Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is one of the
most important staple food crops in West Africa especially Nigeria. Yams are
annual or perennial tuber– bearing and climbing plant with over 600 species, in
which only few are cultivated for food and medicine. Some yam varieties are
widely used for food while others are underutilized.
It has starch grains that are
smaller, more digestible than those of other yam species. Trifoliate yam tuber
however, contains some anti-nutrient contents as a result of which slight
bitterness may be experienced. In addition, this yam
species hardens few days after harvest leading to reduction in moisture and
starch content and increase in sugar as well as structural polysaccharides.
Transforming its tubers into
edible flour constitutes a means of conferring a long–term value onto it.
Today, people’s preference towards convenience food products has cumulated in
many adverse consequences including hike in price and increase in the demand
for importation of wheat.
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