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

Cassava and Sorghum

Cassava, a source of food with cyanide

Sorghum, a major source of grain and food for livestock

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 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.

Question 1 Why would yams have become a more

delicious luxury instead of an everyday meal?

Possible Answers Urbanization cut the amount of labor force

available in yam farms. The cost of the labor force rose so the farmers needed to raise the cost of the yams. Thus, yams have become a luxury instead of an everyday crop.

The worldwide economic depression has made the yam prices to go up and become a luxury.

Question 2 Why would the foods mostly include boiling

in hot waters?

Possible Answer Since the food were traditional foods from

old times they were simple back then. The tribes had to make food with limited resources and boiling water with the ingredients were easiest.

Boiling the food would also get rid of many bacteria that the food had and promoted health.

Question 3 Why might have Nigeria failed to achieve

their full potential for cocoa?

Possible Answers They decided there were other crops that

were more efficient and easy. The labor force problem limited the harvest

of cocoa. Soil that isn’t fertile enough

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