Okra (Abelmoschus Esculents [L.] Moench) Research in Ethiopia and Achievements: A Comprehensive Review
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Abstract
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench) is an essential nutritional horticultural crop grown primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. It is cultivated mainly for food, as the most critical energy source and for medicinal uses in the tropics. In Ethiopia, oka is grown in some areas of North Western Ethiopia, with several advantages over other cereals as a food staple in areas with poor soil conditions, uncertain rainfall, and weak market infrastructure. Despite research on crop adaptability, selection, nutritional and anti-nutritional factors, there is a lack of information on the overall status, challenges, and the future role of Okra production in Ethiopia. This paper, therefore, provided a brief overview of genetic improvement, agronomic research, nutritional aspects, biochemical analysis, anti-nutritional factors, disease and insect pest management, and future research directions of Okra in Ethiopia. Moreover, genetic improvement, agronomic research, nutritional research, medicinal research, and anti-nutritional research. Different research findings have been obtained and registered since the inception of research on Okra in Ethiopia, including agronomic practices, crop protection technologies, and biochemical analyses of nutritional composition and anti-nutritional factors. The availability of these outputs in a compiled and comprehensive way is essential for enhancing the production and productivity of Okra in Ethiopia and to influence the policy makers to consider Okra underutilized crop not known by most of the country, enabling the introduction of scale-up to be known as one of the prominent food and nutrition security crops in the country. Hence, the article could serve as a helpful reference resource for researchers, students, agricultural extension workers, and NGOs working in Ethiopia on root and tuber crops in general and Okra in particular.
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