ABSTRACT
Orange-fleshed sweet potato and biofortified cassava consumption promotion is one of the key nutrition sensitive interventions implementedto address high vitamin A deficiency. The study was a cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 340 respondents for the study. Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, awarenessand knowledge, utilization of biofortified cassava and orange fleshed sweet potato by the respondents and perception of the respondents towards orange fleshed sweet potato and biofortified cassavawere collected using structured and validated questionnaire. The IBM SPSS version 20 computer programme was used to analyze the data. More than half (64.4%) of the respondents were females. Most (42.9%) of the respondets are between the age bracket of 18-35 years and 63.5% of them are married. However, 43.5% of the respondents were aware of orange fleshed sweet potatoes while 76.8% of them were aware of biofortified cassava.Only 36.2% of the respondents had good knowledge about orange flesh sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava. Meanwhile, 40.6%of the respondents consume orange flesh sweet potatoes, 52.3% consume it once in a week while majority (58.8%) of them purchase orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava mainly from the market. Majority (87.9%) had a negative perception towards orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava, 57.6% of them hav a negative perception towards the benefits of consuming orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava while half (50.3%) of the respondents had a positive perception towards the barriers of consuming orange fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava.These results therefore suggest that projects seeking to promote consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato and biofortified cassava as an intervention for vitamin A deficiency control should promote production of orange-fleshed sweet potato and biofortified cassava and sensitization of communities on the health benefits of biofortified cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato consumption.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table
of contents v
List
of tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study 1
1.2 Statement
of Problem 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study 6
1.3.1 General objective 6
1.3.2 Specific objective 6
1.4 Significance of Study 6
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE
REVIEW
2.1 Definition of Biofortification 8
2.2.1
Comparative Advantages
of Biofortification 10
2.2.1 Reaching the Malnourished in Rural Areas 10
2.2.2 Cost-Effectiveness and Low Cost 11
2.2.3 Sustainability of
Biofortification 11
2.3 Limitations
of Biofortification 11
2.4 Impact of Consumption of Orange-Fleshed
Sweet Potato on
Vitamin a Status 14
2.4.1 Factors associated with consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato15
2.4.2 Household demographic factors 17
2.4.3 Factors associated with production of orange-fleshed sweet potato 18
2.4.4 Factors associated with procurement of orange-fleshed sweet potato19
2.4.5 Factors associated with Knowledge on orange-fleshed sweet potato 19
2.5 Consumer Acceptance of Biofortified Staple
Foods 20
2.6 History
of Cassava as a Staple Food 21
2.7 Biofortified Cassava 23
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Study Design 25
3.2 Area Of Study 25
3.3
Population Of Study 26
3.4
Sampling And Sampling
Techniques 27
3.4.1
Sample Size 27
3.4.2
Sampling procedures 28
3.5 Preliminary
Activities 28
3.5.1 Preliminary
visits 28
3.5.2 Training
of Research assistants 29
3.5.3 Informed consent 29
3.5.4 Ethical
Approval 29
3.6
Data Collection 29
3.6.1
Questionnaire
Administration 29
3.7
Data Analysis 29
3.8
Statistical Analysis 30
CHAPTER 4
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1
Socio-demographic Characteristics Of
Respondents 32
4.2
Awareness of Orange Fleshed Sweet
Potato and Biofortified Cassava
by the Respondents 36
4.3 Knowledge of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato
and Biofortified
Cassava
by the Respondents 39
4.4
Utilization of Biofortified Cassava
and Orange Fleshed Sweet
Potato by the
Respondents 42
4.5 Perception
of the Respondents Towards Orange Fleshed
Sweet
Potato and Biofortified Cassava 47
4.6 perception
of respondents towards benefit of consuming
orange fleshed
sweet potatoes and biofotified cassava 50
4.7 perception
of respondents towards barriers of consuming
orange
fleshed sweet potatoes and biofotified cassava 52
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion 47
5.2 Recommendation 47
REFERENCES 49
APPENDIX 61
LIST
OF TABLES
Table
4.1 Socio-demographic
Characteristics of Respondents 30
Table 4.2a: Level of awareness of orange fleshed sweet
potatoes 34
