Overview Summary of local commodities & nutrients
The agricultural food commodities that are supplied to our local market from the farming communities have the potential to address the nutritional aspects which are key to human development. What one food group lacks can be complimented by the other resulting in a balanced diet.
Cereals
Cereals, together with oil seeds and legumes supply a majority of the dietary protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals to the bulk of populations in farming communities
Cereal grains are low in total protein compared to legumes and but they supply the bulky carbohydrates hence supply enough.
Legumes and beans
Beans and legumes are inexpensive and a common food typically high in fibre, calcium, and iron, beans and legumes are also a great source of protein. Combined with whole grains like wheat, maize, sorghum, beans provide the full complement of essential amino acids needed by humans
Leaf vegetables
Leaf vegetables are high in protein per calorie, high in dietary fibre, high in iron and calcium, and very high in phytochemicals such as vitamin C, carotenoids, lutein, folate, magnesium as well as vitamin K
Berry (tomatoes, eggplant)
Fruits such as tomatoes contain high content of the carotene lycopene one of the most powerful natural antioxidants
Vine fruits (Cucurbitaceae members)
Vine fruits compose of many vital poly-phenolic anti-oxidants and vitamins. They have very low calories and fats no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, they are rich source of dietary fibreand phyto-nutrient. these include vitamin A,
They are rich in B-complex group of vitamins like folates, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamine, and pantothenic acid.
They contain adequate levels of minerals like iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
Fruits
contain high levels of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates
Earth vegetables (tubers)
The main nutrient supplied by roots and tubers is dietary energy provided by carbohydrates. The protein content is low (one to two percent). Cassava, sweet potato, irish potato and yam contain some vitamin C and yellow varieties of sweet potato, yam and cassava contain beta-carotene or provitamin A. Roots and tubers are deficient in most other vitamins and minerals but contain significant amounts of dietary fibre. They contain betacarotene, iron and folic acid, which protects against anaemia.