Evaluation of a Low-Cost Greenhouse for Controlled Environment Cultivation of Sweet Pepper

Sustainable agriculture is critical towards paving a way for year-round production and supply of food all year round. Cultivation of fruits and vegetables are vital due to high demand and nutritional values it provides to consumers. The rising global population especially in developing countries require other alternatives for sustainable crop production. Cultivation in controlled environments using functional and durable greenhouse structures presents an option. A low-cost greenhouse was designed and constructed in Ibadan, Nigeria using locally available materials was evaluated. Afrormosia wood was used in constructing the frame while polyethylene of 2.5 mm thickness was used as sheathing material for the walls. The floor which covered an area of 24 m2 was made of porous concrete of batching mixture 1:4 (cement to gravel) while the wall was 4 m high. Ventilation was passive with a vent area equal to 25% of total surface area; made up of 20% at the wall area and 5% as the roof vent. The roof was pitched at a 18° slope to allow easy drainage of rain water. Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum, Cabernet) seeds procured Burpee Seeds USA were cultivated with the aid of planting pots within the greenhouse in comparison with those planted in the open field for a duration of eight weeks. Evaluation was based on crop growth and yield parameters correlated with solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity in the greenhouse and ambient environments, respectively using randomized complete block design. Data were subjected to descriptive and correlation analysis. Peak temperature and RH were 31.1°C and 91.1% respectively within the greenhouse in comparison with 29.7°C and 89.7% respectively outside. Peak solar radiation was 413.4 W/m2 in the greenhouse compared to 690.3 W/m2 in the ambient. Growth parameters showed that the crops in the greenhouse performed optimally when compared with plants in the open field with a yield of 18.1 t/ha in the greenhouse compared with no-yield recorded in the open field. Utilization of greenhouses in crop cultivation can help to mitigate the problem of food shortage

Technical appraisal of some maize shellers in Oyo and Kwara States of Nigeria

This study assessed the performance of some maize shellers in use in grain markets in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. A preliminary survey conducted identified shellers in use as basic maize sheller (BMS) without blower, maize sheller with blower attachment (MSB) and the multi-purpose sheller (MPS). The shelling/cleaning performance of the shellers were assessed using yellow maize (SWAN 1 variety) and some key equipment parameters, which impact performance were measured. The air velocity for MSB and MPS ranged between 0.4 and 2.4 m/s which was not sufficient for efficient cleaning of chaff from shelled grains. Shaft speed for BMS, MSB and MPS were 845, 920 and 820 rpm, respectively. Average throughput for BMS, MSB and MPS was 1,714, 600 and 840 kg/hr, respectively with mean shelling efficiencies of 92.9, 82.7 and 97.9%, respectively. Mean cleaning efficiencies were 54.0 and 57.7% for MSB and MPS, respectively. The percentage grain loss for BMS, MSB and MPS were 17, 7.1 and 1.9%, respectively. It was observed that many fabricators do not consult agricultural engineers when producing machines, relying more on previous experience. Additionally, there was a lack of consideration for operator safety with the exposure of moving parts of the equipment in all the designs evaluated. A key recommendation from this study is that sheller designs should be standardized to ensure the provision of quality and highly efficient machinery for processors

Addressing conflicts of interest in Public Private Partnerships

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many articles have been written on conflicts of interests (COIs) in fields such as medicine, business, politics, public service and education. With the growing abundance of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), often involving complex relationships among the partners, it is important to understand how COIs can be mitigated and managed in PPPs.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We wanted to study PPPs, particularly in the areas of global health and agriculture, but discovered no single source of information available to identify and compare various approaches for avoiding and managing COIs in PPPs. This is a significant gap, especially for those wishing to study, compare and strengthen existing COI policies related to PPPs. In order to bridge this gap, we reviewed how PPPs currently address COIs and highlight what might be considered good practice in developing COI policies. We reviewed the online COI policies of 10 PPPs in global health and agriculture, and interviewed two global health PPP chief executives.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Based on our review of policies and interviews, we conclude that there exists a range of good practices including attention to accountability and governance, acknowledgement and disclosure, abstention and withdrawal, reporting and transparency, and independent monitoring. There appears to be a need for PPPs to interact closely and learn from each other on these parameters and to also place more emphasis on independent external monitoring of COIs as a means of strengthening their major social objectives on which their activities are largely predicated. We also recommend the establishment of a web based database, which would serve as a forum to discuss COI issues and how they can be resolved.</p

