2.1 Importance of cat’s whiskers
2.1.1 Nutritional value of cat’s whiskers
Cat’s whiskers (Cleome gynandra L.), is a traditional vegetable consumed in quite a number of countries in Africa that include Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Surveys indicated that its production and utilization are on an increase due to its multiple underexploited benefits in terms of nutritional value (Brown et al., 2005). Chweya (1995) reported that this traditional vegetable is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids, magnesium, iron and nicotinic acid (Table 2.1). Muthoni et al. (2009), support that African leafy vegetables can provide more vitamins and proteins than pale-green leafed and conventionally consumed exotic vegetables such as cabbage. Additionally, cat’s whiskers has high protein amounts and more amino acids than groundnut (Chivinge, 1983).
According to Mishra et al. (2011), this vegetable becomes a highly economically important crop owing to its high protein, amino acids and minerals. Cat’s whiskers is of economic importance to Africa and Zimbabwe as well, because its production is cheaper yet it is of sound comparative nutritional quality compared to the exotic ones such as Brassica (Machakaire et al., 1998). Cat’s whiskers is also known to have high levels of β-carotene, a precursor for vitamin A. Chivinge (1983) stated that the vitamins and micro-nutrients in cat’s whiskers contribute to a healthy diet for many rural Africans with limited food budgets.
Table 2.1: Nutritional composition of cat's whiskers leaves (% or mg / 100 g leaves)
Component Range of values
Crude protein 3.1 - 7.7
Crude fibre 1.3 - 1.4
Carbohydrates 4.4 - 6.40
Potassium 40
Calcium 213 - 434
Magnesium 86
Phosphorus 12
Iron 1 - 11
Zinc 0.76
Copper 0...
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...oots are sold in both urban and rural markets by growers and vendors who are mostly rural women (Onyango et al., 2013). The income obtained may be the major household income or it can be used for supplementation of other income. This leafy vegetable is available during the relish-gap period in many communities and plays a crucial role in household food security during drought (Heever and Venter, 2007). The real value of the crop as a food source and as an income source is more pronounced during the relish-gap period and periods of drought as such vegetables as cabbage and rape will be scarce. The vegetable is commonly traded in winter (Shackleton et al., 1998). However, some farmers may not be able to obtain a significant income through this trade, but even casual trading can bring in some vital income that supplements their household needs (Onyango et al., 2013).
At the same time, the local agricultural economy was experiencing a deep economic depression due to the severe droughs that had occured throughout the past decade. The loss of crops cut out the average farmers'/planters' main food source as well a...
Murray, Michael T., Joseph E. Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno. "The Healing Power of Nuts and Seeds." The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods. New York: Atria, 2005. N. pag. Print.
helps out the town with their crops to grow and can be harvest when its time.
Putnam, M. E. 1986. The role of vitamins in nutrition of performance horses. Modern Vet. Practice. 67 (2):121-124.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient. It plays an important role in vision, maintenance of epithelial cells, immune functions, and participates in the processes of growth, development and reproduction. Vitamin A is characterized into two chemically distinct yet structurally related forms. The first form is retinoid, which is present only in foods of animal origin, such as fish and organ meats. “Retinoid is also known as 'preformed vitamin A' because it can be metabolized directly into compounds that exert the biological effects of vitamin A” (Ross, 2005, p. 329). Preformed vitamin A retinoids are found in liver, fish, fish oils and eggs. A second form of vitamin A is β-carotene, which is synthesized only by plants, but can be turned into vitamin A in the body as needed. These carotenoids are also termed as 'provitamin A.' Provitamin A caretinoids are mainly found in carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, apricots and mangoes. Hence, the nutritional requirements for vitamin A can be met by retinoids, carotenoids, or a mixture of both from plant and animal sources. However, deficiency and excessive intake of vitamin A could lead to serious consequences.
Since migrated from Haiti to the United Sated, Annette took the responsibly to help her daughter and her sons, who are all three very busy, in some house’ chores such as cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. Client also like gardening, she use her backyard to cultivate some root vegetables, leaf vegetables and fruits. Mrs. Annette is a
Farmer markets have always been around and a strong reason to believe that they will still be around long after our time. There are several reasons why this age old tradition still exitst today and revolves around a very common question, “What does a buyer find important when they are about to buy food to be consumed, or how the produce is grown/manufactured, processed, marketed, and distributed. Supporting farmer markets and ensuring fair trade among the dealer and the seller can help promote healthier lives while building stronger communities. There are several reasons to support a community’s farmer market event because buying true locally grown food can allows the buyer to have options to food that is picked fresh and tastes better than what is sold in the supermarkets. Another benefit to farmers markets is that the food is sustainable, flavorful, supports local farms, and also in some areas, part of the proceeds goes to the unfortunate within that community. With the addition of the food generally being more flavorful, locally grown food is adapted to the climate in which it was grown, and can remain fresh longer than that of an imported produce grown in a different climate. Final...
Murphy, Suzanne P., and Lindsay H. Allen. "Nutritional Importance of Animal Source Foods." The Journal of Nutrition 133.11 (2003): 39325-9355. Web.
The village of Umuofia in the late 19th century to the turn of the 20th century was the setting for Achebe’s book, Things fall apart. The Igbo people were a superstitious people who centered a good portion of their lives harvesting yams. In fact, Ondo, Kevers, & Dommes (2013) stated that “yams (Dioscorea spp.) are tuber crops used as staple food in Africa because of their nutritional value and that the genus Dioscorea belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family and comprises approximately 600 species, mainly distributed in subtropical and temperate areas of Africa” (p. 653). Underdeveloped countries such as Africa rely heavily on nutritional crops to feed their people. Without these tropical growing yams, alternate food sources would have to be found.
2. Bush meat crucial as a source of cheap protein for malnourished people throughout Africa
Together with the accessibility of the food in the south of Benin and its affordability, my region’s diet is equal to the Mediterranean diet. The reason why it is not superior to the Mediterranean diet is that it does not contains enough nutrients to guarantee a long life expectancy.
However, South Africa is not rich in agricultural resources; rather it has low rainfall, impoverishment and greater susceptibility of vegetation to drought, resulting in soil degradation. Soil degradation is also caused by excessive fuel wood collection, inappropriate land use, population density and overgrazing. Rural areas lack good roads and bridges, small-scale irrigation systems, post-harvest storage facilities, processing and market facilities, clinics, electricity and telecommunication facilities, and also have poor financial markets. As a result, the poor find it difficult to cope with risks of various sorts and cannot afford to purchase important inputs such as fertilizer, chemicals and farm machinery. Globalization There is an increased competition for South Africa’s agricultural products both on export markets and locally.
The tropics are effect by many weather conditions which makes the jobs of farmers difficult. Overall subsistence and the GNP are effected by changes in weather, which for the most part is not always predictable. In a world that is divided up into the haves and the have nots, government influence is crucial in regulating practices and the overall distribution of wealth Despite this fact, programs implemented did not always succeed in benefitting the Filipinos. One major attribute of the Philippines is the wide variety of crops produced in this region. Crops which many not be able to grow during the rainy season may grow during in the period of December - May when there is little rainfall (and vice versa).
Fruits and vegetables are important components of our diet. We take fruits in raw state or in the form of juices, while vegetables are taken in the cooked form or sometimes as juices. Fruits and vegetables provide us carbohydrates, proteins and various other important organic compounds. The juices are rich sources of minerals, vitamins and many micronutrients (calcium, iron etc.) essential for us. For example, iron deficiency in humans causes anaemia and anaemic persons are advised to take leafy vegetables e.g. spinach and apples which fills up the iron deficiency.