Ergonomic Redesign of Working Tools Increases Performance of Traditional Coconut Oil Makers in the District of Dawan, Klungkung

The business of producing coconut oil in the district of Dawan, Klungkung is oneexample of small-scale home industries in the rural area. The level of working productivityof the oil makers can be categorized as relatively low, as viewed from the aspect of thefollowing indicators: (a) level of working burden, (b) musculoskeletal complaints, (c) levelof fatigue or tiredness, and (d) level of productivity. One factor that causes the lowproductivity is the fact that the working tools used in this industry are non-ergonomicallydesigned such as: (1) tool for peeling off the coconut fibers, (2) tool for taking the coconutflesh, (3) tool for grating the coconut flesh, (4) tool for extracting milk from the watermixedgrated coconut, (5) stove for boiling the coconut milk. Based on the above problemsbackground, it is necessary to make more ergonomic new design or redesign of the toolsthat are used by the coconut oil makers in the district of Dawan in order to increase theirworking performance or productivity.This research was carried out using treatment by subject design by comparing beforeand after treatment involving 22 female subjects selected by simple random method fromall female coconut oil makers in the studied area. Before treatment the research subjectswere asked to make coconut oil as usual with their traditional tools. After an interval ofwashing out period was given, the subjects entered the treatment phase in which they wereasked to make coconut oil by using the tools already redesigned ergonomically. The dataobtained from the research were analyzed by t-paired test at a significance level of 5%.Results of the analysis showed as follows: (1) average of working heart rate beforetreatment was 108.49 ± 0.95 pulse /minute and after treatment 91.92 ± 1.91 pulse /minute,indicating a decrease of workload from moderate to mild one (decrease of working heartrate of 16.59 pulse/minute or 14.69%); (2) average of musculoskeletal complaints beforetreatment was 51.73 ± 1.36 and after treatment 36.79 ± 0.83 (a decrease of 14.94 or26.17%); (3) average of fatigue before treatment was 66.75 ± 3.60 and after treatment49.50 ± 3.28 (a decrease of 17.19 or 25.83%); (4) average of working productivity beforeand after treatment was 35.86 ± 1.09 and 48.66 ± 1.10, respectively (an increase of 12.81 or35.71%). Based on evaluation of investment yield, the NVP value in a five-year period Rp.11.503.431,- > 0, PBP 9.22 months > 0, and RoI 32.54 > 13% (rate of interest commonlyapplied in 2008).It is concluded that redesign of working tools to be more ergonomic has proven to beable to increase the working performance of coconut oil makers and hence worth investing.Novelty of this research is in the positive results related to ergonomic redesigning of thetools for making coconut oil in the district of Dawan, Klungkung by approaches to being systemic, holistic, interdisciplinary, participatory, and appropriate technology USAge.Further studies on similar related working issue should focus on the aspects of workingenvironment, especially on how to overcome smoke pollutant in the kitchen area, on moreproper work station and working organization or on that related to production quality of thecoconut oil by generating maximally all the potential already in existence among the localtraditional coconut oil makers

Analysis of Thiobarbituric acid Value and Benzo(α)Pyrene of Smoked Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Using Corn Cob and Coconut Shells Liquid Smokes

Corn cob and coconut shells are agriculture waste that could be found easily and it has potential to be processed as liquid smoke and can be applied to Tilapia. The aim of this research is to find the different influence of corn cob and coconut shells liquid smoke to the changing of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, benzo(α)pyrene, and organoleptic of the smoked tilapia during storage. The result showed that the smoked tilapia which use liquid smoke corn cob has higher organoleptic value than using coconut shells. The different of liquid smoke gives very significant effect to TBA value (P<0.01). The result on PAH of smoked tilapia using corn cob and coconut shells liquid smoke showed that there was no benzo(α)pyrene detected

Changes and adaptation in landscapes: a historical perspective on coconut plantation in Vanuatu (South Pacific). International meeting on agrobiodiversity across landscapes in a changing world

At the end of the 19th century in the New Hebrides archipelago, coconut cultivation geared towards copra production was developed on colonial estates, then from the 1930s onwards by Melanesian smallholders, who saw it as a means of gaining a foothold in the trading economy. The expansion of coconut plantings transformed farming systems, led to changes in the cultivate plants d, disrupted traditional land use practices, and resulted in monetization and increased food dependency on imported products among rural populations. With the drop in copra prices since the 1980s, Vanuatu farmers had to invent a new model of coconut based agrosystems by introducing new staple crops and fruit trees in their monospecific coconut groves. In that way, they improved the biological diversity of the agrosystem which is more complex and more resistant to climatic hazard, pests, and economic risks. (Résumé d'auteur

