Sensory and microbiological quality assessment of fried snacks produced from ripe and unripe plantain fruits (Musa paradisiaca) fortified with Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp (cowpea)

The sensory and microbiological properties of fried snack balls produced from slurries of ripe and unripe plantain fruits supplemented with cowpea were investigated. The main objective is to increase the utilization of plantain in production of nutritious snacks, while observing the impact of cowpea fortification on sensory and microbial qualities of the product. Matured, wholesome, ripe and unripe plantain fruits, cowpea and other ingredients used in this study were obtained from Oba Adesida market in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The plantain pulp and dehulled cowpea were milled into slurries and mixed in the ratios of: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30 and 0:100 respectively. The mixtures were then properly whipped with the other ingredients into batter at the ratios of 200 g sample + 160 ml water (slurry), 36 g pepper : 36 g onion and 8 g salt as recommended by McWatters (2001) before frying at 140 oC for 10mins and cooled to about 30 oC. The snacks were then analyzed for microbiological and sensory properties. Results of sensory analysis showed the samples with 90:10 for unripe plantain: cowpea ratio and 80:20 for ripe plantain: cowpea ratio, to be the most acceptable products. There were visible growth of mesophillic bacteria on fresh and as well with fungi on samples stored at 28±2 oC and 70% RH for 24-48 hours. No growth was observed for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Coliform bacteria. It can therefore be concluded that the plantain snack balls are as highly perishable as the cowpea (akara) balls and therefore require additional preservatives if they are to be wholesome beyond 24 hours.Keywords: Supplementation, ingredients, slurry, frying, akara, nutritiou

Physico-chemical, Sensory and Microbial Analysis of Wine Produced from Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) and Pawpaw (Carica Papaya) Blend.

The study was conducted to develop a ready-to-serve (RTS) wine using pawpaw (Carica papaya) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) blend using the following ratio PJ:WMJ, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30: 60:40 50:50 with sugars, distilled water, and potassium metabisulphite and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae). The results of physico-chemical analysis revealed that titratable acidity ranged from 1.00 to 1.70% lactic acid while pH from 2.00-3.00, total soluble solids (brix level) ranged between 12.00-13.000brix, total solid varied significantly from 1.50-2.00%, and specific gravity from 0.784 - 1.020%. Vitamin C contents ranged from 7.00-9.00x10-4mg/100g while vitamin B1 content ranged from 8.80 to 10.00mg/100g and Vitamin A ranged from 20.00-24.00mg/100g. Samples subjected to sensory evaluation revealed that there were no significant difference at (p < 0.05) among the wine samples with respect to colour, aroma, taste, consistence, and overall acceptability. Findings of microbial studies showed tolerable no of total plate counts in the formulated wine which is safe for human consumption. From the result of quality assessments, the formulated wine sample coded 672 was found to be superior in quality and could be stored at 30 +20C for a minimum period of six months without any significant changes in quality. Keywords: watermelon, pawpaw, physicochemical, microbiological, sensor

DETERMINANTS OF UTILIZATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE COLLECTION AND SALES OF FOREST PLANT LEAVES IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Determinants of participation in the collection and sales of forest plant leaves in Ogun state were investigated. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to select three hundred (300) respondents for the study. A structure questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, logit regression and budgetary analysis. The logit regression analysis results showed that the likelihood of utilization of the forest plant leaves is significantly determined by nature of the respondents occupation (farming and NTFPs) and their household size while the likelihood of participation in the collection and sales of forest plant leaves is significantly determined by nearness to the forest plant leaves, income realized from the leaves and gender. Sales of leaves were profitable with an average net profit of N14,179.17/month/respondent. Enlighten programs on forest plant leaves activities as means of livelihood and alleviation of poverty should be embarked upon for rural folks. &nbsp

Impact of Malaria on Productivity and Coping Strategies among Small -Scale Gari Processorsin Odeda Local Government Area Of Ogun State Nigeria

This study examined health (malaria) as a determinant of productivity and the coping strategies employed during malaria incidence among gari processors in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria and suggest control strategy to ameliorate its effect. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed in ten communities using the simple random technique and information was gathered using a structured questionnaire. Regression analysis was used to identify significant variables affecting income while a framework was introduced to describe the socio-economic characteristics, identify the major health problems and coping strategies during malaria attack of gari processors. Regression analysis indicated that processing experience (&#945 0.01), prevalence of malaria (&#945 0.10), cost of tubers (&#945 0.01), cost of firewood used (&#945 0.10), and ownership of a cassava farm (&#945 0.01) were the significant factors affecting the income of the gari processors with the coefficient of 0.18, -0.87, 0.68, 1398.04, -0.26 respectively. An adjusted R2 of 0.698 (69.8%) was obtained to explain the effect of the explanatory variables. The test of significant difference was used to test the null hypothesis, the effect of malaria on hours worked and output of gari processors showed statistical significance at 1% hence the null hypothesis was rejected. The coping strategies employed by 56 percent of the processors was the use of traditional herbs as a form of malaria treatment, 57 percent employed hired labour for processing during malaria attack while 60 percent disclosed that they do not have access to health care within their community The study revealed that, malaria attack has a significant effect on productivity, workers output, income and work hours of gari processors. Therefore, the study recommended among others that provision of adequate health services with due accessibility, improve their health status, thereby reducing the poverty level among gari processors in line with United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for health by 2015. African Research Review Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 118-12

