Okra could be sliced with a knife for small scale production, but it is better sliced with the. Okra is one of the most popular vegetables in nigeria, consumed by almost all the household across the country. Okra is packed with nutrients especially vitamins a, b, c and k. Department of crop production, school of agriculture and agricultural technology, federal university of technology, minna, niger state abstract. According to a study taking place in obubra, cross river state nigeria. Evaluation of okrasoybean based cropping system as. During the lean season okra fruit are produced in low quantities, scarce and expensive to get bamire and oke, 2003. Over 75% of maize and 60% of okra grown in nigeria are produced under intercropping system, 14. In our country, okra is used in making varieties of soups. Okra is the most important fruit vegetable crop and a source. Fresh okra are preserve by putting them in a basket for not more than 1 week while sliced okra are sun dried for three days and stored in basket, bags or clay pots for future use.
An overview of production, processing, marketing and utilisation of okra. However, these women are highly involved in both dry and rainy season okra production. Moench is traditionally grown in countries such as cote divoire, ghana, nigeria, egypt, sudan, togo, benin, burkina faso, cameroon, tanzania, zambia and zimbabwe. In the industry, it is also very important in the production of starch, oil, and alcohol 3. If you are a nigerian, you dont need to be told about okra soup. The total area of okra has increased over the years. Okra cultivation guide the stepbystep okra farming. It has the nickname ladys finger and it is sometimes called gumbo in most other places. Okra production is one of the major primary sources of cash income for farmers especially women in ayamelum local government area of anambra state, nigeria. Authors details article pdf available november 2016.
Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 100 farmers from six towns in the study area. In the peak season, it is produced in large quantities much. Commercial okra production uga cooperative extension. Field experiments were conducted from june to october during 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons at the research farm, university of agriculture, makurdi, nigeria, to evaluate the yield performance of okramaize mixture as affected by time of planting maize. A farmers guide to profitable groundnut production in nigeria. Two or more sidedressings with a high analysis nitrogen material may be needed, however, depending on rainfall. Comparative profit analysis of dry and rainy season okra. Okra root has been used to treat syphilis in malaya. I sincerely thank the development partners for their contribution towards the production. India is the world largest producer followed by nigeria and sudan.
In nigeria, vegetable farming is one aspect of farming with the ability to generate income and profits year round. Okra mucilage has been used as a plasma replacement and blood volume expander. The length for harvesting okra can be between 3 and 5 inches or it can be longer. Okra can be a profitable crop when recommended production practices are followed. Pdf act this study looked at the profitability of okra production and marketing in imo state, nigeria. An overview of okra production, processing, marketing. The crop can withstand extreme temperatures as occur in the dry season. However, production is best during long warm season in sandy loam soil with ph 5.
Okra is presently grown in large quantities in different parts of nigeria and other west african countries because of the favorable climatic conditions. The best way to begin your okra farming business in nigeria. Pdf the profitability of okra farmers in ayamelum local government area of anambra state of nigeria was investigated. Okra diseases and pests, description, uses, propagation. Yield performance of okra abelmoschus esculentus l. Okra agriculture business in nigeria agriculture nigeria. It can return an income over a 10 to 12 week period after harvest starts.
This graph shows the global vegetable production in 2017, broken down by type. The use of additional nitrogen should be avoided on vigorous plantings until fruiting begins to check plant growth. Once your growing okra is up and out of the ground, thin the plants to about 1 foot 30 cm. Land preparation use any method mechanical, chemical and manual that can adequately remove weeds and keep the soil loose for good seedbed. Despite the high economic value of the crop and the available potentials for its high production in nigeria, okra is widely cultivated by farmers in the country under a rainfed condition. In nigeria, based on the area cropped and quantity produced, maize was the countrys third most important cereal crop following sorghum and millet 1, 2. Okra is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that is used to prepare many popular nigerian soups.
Production areas california has relatively little acreage in okra abelmoschus esculentus l. Determinants of okra abelmoschus esculentus production and profitability in ayamelum local government area of anambra state, nigeria. Okra farm is easy to set up, cultivate, it requires less technicality compare to other vegetables, okra is not prone to pest and diseases. An overview of okra production, processing, marketing, utilization. Okra s potential for research and contribution to enhanced livelihoods. Okra can be grown anywhere in ghana but as a warm season crop it does best in warm moist soils. It grows from between 4 and 5 feet as its maximum height. Processing, marketing and utilization of okra in egbedore local government area of osun. The okra plant has a sensitive balance between vegetative foliage production and reproduction pod production. In that year, approximately 182 million metric tons of tomatoes were produced worldwide.
The example above, although from nigeria the principal of proportional allocation of budget for a similar size of operation should apply anywhere, worldwide. Low lying areas with evenly distributed annual rainfall of up to mm and temperatures between 2535 0 c are most suitable. For this reason, okra must be harvested at least every other day during the growing season. Okra oil is a pressed seed oil, extracted from the seeds of the okra. The women engage in production of various crops such as rice, plantainbanana, okra, maize and cassava. Here are steps to start okra farming business in nigeria. This is especially so in the southwestern nigeria where there is rainfall for about twothird of the months of the year. Okra plants have small erect stems that can be bristly or hairless with heartshaped leaves. Growing maize in nigeria choice of land any well drained sandy loam or loamy soil can be used for planting maize but if in doubt, contact your nearest extension office or agroservice center. Evaluation of okra soybean based cropping system as influenced by sowing densities of okra in a southern guinea savannah location, nigeria ijoyah m.
