The protein requirements of Nigerian peasant farmers

Abstract

Food consumption of 7 rural communities was measured for 10 days on 3 occasions, shortly after harvesting of the staple food, midway between harvest and the next planting and at some time in the 2 months before the next harvest. All foods prepared for each meal were weighed before and after cooking as well as individual or group helpings. The food in group helpings was estimated to be shared equally among individuals in the group. From the records those of the first 2 days and the last day of each period were rejected and mean daily food consumption in each 7-day period was calculated for different age groups. These were children aged, in years, 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12, men over 12 years and women over 12 years. The records for each period were considered representative of the season in which the survey was made and the duration of the different seasons was taken into account in the computation of weighed average annual intakes of different foods by different age groups. The results for men and women over 12 years are presented as quantities of different foods eaten in a year by men and women in each community. The results for each age group were translated into records of intake of different nutrients by application of appropriate food composition data. Energy requirements of the different age groups in each community were calculated according to the procedure recommended by FAO and estimated requirements were compared with the estimated intakes of energy. Intake, as percentage of requirement, ranged from 68 to 96 for the groups of children, 85 to 120 for the men over 12 years and 68 to 143 for the women over 12 years. The results are discussed in relation to the mode of life of men and women in the different communities and differences in availability of food according to the success or failure of the main crop. There was good agreement between energy intake and requirement for men and women over 12 years in those communities where the mode of life was not very energetic, provided food supplies were not short. Children under 12 did not get enough to eat even when the adults were adequately supplied. F. C. Aitken.