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

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

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

Assessment of Vegetation Structural Diversity and Similarity Index of IITA Forest Reserve in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

The analysis of vegetation structural diversity and similarity index of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) forest reserve was carried out by vegetation survey using transects and plot sampling techniques. Forty plots of 10m by 10m each were laid equally along four transect (A, B, C, at 900E and D at 00N). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, relative density, diversity and similarity indices. The result showed that the forest reserve has one hundred and ninety species of plants belonging to sixty three families. The dominant plant families recorded in the forest are Leguminosae (12.63%), Rubiaceae (8.42%), Euphorbiaceae (7.89%), Apocynaceae (5.26%) and Sterculiaceae (3.68%). The most abundant plant species in the forest are mostly secondary colonizers climbers, shrubs and trees such as Culcasia saxatilis (4.46%), Icacina trichantha (4.10%), Shrub: Alchornea laxiflora (3.86%), Sphenocentrum jollyanum (3.50%), followed by tree: Newbouldia laevis (3.23%), and Funtumia elastica (2.63%) respectively. Transect D had the highest Simpson's diversity index of 0.01184 while the lowest is with C 0.02091. The Simpson similarities indices (Beta diversity) of transects varied from 50.75% to 42.76% for transects B and C, A and C, and C and D respectively. The forest reserve of IITA shows a high diversity (alpha, gamma and beta diversity) of plants and have multiplicity of species, therefore, adequate protection of the reserve should be a priority to maintain and prevent loss of plant biodiversity.Keywords: Vegetation, structural diversity, IITA forest reserve, plant biodiversity, Simpson's diversity inde

Mathematical Model for Direct Evaporative Space Cooling Systems

This paper deals with the development of a simple mathematical model for experimental validation of the performance of a small evaporative cooling system in a tropical climate. It also presents the coefficient of convective heat transfer of wide range of temperatures based on existing model. Extensive experiments have been performed during January to February 2013 for a small evaporative cooling system designed for storage of fruits and vegetables. The model considered the thermal properties of the material of the cooling pad and assumed that the cooling pad is a plain porous wall bounded by two convective air at different temperature at the two surfaces. The predicted and experimental value of various cooling efficiency at different range of inlet temperature has been determined. In addition the values of the coefficient of convective heat transfer for a wide range of temperatures is also presented