Osunde and musamakama 2007 noted that sun drying remains the major way of preserving surplus fresh okra during seasonal production to meet the demand all year round. For the export markets, okra is packed in 6kg boxes. How to start vegetable farming in nigeria wealth result. In nigeria fresh okra is preferred to dry okra by the majority of people and as such consumption is highest in the raining season when production is highest. In vietnam, okra is the important ingredient in the dish canh chua. When you plant the okra, it may be helpful to plant it in shifts so that you can get an even flow of ripe crops throughout the summer. An overview of production, processing, marketing and utilisation of okra in egbedore local government area of osun state, nigeria agricultural engineering international. Farmers guide to profitable groundnut production in nigeria will become an essential source of ideas and information for any farmer, extension staff, and researchers interested in cultivating groundnuts in nigeria.
Complete guide to okra production in ghana from the experts. Okra is also enjoyed in nigeria where draw soup is a popular dish, often eaten with garri or cassava. Numerous research on okra production, marketing, processing and utilization has been carried out in the past in several areas across nigeria. Okra is referred to as ladies fingers in most english speaking countries. In the peak season, it is produced in large quantities much more than what the local populace can consume. Its one of the most popular soup in nigeria restaurants. New okra varieties are not introduced as often as are those of some vegetables. Okra production is estimated at 6 million tonnes per year in the world. Okra, production, profitability introduction okra is an important vegetable that is. However, in the rain forest and southern guinea savanna agro ecological zones of the country the production of okra is concentrated. Okra is produced both as an irrigated and a rain fed crop in nigeria, particularly in the northern guinea savanna and the sudan savanna ecological zones of the country. Sort, grade and pack in boxes, or baskets according to market specification. If you are serious about the production okra you can contact me me for guides. There is also paucity of cassava production specialists, agribusiness experts, processing and, agromachinery experts to provide advice to.
In okra production, yields are dependent on cultivar, time and frequency of harvest. Okra is an economically important vegetable crop of many countries in africa, including ghana, ethiopia, nigeria, egpyt and many others. My personal experience with okra shows that eating fresh vegetable soup prepared with plenty of okra can relive constipation and increase digestion. Multistage and random sampling technique were used to select 81 respondents for this study. Okra, abelmoschus esculentus, is an herbaceous annual plant in the family malvaceae which is grown for its edible seed pods. Only 3 to 4 days are required from the time the okra flower opens until the pod reaches harvest maturity. In nigeria, enormous quantities of fruits and vegetables are produced and staggering figures are sometimes given as estimated annual production. As it is, vegetable farming is one of the easiest agricultural engagements a farmer can venture into and the demand for edible vegetable is year round, creating a veritable stream of income for the wouldbe farmer. The pods are what you harvestthe fruitvegetable of harvest.
Nigerians use okra and one of the most popular soup in nigeria is okra. For you to succeed in this in this farming venture, you must be very diligent and disciplined. With proper planning, you become a big player in the okra production in nigeria. Imperial county has the most okra production with 184acres 74 ha, and other counties produce small amounts. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of west african, ethiopian, and south asian origins. Department of crop production, university of agriculture, pmb 2373, makurdi, nigeria. An overview of production, processing, marketing and. The most important production countries are ghana, burkina faso and nigeria raemaekers, 2001. Okra abelmoschus esculentus is a flowering plant in the. The pods and the seed can be sliced and used to make a soup. The response of sole maize and sole okra to varying sowing dates has been studied 15, 16. According to a study taking place in obubra, cross river state nigeria, okra cultivated with plant population of 55,555, okra plantshectare gave.
The botanical name of okra is abelmoschus esculentus. Department of crop production, university of agriculture, p. Okra production in nigeria is widely accepted because of its profitability and affordability. You can eat okra with eba, amala, fufu, pounded yam or semovita. There are two distinct seasons for okra production in nigeria, the peak and the lean seasons. The profitability of okra farmers in ayamelum local government area of anambra state of nigeria was investigated. Okra, which is specially valued for its tender and delicious fruits, has been reported to have an average nutritive value of 3.
The leaves are 1020 cm 48 in long with 57 lobes the plant produces flowers with five white to yellow petals which are 48 cm 1. Criterion potential general knowledge okra offers many production possibilities, however, there are limited studies conducted on okra biology and production due to limited resources devoted to the species by national and international research institutes. The key to maintaining okra production continuously throughout the summer is to harvest regularly. Okra harvesters should always wear cotton gloves when harvesting and handling pods to minimise bruising. Production management commercial varieties camiling smooth green light smooth green soil and climate requirements okra can be grown from lowto midelevation areas throughout the year. It is used mainly for human food and livestock feed. An appraisal of the current practices used in the post harvest handling of fresh. Anyam department of crop production, university of agriculture, p. Anambra state, nigeria, okra production, profitability, women farmers.
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