The three main monotheistic religions and gm food technology: an overview of perspectives

Abstract Background Public acceptance of genetically modified crops is partly rooted in religious views. However, the views of different religions and their potential influence on consumers' decisions have not been systematically examined and summarized in a brief overview. We review the positions of the Judaism, Islam and Christianity – the three major monotheistic religions to which more than 55% of humanity adheres to – on the controversies aroused by GM technology. Discussion The article establishes that there is no overarching consensus within the three religions. Overall, however, it appears that mainstream theology in all three religions increasingly tends towards acceptance of GM technology per se, on performing GM research, and on consumption of GM foods. These more liberal approaches, however, are predicated on there being rigorous scientific, ethical and regulatory scrutiny of research and development of such products, and that these products are properly labeled. Summary We conclude that there are several other interests competing with the influence exerted on consumers by religion. These include the media, environmental activists, scientists and the food industry, all of which function as sources of information and shapers of perception for consumers

Optical Properties of Tigernut (Cyperus Esculentus) Asinfluenced by Moisture Content and Wavelength

Tigernut (cyperusesculentus) is one among the underutilized crops in Nigeria despite its high economic value. This study investigated the absorbance, transmittance and colour of yellow tigernut as influenced by moisture content at 8%, 16%, 24%, 32% and 42% (db) respectively. The tigernut samples were collected directly from a farm in Minna, Niger state and cleaned to remove all foreign materials, initial moisture content was determined using ASAE standard after which sampleswere conditioned to the desired moisture levels following standard method. Using a spectrophotometer, the absorbance ranged from 3.04 to 6.35 and transmittance ranged from 0.00 to 0.19 within a wavelength range of 320nm to 720nm while the colour using a Chroma meter ranged from 3.73 to 4.14, 5.19 to 8.18 and 13.1 to 19.0 for L (brightness), a (red) and b (yellow) respectively. ANOVA also revealed that moisture has significant effect at p<0.05 on absorbance, transmittance and colour of the tigernut. Correlation and regression analysis revealed a positive linear relationship between all moisture contents with absorbance, transmittance and colour

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Motorized Tigernut Oil Extraction Machine

Tiger nut is a common nut in Africa which contains 24.5% oil. The extraction of this oil has been a major challenge to developing countries as most oil is locally extracted because of high cost of importation of oil expellers. A motorized tiger nut oil extracting machine was designed and fabricated consisting of four sections namely feeding, extraction, heating and power sections using available local materials, and was evaluated and optimized. The oil yield (OY), operational rate (OR), extraction efficiency (EE), throughput capacity (TC) and extraction loss (EL) of the machine were determined as affected by barrel temperatures (BT) of 30°C, 45°C, 60°C range, screw speeds (SS) of 60 rpm, 75 rpm, 90 rpm range., 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm range of choke clearance (CC) of the machine and yellow/brown varieties of tiger nut. The optimum ER, EE, OY, EL and TC values of 9.93 kg/hr., 89.02%, 23.78%, 1 kg/hr. and 50.06 kg/hr. were achieved at 60°C barrel temperature, 60 rpm and 0.5 mm choke clearance while the lowest values gotten at 30°C barrel temperature, 90 rpm and 1.5 mm choke clearance were 6.33 kg/hr., 52.40%, 13.90%, 0.33 kg/hr. and 33.96 kg/hr. respectively. Analysis of variance revealed that barrel temperature, screw speed, choke clearance and variety have significant effects on all the machine parameters evaluated at p&lt;0.05 except for the EL. The evaluation results revealed that the brown tiger nut has more oil than the yellow tiger nut and that the developed machine is deemed efficient for small scale tiger nut oil production. &nbsp