Potentials of agricultural waste and grasses in pulp and papermaking

Potentials of some agricultural waste and grasses were investigated. Potassium hydroxide from wood ash was used as alkali for pulping. Results from visopan Microscope showed that banana stalk has the highest fibre length of 2.60 mm and Bahaman grass has the least fibre length of 0.85 mm. Runkel Ratio (RK) for banana stalk, banana leaf, giant bluestem, gamba grass and bagasse was 0.8 (RK<1) while pineapple leaf and maize stalk have Runkel ratio of 0.9 (RK<1). Peel from maize cob and Bahaman grass have Runkel Ratio of 1 (RK=1). Calculated fibre derivatives indicated that the non wood raw materials were good in pulp and papermaking

Nutrient composition, functional, sensory and microbial status of popcorn-based (Zea may everta) complementary foods enriched with cashew nut (Anacardiumoccidentale l.) flour

Protein-energy malnutrition among Nigerian children is a major health challenge. This nutrition problem is attributed to the inappropriate complementary feeding practices, low nutritional quality of traditional complementary foods and high cost of quality protein-based  complementary foods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to formulate complementary foods from popcorn flour and cashew nut. A quantity(500g) of each popcorn and cashew nut seeds (500g) was processed into fermented, germinated and roasted flours. The blends (40% popcorn, 60% cashew nut) were biochemically evaluated for proximate, minerals and amino acids profile. The microbiological properties and sensory attributes were determined using standard methods. For Protein, the results were 22.48% for germinated popcorn-cashew nut (GPC),20.76% for roasted popcorn-cashew nut (RPC) and 21.82% for fermented popcorn-cashew nut (FPC); values for ogi and Nutrend were 12.60% and 16.27% respectively. With respect to energy value, FPC, GPC, RPC, ogi and Nutrend had533.85, 516.65, 530.49, 389.88 and 397.68 kcal, respectively. The percentages of total essential amino acids in the composition of the blends were36.9%, 40.7% and 38.9%for FPC, GPC and RPC, respectively; non-essential amino acids contents were 63.1%, 59.3% and 61.1% for FPC, GPC and RPC, respectively. The mineral content, that is, potassium, zinc and magnesium, of formulated samples were higher than thoseobtained for ogi and Nutrend. The antinutrient composition of FPC was lower than that of GPC and RPC. For the functional properties, water absorption capacity was between 1.83 – 1.93 g/ml, least gelation concentration 12.67 – 14.00 g/ml, swelling capacity 0.40 – 0.74 g/ml, loose bulk density 0.43 – 0.49 g/ml and packed bulk density 0.69 – 0.83 g/ml for the formulated samples. The overall acceptability of FPCwas rated higher than GPC, RPC and ogi, but lower than Nutrend. For the microbial status, bacteria count was between 1.00–39.00 x 104cfu/g, mould1.00–4.00 x 104cfu/g and yeast 1.00–4.33 x 105cfu/g. The study concluded that the FPC sample was better than ogi in terms of protein and mineral compositions and comparable in overall acceptance to Nutrend. Therefore, the FPC may be used as a complementary food

Quality assessment of flour and bread from sweet potato wheat composite flour blends

This study was to assess the quality of the flour and bread produced from sweet potato wheat composite flour blends. Matured and freshly harvested sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) was obtained from a local market in Akure, Nigeria. The tubers were thoroughly washed, peeled, washed again, drained, chipped, oven dried, milled, sieved and packaged. Five blends were prepared by homogenously mixing sweet potato flour with wheat flour in the percentage proportions of: 0:100, 5:95, 10:90, 15:85 and 100:0 (PF: WF) and later used to bake bread. Chemical, microbiological and physical properties of the composite flour and bread were examined. Semi-trained Panelists were assigned to assess the bread samples as well. The results of the proximate composition showed that the protein contents of the flours ranged from 1.44-12.44%; fat, 0.37-1.55%; carbohydrate, 69.69-80.92% and the protein contents of the bread samples ranged from 10.15-12.44%; fat, 4.36-4. 88%; carbohydrate, 80.44-105.47%. The flour samples had sodium content of 1.85-40.42 mg/ 100 g; calcium, 2.71-17.14 mg/ 100 g; potassium, 160.02-175.12 mg/100 g; selenium, 0.006-0.620 mg/ 100 g, while bread samples had sodium, 46.86-550.77 mg/ 100 g; calcium, 3.59-6.63 mg/ 100 g; potassium, 162.42-388.75 mg/100 g; selenium, 0.19-0.27 mg/ 100 g. Pasting properties showed that flour had breakdown (38.33-60.76 RVU) and setback values (82.86-173.50 RVU). The microbiological results of the flour ranged from 1.0×103 to 7.0× 103 cfu/g (bacteria) and 1.0× 104 to 8.0× 104 sfu/g (fungi) while for bread, 1.0× 103 to 4.0×103 cfu/g (bacteria) and 1.0×104 to 8.0×104 sfu/g (4.5×104). No visible growth was recorded for E. coli. and Coliform bacteria. The bread loaf weights ranged from 450 to 500 g; loaf volume, 1171.73-1239.84 cm3 and specific loaf volume, 2.48-2.62 cm3/g. There is no significant difference in the crust colour, crumb holes, stability, elasticity, firmness, shape regularity and appearance of the samples. No panelist showed a total dislike for the taste of any of the samples. All the qualities evaluated did not significantly (p≤ 0.05) affect the acceptability and preference of the samples. Hence, it was concluded that wheat flour could be substituted with sweet potato flour up to 15% level in bread making which will still retain much of the physicochemical and sensory properties.Keywords: Panelists, Pasting, Microbiological, Nutritional and Sensory propertie

