Importance of Parkia biglobosa (African Locust Beans) to the Women Livelihoods in Ibarapa North and Ibarapa Central Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Parkia biglobosa is a multi-purpose species of fruit tree which have contributed to the women livelihood in the study areas, it has served as raw materials for local soup and it is a good source of plant protein. This work assessed the importance of Parkia biglobosa among the women in Ibarapa North and Ibarapa Central Local Government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria using a well-structured questionnaire to obtain information from 120 locust bean sellers. Data obtained showed that the demographic distribution of the respondents were 100% females of which 43.3% were between the age of 41 and 50 years with No formal education of about 58.3%. 41.6% of the respondents had between 11 and 20 family (household) size while household size below 11 and above 20 are 50% and 8.4% respectively. Parkia biglobosa has been discovered to treat various ailments such as eye defects, diabetes, asthma, arterial blood pressure, ulcer and diarrhoea amongst others. Parkia biglobosa has provided job opportunities for women to enable them to take care of their children and other family domestic expenses. Parkia biglobosa trees plantation should be encouraged and established for large scale production.