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