Assessment of some selected edible wild fruits (EWFS) as potential remedy to malnutrition in the rural areas of Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

The current research was conducted to assess the dietary aptitudes of edible wild fruits (EWFs) to rural nutrition in Sokoto, North-western Nigeria. In this study, primary data were obtained from market survey, proximate and mineral analysis. While the secondary information on nutrition and malnutrition status of the inhabitants was obtained from the state centre for disease control and prevention (CDC). Data collected were analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. The results showed that EWFs contain both micro and macro nutrients at different proportions, that can be compared with the nutritional composition of the food supplements used in the rehabilitation of chronically malnourished children in the study area. Despite this, there was zero effort by the government in converting the EWFs into a valuable food material, while the locally made ones are considered unhygienic hence not certified by the relevant government agencies. Also, lack of processing and storage facilities always resulted in massive fruit failures annually. It was also gathered that, sufficient balanced diet is a major challenge to rural people in Sokoto, with malnutrition cutting across all age groups. Though, the most vulnerable are children under five years and women of childbearing age, who are branded with deficiencies in both macro and micronutrients. This resulted in stupendous expenditure annually for the control and prevention of malnutrition and other related diseases in the study area. Given this, there is an urgent need for reorientation of research into conversion of EWFs to a valuable food material. Similarly, domestication and conservation of WFTs should be prioritised in North-western Nigeria.