PROXIMATE ANALYSIS ON LEAVES OF CASSAVA PLANT OBTAINED FROM A ROAD SIDE FARM

PROXIMATE ANALYSIS ON LEAVES OF CASSAVA PLANT OBTAINED FROM A ROAD SIDE FARM
 
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a highly valuable crop in tropical regions and is cultivated for its edible roots. Cassava leaves are also widely consumed in many parts of the world, including Africa and Asia, where they are used as a vegetable in soups, stews, and other dishes. The leaves of the cassava plant are rich in nutrients and are known to provide a variety of health benefits. However, the nutritional composition of cassava leaves varies depending on several factors, including the variety, growth conditions, and harvest time. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the nutritional composition of cassava leaves obtained from different sources to assess their nutritional value and potential as a source of food or feed.
Proximate analysis is a widely used method for the determination of the nutritional composition of foods and feed. Proximate analysis provides information on the levels of moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash, and carbohydrates in a sample. This information can be used to determine the nutritional value and potential uses of a particular food or feed. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the proximate analysis of cassava leaves, especially in developing countries, where cassava is an important food crop and its leaves are used as a source of animal feed.
Roadside farms are common in many developing countries, and they provide an important source of food for local communities. However, the quality of the crops grown on roadside farms may be affected by several factors, including pollution from nearby roads, soil contamination, and lack of proper irrigation. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the nutritional composition of crops obtained from roadside farms to assess their quality and potential as a source of food or feed.
The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional composition of the leaves of the cassava plant obtained from a roadside farm through proximate analysis. The results of this study will provide information on