RATE OF AWARENESS OF THE HEALTH BENEFIT AND CONSUMPTION OF MORINGA IN NASARAWA, NIGERIA

Moringa is frequently considered as significant starvation food as a result of its high protection from dry season and bone-dry conditions attributable to their tuberous roots. It has acquired its name as the supernatural occurrence tree because of its stunning recuperating capacities for different sicknesses and even some constant illnesses. The study evaluated the Rate of awareness of the health benefit and consumption of moringa in Nasarawa, Nigeria. Cross-sectional data from the primary source was used for this study. Two hundred and ten (210) individuals responded to the survey hence that constitutes the sample size used for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data set. From the result the mean age was 34.5 years, most (71.42%) of the respondents were male and married. Most (52.38) of the respondents were civil servants. From the results, the rate of awareness about moringa was calculated to be 0.9047 (90.47). Only 57.14% percent consume moringa leaf or any of the part despite the health benefit. The study concluded that the rate of awareness about moringa was high however the consumption rate was low because of difficulty of access. It was therefore recommended that an advocacy and awareness campaign be carried out to encourage urban dwellers to plant moringa as part of their ornamental crops in their compound, this will ease the difficult encounter in accessing the tree.