ABSTRACT

Utilization studies with plant proteins have become increasingly important because of the concern; over population growth and widespread malnutrition (Sosulki et al. I LO7O). Malnutrition can be overcome by an increase in availability of plant and animal protein1 Because of the prohibitive prices of meat and fish, more importance is now placed on plant as an inexpensive source of protein (Abbey and Ibeh, 1088). In sub-saharan Africa of which Nigeria is one of the richest countries in natural resources; nearly 90 per cent of its major crops are foreign; maize, tomatoes and cocoa from Mexico, groundnuts from Brazil, cassava, pineapple, cocoyams and Sweet potatoes from the caribbean, potatoes and peppers from the ndes, Common rice, bananas and plantains originated in South-East Asia and wheat in the Middle East1 Efficient utilization of our numerous indigenous nutritious foodstuffs will discourage importation of food and provide self-reliance as regards raw materials for our manufacturing industries.