4. Conclusion
Lesser-known indigenous fruits and vegetables play vital roles in the
nutrition of the people particularly the rural populace in Nigeria. Laboratory
studies have shown that good quality fruit leathers, jams, juices
and other drinks can be produced from several lesser-known and
under-utilized Nigerian fruits and vegetables including African star
apple (C. albidum), African mango (I. gabonensis var. gabonensis), hog
plum (S. mombin), tamarind (T indica) and roselle (H. sabdariffa) using
simple procedures suitable for small-scale commercial production including
osmotic dehydration, open-kettle jam-making process and
mechanical juice extraction followed by hot water pasteurization. Removing
the constraints to the development of small-scale food industries
which include inadequate electricity supply, use of inappropriate
technology, inadequate working capital, high interest rates, and limited
access to banks and other financial institutions would facilitate
commercial production of these value-added foods in rural communities
thereby reducing post-harvest losses, promoting food security, enhancing
small farmers' income and contributing to sustainable rural
development.