Okra is a very odd plant with a strange history, most of it undocumented. It’s a member of the hibiscus family, related to the hollyhock, the rose of Sharon, and cotton. Experts think it originated over 1000 years ago in the part of Africa that is now Ethiopia and Sudan, where it’s still found growing wild.
Is okra grown in Africa?
Description. A semi-perennial, disease resistant, heat-loving okra. Grown in coastal nations of West Africa for centuries, it is most commonly grown in low elevations up to 1000 m.
What is okra called in Africa?
Across other parts of Africa, Okra goes by many names; dongodongo in Congo, Bamia in Tanzania, and Nhaguguzire in central Mozambique. The okra plant is an upright herb that grows to heights of approximately 2 metres, with heart-shaped and hairy leaves that are attached to a thick stem.
Is okra popular in Africa?
A popular soup vegetable, very much appreciated in West Africa for its thickening power, okra pod is used both fresh and dried. Dry pods are also pounded into flour that is commonly added to foods.
Where is okra mostly grown?
Okra thrives in warm weather and is traditionally grown in the southern U.S., though there are varieties for northern growers, too. Easy to grow and use, it also has beautiful flowers that look great throughout the growing season!
What is okra called in South Africa?
Description. Bush Okra is a leading leaf vegetable in the rural areas of Asia, China, and Africa, including South Africa, where it falls under the category of leafy vegetables called morogo. It has serrated leaves and small yellow flowers followed by cylindrical fruit capsules.
What is okra called in West Africa?
In several West African languages, the word for okra is ki ngombo, or, in its shortened form, gombo.” Early on, the word was frequently used alongside “okra” by English writers.
What is the difference between okra and OKRO?
What is the difference between Okro and Okra? Okra is referred to as okro in some West African countries but they are basically the same thing.
Which countries eat okra?
Today okra is popular in Africa, the Middle East, Greece, Turkey, India, the Caribbean, South America and the Southern U.S. It is not a very common vegetable in most European countries, except for Greece and parts of Turkey.
What is okra called in English?
ladies’ fingers
Okra or Okro (US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/), Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It has edible green seed pods.
What does gumbo mean in Africa?
okra
Most food historians agree that this popular South Louisiana dish has its origins in West Africa. Consider the word “gumbo” which comes from the West African word “ki ngombo” for “okra”. West Africans used okra as a thickener in their version of the dish.
Is okra good for health?
Okra is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Okra is also a good source of: Magnesium. Folate.
Is okra indigenous in Zimbabwe?
The only vegetable in this list which is indigenous is okra (derere), but in fact it is not the traditional material that is being recommended but a hybrid. Table 2. Zimbabwean indigenous vegetables.
Is okra profitable in South Africa?
I was recently asked if farming okra was profitable in South Africa. Yes, if recommended production standards are followed, okra can be a successful crop. After harvesting begins, it can return an income in 10 to 12 weeks.
How profitable is okra farming in Nigeria?
Okra farming also called okro farming is one of the most profitable farming ventures you can do in Nigeria. Most if not all Nigerians eat okra, this type of vegetable is used in the preparation of soups. It is not too difficult to be successful in okra farming.
How do you grow okra in South Africa?
Sow and Plant
Soak seeds in water overnight before planting them 2cm deep and 15cm apart in warm soil after last frosts. Thin to proper spacing after two weeks. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Is okra available in South Africa?
It is a traditional crop in South Africa, which requires relatively low agronomic inputs, but can contribute substantially to sustainable agricultural production and productivity. It is also grown in warmer temperate regions of the Mediterranean region.
Is okra good for diabetes?
Okra is more than a regional delicacy. Several studies say that it can help lower blood sugar, which makes it another possible tool for those with diabetes. If you or a loved one has it, it’s worth asking your doctor, a dietitian, or a diabetes educator if there’s a place in your diet for okra.
What’s the benefits of drinking okra water?
Rich in antioxidants
- Test-tube studies show that okra is a great source of several important antioxidants, such as quercetin and kaempferol, which may also be found in okra water.
- What’s more, antioxidants may protect against several chronic health conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease ( 6 ).
Which African countries eat okra?
From Nigeria to Louisiana, okra is a vegetable that adds texture and depth to a dish. The plant has grown on the African continent since 2,000 B.C. It’s migrated from Africa’s Ethiopian borders to the Bantu-Kikongo regions to Kumasi in Ghana and even as far as India and Brazil.
Why is okra called Lady Finger?
The slave owners must have become curious about these green pods, so elegantly shaped they would be called ladies fingers.