Table 4.2b: Level of awareness of biofortified cassava 35
Table 4.3a: Knowledge scores about orange fleshed sweet
potatoes and
yellow
cassava 37
Table 4.4: Utilization
of biofortified cassava and orange fleshed
sweet potato 39
Table 4.5: Perception
and Perception status of respondents towards
orange fleshed sweet potato and
biofortified cassava 43
Table 4.6: Perception
of respondents Towards Benefits of consuming
orange
fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava. 45
Table 4.7: Perception
of respondents towards barriers of consuming
orange
fleshed sweet potatoes and biofortified cassava 46
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Although
vital to preventing disease, disability, and death among vulnerable
populations, interventions that focus on increasing micronutrient intake
through a single mechanism, such as supplementation, are tenuous if not paired
with complementary approaches such as food fortification and dietary
diversification (Underwood, 2004). In countries where chronic malnutrition is
widespread, food-based approaches emphasizing the consumption of a wide variety
of vitamin-rich foods are crucial to reducing the occurrence of life-altering
and often fatal micronutrient deficiencies.
The
World Health Organization reports that Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects 190
million pre-school aged children and 19 million pregnant women in Africa and
South-East Asia (WHO, 2009). The deficiency varies from one region to another,
with the highest rate of occurrence being in the tropical regions where poverty
and infections are dominant (CSDH, 2008). One of the interventions currently
under implementation for vitamin A control is the promotion of bio fortified
cassava and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in rural farming communities.
Biofortification is the process of increasing
the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop through plant breeding using
either conventional methods or genetic engineering or through agronomic
practices (Meenakshi et al., 2010).
Over the past 15 years, conventional breeding efforts have resulted in the
development of varieties of several staple food crops with significant levels
of the three micronutrients most limiting in diets: zinc, iron, and vitamin A.
More than 15 million people in developing countries now grow and consume
biofortified crops. Evidence from nutrition research shows that biofortified
varieties provide considerable amounts of bioavailable micronutrients, and
consumption of these varieties can improve micronutrient deficiency status
among target populations (McNulty and Oparinde, 2015).
Cassava
(Manihot esculenta) has been
considered the most important food crop in sub-Saharan Africa (Akoroda and
Teri, 2004). This is due to the fact that households take meals made from
cassava daily throughout the year. During the rainy season this percentage goes
up to 96% of the households. In the same vein, cassava has become a staple food
for most Nigerians (not only among rural people but also among the urban
dwellers) possibly because of the ease with which its major food product
(Garri) can be prepared and used as a source of food (IITA, 2004). Cassava has
some inherent characteristics which make it attractive, especially to the small
holder farmers in Nigeria. First, it is rich in carbohydrate especially starch and
consequently has a multiplicity of end users (IITA, 2006). Secondly, it is
available all the year round, making it preferable to other more seasonal crops
such as grains, peas and beans and other crops of food security (Akoroda and
Teri, 2004). Also, an estimated 70 million people obtain more than 500 calories
per day from cassava. With its productivity on marginal soils; ability to
withstand disease, drought, and pests; and flexible harvest dates. This is a
remarkably adaptable and hearty crop, consumed in areas where drought, poverty,
and malnutrition are prevalent (Oparinde et
al., 2012). However, frequent consumption of cassava by consumers pose
greater risk in terms of malnutrition, especially deficiencies in vitamin A,
iron, and zinc compared with consumers of other diets, particularly those that
are cereal-based (Gegios et al.,
2010).
Biofortification
changes the color of cassava roots from white to deep yellow, due to the
increase in pro-vitamin A content. Not only appearance but also taste can be influenced
due to lower dry matter concentration associated with higher pro-vitamin A
concentration (Chavez et al., 2005). For biofortification programs to
be successful, the biofortified crop needs to be accepted by both farmers and
consumers (Saltzman et al.,
2013). Consumer acceptance depends on the sensory
characteristics and beliefs and practices in the community (Nestel.,
2006). Little is known about consumer acceptance of these
new cultivars of cassava.
