. M., Fakayode, S. B., & Falola, A. O. (2019). Taming occupational stress among farmers in developing nations. In M. A. Rahman, M. S. Rahman, & M. A. Hossain (Eds.), Effects of stress on human health (pp. 229-244). Springer.    


27. Olubanjo-Olufowobi, O. (2020). FOOD AND PLEASURE IN NIGERIA: A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO EPICURUS’ PHILOSOPHY OF GOOD LIFE. AMAMIHE Journal of Applied Philosophy, 18(2).


28. Oyegbami, A., Fadairo, A. O., & Oyedokun, M. O. (2020). Women’s knowledge of the nutritional benefits and perceived constraints in soybean utilization in Oyo State, Nigeria. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 48(2), 166–175.


29. Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2017). Micronutrient deficiency. Our World in Data.


30. Shimali, F., Najjingo Mangheni, M., & Kabahenda, M. (2021). Nutrition education competencies of agricultural extension workers in Uganda. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 27(4), 535–552.


31. UNECE, U., & WHO, W. (2021). Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Europe and Central Asia 2020. World Health Organization. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/486533/Regional-Overview-Food-Security-Nutrition-Europe-Central-Asia-2020.pdf?ua=1


32. (2018). Noncommunicable diseases. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases


33. Wilhelm, H. J., & Association, A. D. (n.d.). Nutrition Press Releases. National Nutrition Week. 1975. Records of the Western Dairy Council. Series 2: Promotional Correspondence, Press Releases, and Speeches, 1973-1979. Finding Aid: https://lib2.colostate.edu/archives/findingaids/agriculture/awdc.html


34. Wu, G. (2016). Dietary protein intake and human health. Food & Function, 7(3), 1251–1265