Importance of Fruits in a Democratic and Deregulated Economy: The Case of Selected Rural Communities in Oyo and Ekiti States of Nigeria

Abstract

This study concentrated on comparative analysis of importance of 10 fruits for socio-cultural, economic anddietary utilization amongfarmers infour adopted villages ofNational Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)in Oyo andEkiti States, Nigeria Data were collected withpretested structured interview schedule administered to104 randomly selected collaborators in the villages. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferentialstatistics. Results revealed that thefruits varied in importancefor socio-cultural, economic anddietary utilization.Economic importance offruits was significantly related to dietary (r = 0.85, P<0.05) andsocio-cultural (r = 0.73,P<0.05) importance. There was also significant relationship between dietary and socio-cultural importance offruits (r = 0.88, P<0.05). This goes to show that extension activitiesfocusing onfruitsfor economic empowermentcan also boost nutritional andsocio-cultural activities at the rural communities.