REVIEW ON THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE, CULTIVATION AND UTILIZATION POTENTIAL OF SOME MINOR AND UNDER-UTILIZED INDIGENOUS ROOT AND TUBER CROPS IN NIGERIA.

A review is presented on the nutritional value, cultivation and utilization potentials of some minor indigenous root and tuber crops found in Nigeria, namely; Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculentus N.E BR), Coleus potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius (Poir) J.K. Morton), Arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) and amora (Curcuma longa). Nigeria has a large population (over 150 million) and most people depend so much on root and tuber crops as their major source of food and income. However, due to population explosion and over dependence on some few edible crop species, there is the need to explore and grow other root and tuber crops which are minor and under-utilized. This paper examines the nutritional and utilization potentials of the minor indigenous root and tuber crops as supplement to the major root and tuber crops (Yam, cassava, sweet potato etc.) because of their high calorific content and essential micronutrients. They also have great medicinal and industrial usage as raw materials and have various socio-economic benefits as they can be used as feed for livestock and are an important source of income for the rural families. The crops are tolerant to poor soils and draught stress and hence require low input in terms of cultivation.