ABSTRACT

The study assessed the consumption pattern of protein foods among rural households in Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the rural households, ascertained the major protein foods, determined the frequency of consumption of protein foods, ascertained the preference pattern of protein food consumption, ascertained the preferred mode of consumption of protein food, ascertained the common perception on protein food consumption, identified the proportion of income spent on protein food per households. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 180 rural households. Primary data used were collected using structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean scores and multiple regression analysis. The study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 50 years. Majority of the rural households (96.7%) were married. 52.8% of the rural households had secondary education. The respondents had mean household size of 6 persons, mean monthly estimated income of N61438.89 and while the mean monthly estimated expenditure on food of the rural households was N31988.8. From the study, the grand mean animal and plant protein consumption of 4.62 and 4.38 respectively, which are higher than the bench mark score of 4.00 implies that rural households in the study area frequently consumed animal and plant protein food sources. Fish (= 5.83), pork ( = 5.49), snail ( = 5.30), and egg ( = 4.85) were the frequently consumed animal protein foods. While dry cowpea (bean) ( = 5.23), groundnut ( = 4.89), soybean ( = 4.69), and okpa ( = 4.40) were the frequently consumed plant protein foods by rural households. The rural households had positive preference for the animal and plant protein foods with grand mean score of 3.43 and 3.38 respectively. The rural households had negative perception on animal and plant protein consumption with grand mean score of perception of animal and plant protein consumption of 1.89 and 2.06 respectively. The mean expenditure on animal protein was N19, 073.56, this constituted 71.56% of the total protein expenditure. The mean expenditure on plant protein was N7581.67, and constituted 28.44% of the total protein expenditure. The coefficient of age (-2.236), educational level (2.157), income level (2.312) significantly influenced frequency consumption of animal protein food. While age (-2.148), marital status (2.092), educational level (2.297), income level (2.251) significantly influenced frequency consumption of plant protein food. Moreover, sex (3.060), educational level (2.664), household size (-2.581), income (11.838) and membership to cooperative (-1.887) significantly influenced the proportion of income spent on animal protein food. While educational level (2.010), household size (2.728), income (8.796) significantly influenced the proportion of income spent on plant protein food. The study concludes that rural households have positive preference of both plant and animal proteins foods. Intensified nutritional enlightenment campaign, encouraging rural households incorporate readily available and affordable animal protein sources, and assisting rural dwellers diversify their investments to reduce poverty were recommended.

 TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                                  ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Certification                                                                                                                iv

Acknowledgment                                                                                                       v

Table of Content                                                                                                         iv

List of Tables                                                                                                              ix

 

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background Information                                                                                1

1.2       Problem Statement                                                                                          3

1.3       Research Questions                                                                                         4

1.4       Objectives of the Study                                                                                  5

1.5       Hypothesis Testing                                                                                         5

1.6       Significance of the Study                                                                               6

1.7       Scope of the Study                                                                                         7

1.8       Definition of Terms                                                                                        7

 

CHAPTER 2             LITREATURE REVIEW

2.1       Conceptual Review                                                                                         9

2.1.1    Concept of agriculture in Nigeria                                                                   10

2.1.2    Problems of agriculture in Nigeria                                                                  11

2.1.3   Livestock industry in Nigeria                                                                          14

2.1.4   Socio-economic importance of Nigeria’s macro livestock industry                 17

2.2       Empirical Review                                                                                            18

2.2.1    Expenditure on animal proteins consumed by households                             18

2.3       Theoretical Framework                                                                                   19

2.3.1    Theory of consumers’ behavior                                                                       19

2.3.2    Maslow’s, theory                                                                                            19

2.4       Conceptual Framework                                                                                   21

 

CHAPTER 3             METHODOLOGY

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                      24

3.2       Population of the Study                                                                                  25

3.3.      Sample and Sampling Procedure                                                                    25

3.4.      Method of Data Collection                                                                             25

3.5.      Validity of Instrument                                                                                                26

3.6.     Data Analysis                                                                                                  26

3.7.      Measurement of Variables                                                                              26

3.9       Model Specification                                                                                        28

 

CHAPTER 4             RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1       Socio-Economic Characteristic of Respondents                                             37

4.2       Major Protein Sources in the Study Area                                                       40

4.3       Protein Consumption among Rural Farm Household                                     42

4.4       Preference Pattern of Animal Protein Consumption                                      46

4.5       Preferred Mode of Consumption of Protein                                                   49

4.6       Common Perception on Protein                                                                      51

4.7       Proportion of Income Spent on Protein                                                          55

4.8       Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting Consumption of Protein Sources              57

4.9       Hypotheses Testing                                                                                         60

 

CHAPTER 5             SUMMARY, CONCULSION AND RECOMNENDATIONS

5.1       Summary                                                                                                         77

5.2       Conclusions                                                                                                     80

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                          82

References                                                                                                      83

Appendices                                                                                                     85

LIST OF TABLES

4.1:     Distribution of rural households according to the selected                                             socio-economic characteristics of the rural households in Abia State                37

4.2a:   Distribution of the rural households according to their major animal              protein sources                                                                                                  40

4.2b:    Distribution of the rural households according to their major plant protein    sources                                                                                                                       41

4.3a:   Frequency of animal protein consumption among household                          42

4.3b:   Frequency of plant protein consumption among household                            44

4.4a:   Preference pattern of animal protein consumption                                           46

4.4b:   Preference pattern of plant protein consumption                                             47

4.5a:   Households’ preferred mode of consumption of animal protein                     49

4.5b:  Households’ preferred mode of consumption of plant protein                                    50

4.6a:    Households perception on animal protein consumption                                 51

4.6b:    Households perception on plant protein consumption                                    53

4.7a:    Households’ monthly expenditure on animal protein sources                        55

4.7b:    Households’ monthly expenditure on plant protein Sources                          56

4.8a:   Distribution of rural households according to their responses on                       socio-cultural factors affecting consumption of animal protein food                57

4.8b:   Distribution of rural households according to their responses on                      socio-cultural factors affecting consumption of plant protein food                   58

4.9:     Relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural        households and their frequency consumption of animal protein                         60

4.10:   Relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural       households and their frequency consumption of plant protein                           63

4.11:    Relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural     households and the proportion of income spent on animal protein                      66

4.12:   Relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural        households and the proportion of income spent on plant protein              69

4.13:    Relationship between the household factors affecting consumption and              the frequency of consumption of animal protein                                               71

4.14:   Relationship between the household factors affecting consumption                              and the frequency of consumption of plant protein                                       74

LIST OF FIGURES

2.1: Maslow’s hierarchical theory of human need                                                      20

2.2: Conceptual framework on assessment of preference and selected protein consumption pattern among rural households in Abia State, Nigeria                       21