ABSTRACT

The food intake, dietary patterns and nutritional status of 120 rural farmers of lkwuano Local Government Area aged 20 to above 60 years have been assessed. Structured validated questionnaires were used to collect dietary information and weighed food intake was used to collect data on nutrient intake. Anthropometric status was determined by body mass index. Nutrient intake was compared with the standard recommended by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO, 1985). Majority of the rural farmers ate thrice a day. The mean energy intakes of both the male and female farmers were 3045. 45± 31 7.75kca1/day and 2244.83±.... 388.46kca1/day respectively. They met and exceeded their mean protein intake. Carbohydrate supplied 81.71% of the daily energy intake of the male farmers and 70.30% of that of the female farmers. Fat supplied 10.65% of the daily energy intake of the male farmers and 15.61% for that of the female farmers. Both the male and female farmers met and exceeded the recommended requirement for iron and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) but they failed to meet their requirement for calcium, vitamin A and niacin. These were grossly inadequate. The male and female rural farmers had a mean body mass index (BMl) of 23.36± 4.29kg/M² and 23.32± 3.49kg/m²respectively, which met the standard recommended by WHO (1997). Individually, 52.94% of the female farmers were within that standard. 7.84% of the female rural farmers were obese, while 27.45% were overweight. 11.76% were below the recommended standard. Also, 75.35% of the male farmers were within the standard, 5.80% did not meet up to the standard recommended. 4.35% of the male farmers were obese while 14.49% were overweight. The results of the survey indicated that the rural farmers lack nutrition knowledge of their food intake and the female subjects  were more poorly nourished than the male subjects. The farmers should be educated nutritionally on their dietary pattern.