The southern part of Nigeria enjoys between 6-7 months of rainfall, with an average of 1500 mm in the rainforest Zone and > 2000 mm in the Niger Delta region (Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states). Others with high production capacity are Enugu, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Cross River, Rivers and Nassarawa. The 5 highest cucumber producing states in Nigeria are Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Benue. This cuts across the rainforest to the savannah zones of Nigeria with the production pattern and volume varying from place to place. Good agronomic practices such as regular weeding, timely irrigation, fertiliser application and prompt harvesting are necessary for the attainment of high yield and production of quality fruits.Ĭucumber is cultivated in every part of Nigerian agro ecology. Some factors limiting the productivity of Nigerian soils for cucumber production include low fertility, slope, poor effective depth, stoniness/high gravel content and low nutrient/moisture retention. Although commercial (large scale) production is also practiced under plantation farming. Cucumber production in Nigeria is usually under small scale production. Like most vegetables, its production is profitable due to high amount of cash income per unit area compared to some other crops. Others are citrus, mango, African star apple, watermelon, banana, avocado pear and pineapple rank among major crops in Nigeria. Due to its importance, it ranks among major horticultural crops cultivated in Nigeria. Cucumber production in Nigeria is majorly for local consumption, although Nigerian cucumbers are sometimes exported to neighbouring countries of West Africa like Chad, Cameroun, Niger and Benin Republics.

They are consumed fresh, as desserts in after meals, juice or in combination with other food materials. According to, cucumber production has the capacity to enhance agricultural production, economic empowerment and food security.

Cucumber and other fruit and leafy vegetables are in high demand because of their nutritional and economic values. Demand for vitamins and minerals are highly dependent on vegetables.

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