Comparative evaluation of novel low-cost moisture meters suitable for grain moisture measurement

Monitoring grain quality is an important postharvest activity which starts at harvest, continuing during storage and up to the point of sale. High moisture in stored maize can be detrimental to food safety because of the likelihood of aflatoxin contamination and other forms of deterioration. Moisture meters are devices which provide real-time access to measuring moisture levels thereby allowing farmers to meet grain quality requirements. A newly developed low-cost moisture meter known as the Post-Harvest Loss (PHL) moisture meter is a device with potentials for massive deployment among smallholder farmers. This study was therefore set up to compare the efficiencies of some existing moisture meters compared with this newly developed device. Two commercially available moisture meters — Dickey john GAC 2100 and John Deere meters were compared with the PHL moisture meter and oven-dried method (ASABE standards) used as control. Maize grains from a bagged storage experiment were used as samples over a 12-month period. Results showed that the moisture meters had a positive difference of ˂3% MCwb relative to oven-dried method. Average measurements showed variances of 2.34, 1.08 and 0.56% MCwb for John Deere, PHL and GAC 2100 meters respectively, when compared with the oven-dried method. Thus, it was concluded that the low cost PHL moisture meter may serve as an effective alternative to the more expensive types and may be relatively easy to adopt for laboratory and field use among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.&nbsp

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF NOVEL LOW-COST MOISTURE METERS SUITABLE FOR GRAIN MOISTURE MEASUREMENT

Monitoring grain quality is an important postharvest activity which starts at harvest, continuing during storage and up to the point of sale. High moisture in stored maize can be detrimental to food safety because of the likelihood of aflatoxin contamination and other forms of deterioration. Moisture meters are devices which provide real-time access to measuring moisture levels thereby allowing farmers to meet grain quality requirements. A newly developed low-cost moisture meter known as the Post-Harvest Loss (PHL) moisture meter is a device with potentials for massive deployment among smallholder farmers. This study was therefore set up to compare the efficiencies of some existing moisture meters compared with this newly developed device. Two commercially available moisture meters — Dickey john GAC 2100 and John Deere meters were compared with the PHL moisture meter and oven-dried method (ASABE standards) used as control. Maize grains from a bagged storage experiment were used as samples over a 12-month period. Results showed that the moisture meters had a positive difference of ˂3% MCwb relative to oven-dried method. Average measurements showed variances of 2.34, 1.08 and 0.56% MCwb for John Deere, PHL and GAC 2100 meters respectively, when compared with the oven-dried method. Thus, it was concluded that the low cost PHL moisture meter may serve as an effective alternative to the more expensive types and may be relatively easy to adopt for laboratory and field use among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

Technical Appraisal of some Maize Shellers in Oyo and Kwara States of Nigeria

This study assessed the performance of some maize shellers in use in grain markets in Oyo and Kwara States, Nigeria. A preliminary survey conducted identified shellers in use as basic maize sheller (BMS) without blower, maize sheller with blower attachment (MSB) and the multi-purpose sheller (MPS). The shelling/cleaning performance of the shellers were assessed using yellow maize (SWAN 1 variety) and some key equipment parameters, which impact performance were measured. The air velocity for MSB and MPS ranged between 0.4 and 2.4 m/s which was not sufficient for efficient cleaning of chaff from shelled grains. Shaft speed for BMS, MSB and MPS were 845, 920 and 820 rpm, respectively. Average throughput for BMS, MSB and MPS was 1,714, 600 and 840 kg/hr, respectively with mean shelling efficiencies of 92.9, 82.7 and 97.9%, respectively. Mean cleaning efficiencies were 54.0 and 57.7% for MSB and MPS, respectively. The percentage grain loss for BMS, MSB and MPS were 17, 7.1 and 1.9%, respectively. It was observed that many fabricators do not consult agricultural engineers when producing machines, relying more on previous experience. Additionally, there was a lack of consideration for operator safety with the exposure of moving parts of the equipment in all the designs evaluated.&nbsp; A key recommendation from this study is that sheller designs should be standardized to ensure the provision of quality and highly efficient machinery for processors