Green Materials Comparation of Sawdust and Coconut Fibre Acoustical Waffle Panel

Abstract. The natural wealth of Indonesia produces a wide range of natural resources. This research will discuss sawdust and coconut fibre for example from natural resources which can be processed into building materials. The use of the absorber as a facade is needed, especially for buildings located in noisy urban areas. Various research has studied the absorber made from sawdust and coconut fibre, but only a few studies that study the absorber material that has the texture of waffle on its surface. The research method used is the method comparisons of the value of the absorption coefficient, density and Sound Transmission Loss (STL) impedance tube with 1/3 octave filter. The result is that the waffle the panel from the sawdust has a higher density than waffle the panel from coconut fibre. The value of the coconut fibre panel STL ranged 46,134 – 51,312 dB. This value is lower than the STL material from sawdust that has a value between 47,301 – 62,688 STL. Absorption coefficient, coconut fibre panels between 0,432 – 0,511, while the value of the coefficient of absorption sawdust panel range 0,469 – 0,529. (max 200 words)

Vanuatu’s largest coconut plantation goes organic

Vanuatu is a cluster of 83 tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, 1800 km north east of Australia. Over 80% of the population are engaged in agriculture. In 2012, Vanuatu reported 2664 hectares of organic agriculture but this is set to double. Australia’s leading organic certifier, Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA), reports that Vanuatu’s largest coconut grove, the 1550 hectare Plantation Russet du Vanuatu is converting to organic. Also in conversion to organic is the community grower group, Sanma Community Coconuts, with its 216 growers and 408 hectares. According to BFA: “In Vanuatu coconuts are generally already grown organically with no synthetic fertilisers because the soil is very fertile; however organic certification will require farmers to keep more records of farm practices”. Organic certification is aimed at achieving a 20% increase in farmer incomes and products will include organic coconut oil and organic copra. The processor Vanuatu Virgin Coconut Oil is already certified organic and Coconut Oil Production Santo is underway with certification. Bernie Glaser, CEO of Coconut Oil Production Santo, says that “Organic certification could have a positive impact on the 60 per cent of the rural population that produce coconuts”. The Vanuatu conversions to organic are supported by the Vanuatu Sustainable Agri- Business Initiative (VASABI). This initiative has been driven by African Pacific in conjunction with the Vanuatu Government, the Vanuatu Agriculture College, World Vision Vanuatu and BFA.

Study of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Dilute Acid Pretreated Coconut Husk

Coconut husk is classified as complex lignocellulosic material that contains cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and some other extractive compounds. Cellulose from coconut husk can be used as fermentation substrate after enzymatic hydrolysis. In contrary, lignin content from the coconut husk will act as an inhibitor in this hydrolysis process. Therefore, a pretreatment process is needed to enhance the hydrolysis of cellulose. In this study, the pretreatment was done using dilute sulfuric acid in an autoclave reactor. The pretreatment condition were varied at 80°C, 100°C, 120°C and 0.9%, 1.2%, 1.5% for temperature and acid concentration respectively. The acid pretreated coconut husk was then hydrolyzed using commercial cellulase (celluclast) and β-glucosidase (Novozyme 188). The hydrolysis time is 72 hours and the operating conditions were varied at several temperature and pH. The highest sugar concentration (1.128 g/L) was obtained at pH 4 and 50°C which is pretreated at 100°C using 1.5% acid concentration

The effect of virgin coconut oil loaded solid lipid particles (VCO-SLPs) on skin hydration and skin elasticity

Virgin Coconut Oil is usually extracted from well matured and fresh coconut through specialized processes without damaging its natural nutrition. In this work, formulation, characterization and efficacy of VCO-SLPs have been studied. VCO-SLPs were prepared using ultrasonification of molten stearic acid and virgin coconut oil in an aqueous solution and particles with the size of 0.608 μm have been obtained. 20% concentration of VCO-SLPs of 0.608 μm particle size was added into the base lotion. Sensory study and skin evaluation study was conducted to compare the difference between lotion containing VCO-SLPs and lotion without VCO-SLPs. Moisturizing lotion incorporated with VCO-SLPs was found to increase skin hydration and skin elasticity by 24.8% and 2.60% respectively from day 0 to day 28. This shows that solid lipid particles has the potential to be utilized as a carrier for improved dermal delivery of VCO