Article 47: Season of Leafy Green Vegetables

By S. Olanrewaju Disu

The rains are here!Lagos State and the rest of southern Nigeria are in raining season, everywhere is wet. Therefore , let us digress into reporting of the arrival of leafy, green, farmfresh vegetables that come with rains.

Lagos State is a coastal region lying along the Atlantic Ocean. Hence it supports vegetable cultivation very naturally. However, during the hot, dry season, agricultural activites (especially horticulture) usually reduce considerably. Irrigation is almost non-existent compared with the northern parts of the country. We have exception in few areas of the State where "pockets" of irrigated land encourage vegetable growing year round. But these are grossly inadequate to feed the teeming population of the State.

During the dry season, vegetables are expensive because they are not in abundance. The arrival of the rains therefore turn things around. Rain water is very valuable indeed!It encourages agricultural activities tremendously, this is very true with regards to arable farming and horticulture.

Most markets nowadays are over flowing with vegetables. Farms in the hinterland are also enjoying bumper harvests of vegetables because of the rains. As usual, these farms transport their tons of vegetables into lagos area markets on a daily basis. In addition, weekly farmers' markets make brisk business selling farm fresh vegetables and other related items like freshly harvested corn and okra to happy vegetable consumers.

Needless to emphasize these green leafy vegetables are medicinally important too. They are of great nutritional value. They help us in boosting and balancing our diets. Experts tell us often that eating plenty of vegetables (and fruits too)can help ward off heart disease, stroke, control blood pressure, prevent some types of cancer, avoid painful intestinal ailments and guard against vision degeneration. nature is kind to us all round!

The next articles shall be about different vegetables in our markets

(A) Farm Fresh vegetables at the "Orisumbare" weekly market

(B)Fresh Vegetable at Ejigbo Market

Article 46: IGBA (Garden Egg)

By S. Olanrewaju Disu

A very valuable nutrition-wise agricultural product in our markets in Lagos area is the garden egg or "igba" in local parlance. The egg plant is a shrub primarily grown for its fruits. The garden egg "igba".The fruits are variable in shape and size, ellipsoid to elongate green or white-streaked green. It is botanically known as "Solanum melongena, Family Solanaceae"

This fruit is an animal product, it is naturally low in fat and calories and it is filling. It has fiber content that helps control blood glucose levels.Garden egg's consumption helps in gaining maximum benefits from fruit eating because it is usually eaten fresh with the skin which is edible. Eating plenty of the fruit is very helpful in warding off heart disease and stroke.

Some residents of the metropolis cook and eat the fruits as a palatable vegetable with a good source of minerals and vitamins. the leaf of the garden egg plant is useful for toothache and as a remedy for snake bites. It is also applied to areas of skin diseases, infections and sores.

The garden egg fruit is sometimes used as a stimulus. It is also said to be dyspetic and constipating. Above all, the dried fruit is reported to contain a goitrogenic substance. A wonderful fruit indeed.

Illustrating Photographs

(A) Garden Egg Fruits on sale at Isolo Markets

(B) Another variety of Garden Egg Fruits on sale at Oshodi Market

(C) Yet another variety of garden Egg fruits at Ejigbo Market

Article 45: The African Pear ("ube")

By S. Olanrewaju Disu

The African Pear which is distinctly different in appearance, shape and size from the common pear is the fruit of a tree that flourishes in the evergreen forests of Southern Nigeria. This tree is typically planted for its shade and its fruit. Also, the bark of the African Pear tree is aromatic.

The African Pear is locally called "ube". It is botanically known as "Dascroides edulis, Family Burseraceae". It is an annual fruit. This fruit is about 7cm long and 3cm in diameter. It contains a leathery shelled stone surrounded by a pulpy pericarp about 5mm thick. This pericarp is butyraceous i.e. resembling or having the qualities of butter! It is this portion of the African Pear which is eaten, either raw or cooked to form a sort of "butter" The pulp is rich in oil and vitamins.

Interestingly, the annual harvesting of "ube" the African Pear, is concurrent with that of maize (or corn). Culturally, the appearance of 'ube" signifies that harvest time for field crops has arrived!People of South-Eastern Nigeria descent resident in lagos area cherish the consumption of the African Pear along with boiled corn.

People believe that the "resin" which is secreted by the African Pear is of medicinal value i.e it is useful in the treatment of parasitic skin diseases. Hence, the annual appearance of "ube" the African pear is extremely welcomed by several people in Lagos Area.

All whole sale markets in Lagos Metropolitan area e.g. the "Mile 12 Market" ,"Ketu Market" and "Iyana-Iba Market"are flooded with farm fresh African Pears when the harvesting is in full swing. Hordes of market women would be seen struggling to purchase them. From there, these traders transport them to various roadside urban and sub-urban markets. Needless to repeat, the African Pear does not appear for more than 4-6months in a year in our Lagos markets

Photos

(A) "ube" the African Pear on sale at the "Iyana-Iba" Market

(B) African Pear on sale at "Itire Market"

(C) Freshly cooked African Pear along side freshly boiled corn at the 'Ejigbo" urban Market

Artticle 46: "IGBA" (GARDEN EGG)

By S. Olanrewaju Disu

A very valuable agricultural product (nutrition) is in our market in Lagos area is "garden egg" or :igba" in local parlance. The "egg plant" is a shrub primarily grown for its fruit. The fruit is variable i n size and shape, ellipsoid to elongate, green or white-streaked green. It is botanically known as "Solanium melongena, Faily Solanaeeae"

This fruit is an annual product. It is naturally low in fat and calories and its filling. It has fiber content that helps control blood glucose levels. "Garden egg" consumption helps in gaining maximum benefit from fruit eating because it is usually eaten fresh with the skin which is edible. Eating plenty of fruits is very helpful in warding off heart disease and stroke.

Some residents of the metropolis cook and eat the fruits as a palatable vegetable with good source of minerals and vitamins. The leaf of the "garden egg" plant is useful for tooth ache and as a snake bite remedy. It is also applied to areas of skin disease, infections and sores.

The "garden egg" fruit is sometimes used as a stimulant. It is also said to be dyspetic and constipating. Above all, the dried fruit is reported to contain guitrogenic substance. A wonderful fruit Indeed

Illustrating Photographs

(A) Garden Egg fruit on sale at the Isolo Market

(B) Another variety of Garden Egg fruit on sale at the Oshodi Market

(C) Yet another variety of Garden Egg fruit ath the Ejigbo Market