FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOCUST BEAN CONDIMENT CONSUMPTION IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed at providing information on consumer preference and reasons for consumption of processed locust bean in kano State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 70 respondents. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data collected. Locust bean consumption was mainly (88.6%) carried out by men in which majority (35.7%) were 38-47 age group, mostly (94.3%) married with majority (44.3%) having informal Qur’anic form of education. Majority (65%) of the consumers source their locust bean condiment for consumption from the producers and the consumer preference majority (88.6%) prefer the cake than ball form (11.6%) while reason for locust bean consumption was mainly due to (57%) improve food taste. Consumers mean expenditure on processed locust bean was N30.00 and N172 for daily and weekly respectively. Major constraints identified by the consumers in the consumption of processed locust bean include inappropriate packaging (38.6%0, poor hygiene (27.1%), product adulteration (17.7% and pungent smell (16.7%). It was recommended that more sanitary measures have to be taken by the processors to improve hygienic condition of the processing environment and thus acceptability.