An Econometric Analysis Of Waterleaf (Talinum Trianqulare W.) Production In Uyo Urban, Akwa Ibom State

ABSTRACT

The limited quality of food calories available to some of the world's people is a great concern to many parts of the under developed and developing countries (11TA, 1993). This crisis has been building up for almost three decades with hunger and a food production gap recognized as two of its interrelated components (Eicher, 1982). Nigeria, for instance, has been classified as a country with severe child malnutrition (UNICEF, 1996). This is because many households are unable to provide adequate nutritious food for all family members (World Bank, 1997). Thus, vegetable production has become very popular in Nigeria in recognition of its economic and nutritional importance in the diet of the people. For instance, the average growth of vegetable produced between 1989 and 1993 was 14.0% compared to 8.3% for maize, 6.4% for cassava and 1.8% for oilpalm (see table 4 1.0) Table 1.0 Average Growth Rate of major Agricultural commodities in Nigeria (1989— 1993)