CONTRIBUTION OF NEGLECTED AND UNDERUTILIZED CROPS TO HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH AMONG RURAL DWELLERS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

This paper examines the contribution of neglected and underutilized crops (NUS) to household food security and health among rural dwellers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the socio-economic characteristics of rural dwellers, uses and contribution of neglected and underutilized crops to household food security and health were determined. The local government of Akinyele was selected because many households were food insecure as reported in literature and high concentration of these crops exists in the area. Five villages and 100 rural dwellers therein were randomly selected. Data were collected from the respondents through a structured questionnaire and they were subjected to analysis using frequency counts, percentages and multiple regression analysis. The results show that the majority of rural dwellers were males, above 40 years of age, married, and depend on family labor, Christians, and with no formal education. The most available neglected and underutilized crops are mushrooms, Ocimum gratissium, and bush mango. Food consumption and medicinal uses are the most prominent purposes for which these crops were used. Many respondents indicated that mushroom, bush mango, Spondias mombin and Solanum americanum are used as food, while Momordica charantia, Ocimum gratissimum and Aframomum melegueta are the most prominent for medicinal uses. All these crops receive little research attention, poor commercialization and marketing, and lack effective policy frameworks for harnessing their potentials in Nigeria. A significant relationship exists between NUS contribution to household food security and health, and NUS as sources of food nutrients, income generation, marital status and age. The paper concludes that with the realization of the importance and uses of the neglected and underutilized crops, the potentials for agricultural and rural development can be unlocked.