Sweet
potato (Ipomea batatas [L.] Lam.) is a dicotyledons
plant from the family Convolvulaceae that grows in tropical and subtropical
areas. It occupies an important place in the agricultural production of Sub
Saharan Africa countries, covering about 3.2 million hectares with a production
estimated at 13.4 million tons of tubers (FAO, 2005).
Sweet
potato generates large amounts of food per unit areas per unit time during
relatively short rainy periods, tolerates occasional dry spells, and produces
greater yields even in less fertile soil than crops such as maize (FAO, 2005).
The introduction of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is one
food-based approach that has great potential to decrease VAD in Nigeria (Low, et al., 2015). Although most
varieties of sweet potato commonly grown in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are
white-fleshed and lacking in vitamin A, OFSP offers high levels of this
important micronutrient and is both drought resistant and easily cultivated (Mwanga
et al., 2009). Supporting data
confirm that OFSP is a highly affordable source of vitamin A (Low et al., 2007).
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Micronutrient
deficiencies are common in most developing countries such as Nigeria. It most
times results to health effects that range from mild to severe, and sometimes
life-threatening (Hotz and McClafferty, 2007). The most common micronutrient
deficiencies include vitamin A, iron and zinc – with prevalence of 29.5%, 26%,
and 20% respectively in children under five years. Commonly used interventions
include nutrient supplementation, dietary diversification, commercial
fortification, nutritional education and agricultural interventions. Some of
these programmes are expensive with short term benefits (Sayre, 2011).
Deficiency of vitamin A by itself causes 964,000 Disability Adjusted Life Years
(DALYs) in Nigeria. Recent surveys in Nigeria showed that vitamin A dietary
intake was inadequate in 83% of pre‐school aged Nigerian children
(Akinyele, 2004). The causes of malnutrition include consumption of poor
quality staples, lack of consumption of fruits and vegetable. (Onuegbu, et al., 2017).
Biofortification
of staple crops has been proposed as a strategy to address micronutrient
malnutrition, particularly with respect to insufficient intake of vitamin A,
iron, zinc, and folate (Burri, 2011). Biofortification of staples has been
identified as a cost effective, sustainable means of delivery of micronutrients
to the population (Uchendu, 2013). According to Miloff and Boy (2013), biofortified
crops formally released in Nigeria are provitamin A cassava, orange flesh sweet
potato and yellow maize as well as quality protein maize. Research into
biofortification of these and other staple crops are at various stages in
different parts of the country.
Vitamin
A deficiency which is the main cause of most blindness, poor immune system
function needs to be decreased to the lowest level.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE
STUDY
1.3.1 General objective
The
general objective of this study is to access the awareness, perception and
utilization of biofortified cassava and orange flesh sweet potato in ehime
mbano and OhajiEgbema in imo state.
1.3.2 Specific
objective
The
specific objective include to:
1.
determine the level of
awareness of biofortified cassava and orange fleshed sweet potato in ehime
mbano and OhajiEgbema L.G.A Imo State.
2.
ascertain the
perception of biofortified cassava and orange fleshed sweet potato within
households in ehime mbano and OhajiEgbema L.G.A Imo state.
3.
assess the level of
utilization of biofortified cassava and orange fleshed sweet potato in ehime
mbano and OhajiEgbema L.G.A Imo state.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF
STUDY
The
result of this study will help bring to light the attitude, knowledge, practice
of households in ehime mbano and OhajiEgbema towards vitamin A fortified rich
foods like biofortified cassava nd orange flesh sweet potato and thereby assist
nutrition educators, policy makers, public and private agencies involve in the
formulation and implementation of strategies to be able to assess the level of
success recorded. It will also help to review the level of utilization of
biofortified cassava and orange flesh sweet potato in the study area thereby
assisting in the timely identification of other areas prone to possible risk.
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