Strategies for Enhancing the Use of Soya Beans among Households in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the strategies for enhancing the use of soya beans among households in Edo State, Nigeria. Survey research method was adopted for the study. The population comprised of all home makers in Edo state. The sample consisted of 150 home makers randomly drawn from the population. A self-constructed questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed the following strategies: households should prepare varieties of dishes using soya beans, increase the frequency of the use of soya beans in the preparation of meals, combine it with foods that are preferred by family members, that mothers should educate their family members to accept soya beans, soya beans should be supplemented at a good ratio with other flour products, families should cultivate soya beans in addition to other food crops, home makers should devise easier method of preparation of soya beans. For what government should do; government should provide good road network, massive investment into soya beans production, adequate funding of agricultural sector, close supervision of rural agricultural extension workers and adequate programme to reach the rural dwellers in the state. Based on these findings, it was therefore recommended that government should employ more extension workers especially those in-Home economics and Agriculture to reach rural households through nutrition education.