Food and FarmingSe June Han and Lisa Kim

Basic Farming Crops of Nigeria: Corn, Rice, Yams, Cocoa,

Peanuts, Cassava and Sorghum The farming uses about 70% of the

country’s labor force Farms make 80% of the food from 30% of

Nigeria’s land Diverse climate and water supports tropical

crops

Peanuts and Cocoa Nigeria produces 11% of the world’s

peanuts Nigeria had potential to produce large

amounts of cocoa but urbanization cut the labor force

Nigeria produces 5% of world’s cocoa when its potential is about 10%

Mostly traded to European nations

Yams The tuber parts of yams can grow to 2.5 meters and

70kg Nigeria the largest producer of yams. Producing about

70~76% of the world’s yams Weeding, planting, staking and harvesting makes the

production of yams hard Expensive but scarce labor force increased its price Different species from sweet potato New Yam Festival

celebrated in August by offering yams to gods and distributing among people

Are planted with sisal rings for moisture

Kola Nuts (Cola) A common tree in Africa that is bitter and

contains caffeine Were used for Coca – Cola Some tribes give the nuts to children for

protection Some tribes pass and bite it to wish long life

in marriage Contains high amounts of toxic material

Pictures

Major Food Puff - Puff: frying a dough mixture into

circular balls dipped in sugar Suya: Pieces of meat spiced up and baked

over a grill with vegetables Fun fun: made by drying cassava and

making it into a powder. Then it is mixed into boiling water to a smooth texture

Yam Food Ojoj o: Water yams are cut up and fried in

oil Asaro: Yams are peeled and cubed and

cooked with ground tomatoes, peppers, meat and spices

Amala: Ground and dried the yams and then boiled in water until it has a smooth structure

Quotes ‘“Thank you. He who brings kola brings life.

But I think you ought to break it,” replied Okoye, passing back the disc.’

This shows that kola is regarded highly among the members of the tribe. It was an honor to break the kola so they are letting the other to break it to be nice.

Quotes “But the year had gone mad. Rain fell as it had

never fallen before. For days and nights together it poured down in violent torrents, and washed away the yam heaps….The yams put on luxurious green leaves, but every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow.”

This shows that yams could grow in the harshest rainy seasons but the tubers under them wouldn’t grow unless there was sunshine. This points that Nigeria was perfect for yams since there was water and sunshine.

Questions Why would yams have become a more

delicious luxury instead of an everyday meal?

Why would the foods mostly include boiling in hot waters?

Why might have Nigeria failed to achieve their full potential for cocoa?

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