Pulse Production, Consumption and Utilization in Nigeria within Regional and Global Context

Abstract

Malnutrition, hunger, and poverty are still major challenges globally especially in Sub-Saharan Africa affecting most countries like Nigeria. Legumes play key roles in food and nutritional security, health, and income generation. This review highlights status of pulse production and consumption in Nigeria and need for improvement. The study involved in-depth desk review. Data sources include FAO Statistics and other publication sources. Cowpea is Nigeria’s major pulse accounting for 95.45% area and 97.55% of the pulse production in 2016-18. Nigeria is the leading global cowpea producer with 39% production in 2016-18. However, the cowpea area has been declining, with 30% loss at 1.71% yearly between 2006-08 and 2016-18. The production appreciated by 40% viewed from 1996-98 due to increase in yield; but, overall, Nigeria’s cowpea production is marked with fluctuations/stagnation. It, thus, imports to meet domestic demand. In contrast, cowpea area, yield and production received steady and remarkable positive growth in places like Niger (73% at 2.8%, 213% at 5.9%, and 428% at 8.7% annually, respectively). Per capita availability of pulses in Nigeria is over 10 times less than cereals’ and roots/tubers’; hence, pulses contribute poorly to daily calorie and protein intakes. They are mainly utilized as cooked bean and steamed/fried pastes. Low pulse consumption is seriously contributing to nutritional problems in developing countries like Nigeria. Diverse utilization, optimizing nutritional quality of the traditional dishes, and improving safety and acceptability of especially those sold as street food can enhance their consumption, production and contribution to nutritional security.

The Exploitation of Orphan Legumes for Food, Income, and Nutrition Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…The per capita consumption of pulses recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is 30 g/day/person. Remarkably, the average per capita daily consumption of pulses in SSA has significantly increased from about 21 g/day/per in 1985 to about 33 g/day/person in recent time ( Rawal and Navarro, 2019 ; Akah et al, 2021 ). However, the most consumed pulses are the common bean, soybean, and groundnut.…”

Introduction to food, feed, and health wealth in African yam bean, a locked-in African indigenous tuberous legume

“…Between 1971 and 1996, cowpea production and grain yield increased in Nigeria by ∼441 and 410%, respectively (Ortiz, 1998). Cowpea production received steady and tremendous positive growth during the period from 1970 to 2018; its production covered 96% arable land area of the total grain legumes and 98% of the total pulse production (Ortiz, 1998;Nedumaran et al, 2015;Akah et al, 2021). About ten other food legumes with promising values are known in Nigeria, but their production is low and declining, their cultivation, geographical distribution, and production statistics are not available, and their food, feed, nutrition, and health benefits are fading as their utilization declines.…”

“…This will enhance its attraction and drive the demand for is consumption and utilization. According to Akah et al (2021), tireless efforts toward achieving some of these should, therefore, be pursued by all stakeholders to curb the prevalent nutritional problems.…”

“…To put it in perspective, about 99% of these useful plants exist as minor crops, many have declined to uncultivated status, others with resilience exist as wild plants, and many are now out of human reach. Per capita availability of pulses in Nigeria is over 10 times less than cereals and roots/tubers (Akah et al, 2021). By inference, the contribution of pulses to daily calorie and protein intake is poor; this is the reason for malnutrition in various communities.…”

“…Legumes are cheap and rich sources of protein, calories, vitamin B, minerals, and dietary fiber. Furthermore, they are low in fat, contain low/no cholesterol, possess a cholesterol-lowering effect, and regulate blood glucose due to their low glycemic index (Ene-Obong et al, 2013;Akah et al, 2021). Hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity still stare at our faces because of the great and appreciated efforts of improvement on a few crops (Williams and Haq, 2002;Ikhajiagbe et al, 2021) which have not overturned the complex food challenges, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing world.…”