TITLE:
Survey of Cereal Consumption Habits in the Community of Djougou, Benin
AUTHORS:
Mouhamed N. El-Hadji Alassane Moutawakilou, J. Kisito Chabi-Sika, Agossou D. P. Noumavo, Haziz Sina, Joseph Dossou, Lamine Baba-Moussa, Farid Baba-Moussa
KEYWORDS:
Cereals, Survey, Consumption Data, Food Safety, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
28,
2023
ABSTRACT: The cereal group occupies a prominent place in the
dietary habits of people in northern Benin and there is little recent
information on cereal consumption. This study aims to assess the consumption,
acquisition and supply of cereals to households in the community of Djougou. A
semi-directive survey with KoBoCollect was conducted among 369 households to
collect individual cereal food consumption data. The survey data processed by
statistical tools showed that the most consumed cereals are maize (95%, p =
0.887), millet (58%, p = 0.755), rice (55%, p = 0.753), sorghum (15%, p =
0.635), wheat (5%, p = 0.920) and fonio barely 5%. The most common mode of
acquisition in Djougou is purchase (50%, p = 0.947) but donation is also
observed (25%, p = 0.988) as well as production observed in 20.6% of
households. Purchases are made from retailers in local markets (45%, p = 0.920)
but also in streets and alleys (30%, p = 0.765). The most widely used
preservation technique is drying at room temperature (70%, p = 0.995).
Households most often dry in the areas provided in the field (50%, p = 0.783)
and at home (40%, p = 0.643). The preferred storage location is the kitchen
(60%, p = 0.790). The bedroom (20%, 0.669) and the store (15%, 0.522) are the
alternative places for storing cereals. In addition, the supply costs of
cereals increased between 2020 and 2021. This vertiginous rise in prices is
due, among other things, to the covid19 pandemic. The various data generated
not only make it possible to have fresh data but also to invest them in the
assessment of health risks for the achievement of a high level of protection of
the health and life of consumers.