Anti-nutrient, vitamin and other phytochemical compositions of old and succulent moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam) leaves as influenced by poultry manure application

The study was carried out to determine the anti-nutrient, vitamin and other phytochemical compositions of old and succulent leaves of Moringa oleifera plants as influenced by poultry manure application. Three levels of poultry manure, that is, 0, 5 and 10 tonnes ha-1 were used for treatment. Poultry manure application insignificantly (p > 0.05) increased oxalate, phytate and saponin compositions of the leaves. The older leaves had higher values of tannin, oxalate, phytate and saponin than the succulent ones. The poultry manure levels did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05) in the proximate/chemical properties and some vitamins (vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C). Succulent leaves had higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties. The higher concentrations of the anti-nutrients in the older leaves and higher values of vitamins, proximate and chemical properties in the succulent ones provide a good guide to moringa leaf consumers, to harvest the younger succulent (first to fifth) leaves for consumption

Competency Improvement needs of Women in Agriculture in Processing Cocoyam into Flour and Chips for Food Security in South Eastern Nigeria

This study focused on the identification of competency improvement needs of women in agriculture (WIA) in processing cocoyam into flour and chips. To achieve these objectives, four research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The study was conducted in South-eastern Nigeria made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State The target population for this study was 362 women processors. It was found out that women processors required improvement in cocoyam processing enterprise as follows: planning competencies (12 competency items), processing cocoyam into flour (13 competency items), processing cocoyam into chips (13 competency items) and marketing (7 competency items). It was therefore recommended that co-operatives, government agencies, and relevant NGOs should help use the findings of this study to improve acquisition of competencies of women in cocoyam processing for food security in South-Eastern Nigeria