Socioeconomic Survey of Okra Production, Marketing and Health Status In Fako Division of South West Region, Cameroon
Author(s)
Doris Besem Arrey , Etanke Sylvie Essomo , Yannick Afanga Afanga , Eneke Esoeyang Tambe Bechem , Oben Tom Tabi ,
Download Full PDF Pages: 39-47 | Views: 191 | Downloads: 46 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7611832
Abstract
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench) is one of the most utilized species of the family Malvaceae and an economically important fruit vegetable crop. Okra is cultivated for its ‘pods’ which are cooked and eaten raw. It plays a vital role in human diet and health and as a source of income to the local farmers. The objective of this study was to assess the production marketing and health status of okra in the study area. Surveys were carried out to gather information on farmers, traders and consumers of okra. Field survey was done to identify cropping systems and disease situation of the plant. Descriptive analysis was carryout on data collected. It was observed that production and trading is done by mostly females, with ages above 28 years. Most of the respondent had attained formal education. Farming system was mostly mixed farming on farm sizes ranging from 25m2 to 980m2. Two cultivars were grown; ‘county and ‘white’ okra. Challenges encountered by farmers were; diseases, lack of seeds, lack of farmland and poor farm to market road. Trading was by cash and carry and cash after selling. Cultivars sold ‘Country buea’, ‘country bamenda’ and ‘white’ okra. Market Channels included farm gate, local market or taken to available customer at eating houses. A higher percentage of consumers (63.3%) preferred the ‘country’ okra. Disease symptoms observed varied from leaf spot to mosaic disease.Disease incidence and severity were low.Control measures are required for large scale production.
Keywords
Okra, production, marketing, diseases, challenges
References
i. Tesfa, B., and Yosef, A. (2016). Characterization of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Germplasms Collected from Western Ethiopia. Toy, Benjamin Danchal (2019). Effects of Pruning on the Growth of Okra (Abelmuscus esculentus L.) International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 10, Issue 10. 46 ISSN 2229-5518
ii. Habtamu FG, Haki GD, Fekadu B, Rakshit SK and Ashagrie ZW (2018). Nutritional and Antinutritional Evaluation of Indigenous Ethiopian Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus) Seed Accessions
iii. Udoh, E. J. and Akpan, S. B. (2007): Measuring Technical Efficiency of Water Leaf (Talinum triangulare) Production in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. America – Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science. Vol. 2, No. 5, Pp. 578 – 22
iv. Rehmatullah K, Muhammad A. K, Syed A. H. A., Shagufta F. and Jaffar A. (2016). Effect of different doses of NPK fertilizers on growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench) International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences. Volume 3(10): 213-218
v. Kumar, D. S., Tony, D. E., Kumar, A. P., Kumar, K. A., Srinivasa Rao, D. B., & Nadendla, R. (2013). A review on Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra). International Research Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Science, 3(4), 129-132.
vi. Omotoso, S. O. and Johnson O. Y. (2015). Growth and Yield of Two Varieties of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L). Moench) as affected by Potassium Fertilizer Sources Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare. Vol.5 (8): 98-104
vii. Schippers, R. R (2000). African indigenous vegetable: an overview of the cultivated species. Chaltham, U.K. National Resource Institute A.C.D.E.U. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural crop pp. 105 -117
viii. Gemede HF, Ratta N, Haki GD, Beyene F, Woldegiorgis AZ and SK Rakshit Proximate, mineral, and antinutrient compositions of indigenous Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) pod accessions: implications for mineral bioavailability. Food Science & Nutrition. 2016; 4(2): 223–233.
ix. Alimi, I., (2004). Use of Cultural Practices and Economic Impact of Insecticide Use, Awareness and Practice of Insecticide Safety Precaution on Okra Production 10 (1):23-36
x. Arrey D B, Mih A M and Essomo E S. Sugarcane germplasm collection in Western Cameroon. American Journal of Life Science, 2016, 4(6): 139-145
xi. Ngbede SO, Ibekwe HN, Okpara SC, Onyegbule UN and Adejumo L, 2014. An Overview of Okra Production, Processing, Marketing, Utilization and Constraints in Ayaragu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 4(4):136-143, http://dx.doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2014.4.040714180.
xii. Osalusi, C.S., Rachael,A., Okeke, E.N. and Ogunsola, J.O. (2019). Analysis of the Profitability of Okra production among Smallholder Okra farmers in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-5, 1377-1381
xiii. Kemble, J.M., E.J. Sikora, G.W. Zehnder and M.G, Patterson (1995): Guide to commercial okra production. File: IIE/ANR – 959. Guide to Commercial okra production.
xiv.Hussain M.A., Mukhtar T., Kayani, M. Z., Aslam M.N. and Ul-Haque, M.I (2012). A Survey of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus) in The Punjab Province of Pakistan for the determination of Prevalence, Incidence and Severity of Root-Knot Disease caused by Meloidogyne Spp.
xv. Alegbejo (2015) Virus of Fruit and Leafy Vegetable Crops, Okra (Albelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Crops in Nigeria 7: 213-218.
xvi. Iderawumi, A. M. and Yusuff, M. A. (2015) Incidence and Severity of Virus Diseases of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) under Different Mulching Types. Biomedical Journal of Science and Technological Research, 9: 13988 - 13993
Cite this Article: