Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
fruits are used in the preparation of soups and stews. They may also be cooked
together with palm nuts for the preparation of soup for lactating mothers. Both
the fruits and leaves are exploited in the treatment of anaemia.
Tomato
Two species of tomato occur, namely
Lycopersicon esculentum
and
L. pimpinel-
lifolium
, the most important and widespread being the
L. esculentum
. Tomato
fruits are widely used in the preparation of sauces, stews, soups, and salads. The
L. esculentum
is grown in home gardens, annual cropping, and monoculture cash
cropping systems. Several land varieties exist in addition to imported cultivars
(Plate 12). Volunteer or deliberate crosses between the local and exotic cultivars
also occur. The local tomato fruits are predominantly scalloped and vary in sizes.
The fruit ripens red but a few pink-fruited types occur. The fruits typically have
very low total solids content and low acidity, which make them unsuitable for
processing. The
L. pimpinellifolium
, locally called
fa adze begye
, is usually
grown as single or a few perennial/semi-perennial plants in the home garden or
in mixed annual cropping systems. The
L. pimpinellifolium
assumes economic
importance during the lean season when tomatoes are scarce.
Malvaceae
Okra
(
Ablemoschus esculentus
)
Two major types of okra (also called “okro”) are found, namely an annual short-
duration type (the
labadi
dwarf ) and semi-perennial types. The perennial types are
usually very tall varieties that may grow up to two metres or more at full maturity.
The semi-perennial varieties come into bearing about six to 12 months after sowing
and continue to fruit for two to three years. The okra fruits vary in pod sizes, shape,
colour, and skin texture. The fruits also vary in the extent of sliminess. Okra pods are
cooked in stews or soups. The tender leaves of some varieties are also used as
spinach or dried, milled, and used in preparing soups and stew (Norman, 1992).
Cucurbitaceae
The major vegetables in the
Cucurbitaceae
family that farmers raise for their con-
sumption include
agushie
(
Cucumeropsis edulis
),
neri
(
Citrullus vulgaris,
syn.
C. lanatus
or
Colocynthis citrullus
), pumpkin (
Cucurbita moschata
), the marrow
(
Cucurbita pepo
) and snake gourd (
Trichosanthes cucumerina
), and
chow chow
or
chayote
(
Sechium edulis
).
Agushie
and
neri
seeds are used in the preparation of soups and stews.
Neri
is a
short-seasoned creeper that matures within 34 months after planting, and is more
common in the savanna zone.
Agushie
, however, is a long-season climber that is
usually grown on permanent trees. It matures about nine months after planting.
