Processing and preservation of African bread fruit (Treculia africana) by women in Enugu North agricultural zone, Enugu State, Nigeria

The study examined methods used in processing and preservation of African bread fruit by women in Enugu North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of seventy two women were used for the study. Frequency, percentage and mean score were used for data analysis. Majority of the respondents engaged in processing and preservation of African bread fruit as their primary occupation and earned monthly income of N9,876 (about 61 US Dollars) on average. They engaged in these activities for mainly family consumption and their mean years of experience in the business was 31 years. Fermentation method of 7 to 14 days duration was the extraction method used by the respondents while the seeds were threshed with grinding or milling machine. Sun drying and keeping in bottle/air tight container without preservative was preservation method of choice. Water scarcity was a major problem encountered in processing while bad weather condition was a major problem encountered in preservation of African bread fruit. The study points out the need to encourage women to use good/modern methods of processing and preservation so as to get high quality seeds of African breadfruit that will attract more demand and income. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]