Production preference and importance of fruit species in home garden among rural households in Igbo-Eze North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

摘要

The study examined production preference and importance of fruits in home garden using one hundred randomly selected household heads. Data were collected by use of structured interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics. Household produced Treculia Africana (100%), Anacardium occidentalis (100%), Psidium guajava (100%), Citrus spp. (100%), Carica papaya (93%) and Manifera indica (90%) fruits for nutritional purpose, while fruits of major economic importance were Irvingia gabonensis (98.0%), Kola acuminate (97.0%), Persea Americana (88.0%), Spitium sativum (84.0%), Citrus spp (80%), Pentaclethra macrophyllum (78%), Musa-sapientum (71.0%) and others. Fruits of social importance were Kola macrophyllum (100%), Garcina kola (100%), A. occidentalis (100%) and Cocos nucifera (58%); and only G. kola (100%) was of medicinal benefit to households. The most preferred fruits for production in home garden were Irvingia gabonensis (1st), K. acuminate (2nd), Citrus spp. (3rd), Persea americana (4th), Dennettia tripatale (5th) and the least preferred was Manifera indica (15th) fruit species. Preference was based on input requirement, resistant to pest and diseases, frequency of fruiting, availability of market and others. Extension and research should promote, intensify research/training to increase awareness on nutritional and medicinal importance of most fruit species particularly the less preferred to guide against extinction.