Another Approach to Evaluating the Productivity of Value Added Tax in Nigeria

This paper reviewed and assessed the productivity of value added tax [VAT] on total consumption expenditure [TCE] and on gross domestic product [GDP] which determines the level of economic growth in Nigeria. Productivity was expressed as effectiveness/efficiency. While effectiveness is the ability to be actively functional in producing expected results, efficiency is the ability to use available resources optimally, assuring that the cost of resources is controlled to the lowest possible level. Therefore the effectiveness and efficiency of VAT were calculated on GDP and adjusted GDP. The non vatable components were net off from GDP resulting in the adjusted GDP. Also VAT effectiveness and efficiency were calculated on TCE and adjusted TCE. The adjusted TCE represents the private consumption expenditure.  Findings revealed that VAT was not effective on GDP but effective on adjusted GDP.  VAT was neither efficient on TCE nor on adjusted TCE.  VAT was not productive at the cross-elasticity of TCE/GDP but was productive at the cross-elasticity of Adjusted TCE/Adjusted GDP.  Part of the recommendations was that government should review VAT threshold and the reduction of exemptions because exemptions are fundamentally inconsistent with the revenue generation objectives of VAT. This logic is preferred to increasing the present five percent VAT-rate Keywords: Productivity, Value Added Tax, Gross Domestic Product,   Total Consumption Expenditure, Effectiveness, Efficiency

Cost and Returns on Chewing Stick Retail Marketing In Southwest Nigeria

Purposive sampling technique was employed for the selection of four LGAs in Ogun State and six LGAs in Oyo State where 40 chewing stick retailers were randomly selected equally in both rural and urban settings to give a total of 400 respondents i.e. 160 and 240 respondents in Ogun and Oyo state respectively. Responses from one hundred and seventy eight (178) retailers were used in the final analyses due to different degrees of non-completion. Data collected include demographic characteristics, year of experience in the business, frequency of trade, unit of purchase, form in which product is sold, awareness on cultivation of species marketed and cost associated with the trade, etc. Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics (such as frequency distribution and computation of percentages), Gross Margin (GM), Net Income and Rate of Return (ROR). Forty percent (40.4%) of the retailers fall within 16 to 30years of age. Each of these bundles was retailed at an average total cost of N900 to earn an average revenue of N1,440 and an average net income of N540. The study concludes that chewing stick retail trade is a lucrative business in the study area. The following recommendations are made: education of the respondents on the need to form themselves into social groups like cooperative societies so as to enhance their scale of operation through adequate funding and value-addition (such as better packaging) to their products so as to enhance their profit margin from the business.   Keywords: Retailers, Rate of return, Environmental degradation, Household, Livelihoo

Sales of Medicinal Forest Tree Barks in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria

The marketing of forest tree barks used for medicinal purposes were investigated in some markets in Abeokuta metropolis. This was to provide the much needed information on the sellers, buyers and producers of these products for sustainable production and maximum socio-economic benefits. This study identified 43 species being sold in the market places sampled namely Kuto, Omida, Itoku, Lafenwa, Iberekodo and Elega. Almost the same species were traded in all the markets sampled. This study further revealed that the trade of forest tree barks is pre-dominated by women accounting for 93.3% of the total respondent. Fifty one percent of the respondents were recorded among the youths between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. Forest tree bark sales were found to contribute to the monthly income of the respondents. For instance more than half of them earned between N7,500 and N10,000 as monthly incomes from bark sales. A total of 62 or 41.33% or the total respondents were found to earn more than the State Government minimum wage of N4,600 monthly. The Chi-square statistical analysis showed that there was a relationship between income earned by the respondents and the location of the markets. African Research Review Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 65-7