Reducing the high cyclical losses after harvest in northern Ghana: Addressing the neglected input in the production chain

United States Agency for International Developmen

Options for intensifying vegetable production

United States Agency for International Developmen

Aflatoxin management in northern Ghana: current prevalence and priority strategies in maize (Zea mays L)

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PENGARUH GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DAN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TERHADAP NILAI PERUSAHAAN (Studi Pada Perusahaan BUMN Go Public yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Periode 2016-2019)

ABSTRAK Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui penerapan Good Corporate Governance dan Corporate Social Responsibility terhadap Nilai Perusahaan pada perusahaan BUMN Go Public yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2016-2019. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan pendekatan metode deskriptif dan metode verifikatif. Populasi yang digunakan adalah 21 perusahaan BUMN Go Public yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2016-2019. Sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah 24 perusahaan BUMN Go Public yang memenuhi kriteria sampel selama periode penelitian. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Sedangkan teknik analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan analisis regresi berganda, uji asumsi klasik, analisis korelasi dan koefisien determinasi. Sedangkan pengujian hipotesis yang digunakan adalah metode statistik uji parsial (uji t) dan uji simultan (uji f) menggunakan SPSS 26 for Windows. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa secara parsial penerapan Good Corporate Governance tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Nilai Perusahaan, Corporate Social Responsibility berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap Nilai Perusahaan. Secara simultan penerapan Good Corporate Governance dan Corporate Social Responsibility tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Nilai Perusahaan. Kata Kunci : Good Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, dan Nilai Perusahaa

Effect Of Two Storage Methods On The Keeping And Sensory Qualities Of Four Plantain Varieties

Plantains are an important cash and subsistence crop for the small-scale producers all year round in most parts of the tropical world including Ghana. Unfortunately, the plantain industry is still characterised by high post-harvest losses. Given that plantains are still used in the fresh state, any intervention aimed at reducing the losses must have this in mind. This paper is on a study of the influence of passive evaporative cooling (PEC) and modified atmosphere (MA) on the keeping and sensory qualities of four plantain varieties, Apem, Apentu, Oniaba and Asamienu, during the preclimacteric and post-climacteric storage stages. The PEC was achieved by using sawdust held in jute sacs moistened to varying moisture holding capacities (mhc) of 25%, 50% and 75%. The MA storage was achieved using a number of storage treatment combinations involving two types of low density polyethylene pouches, sawdust and potassium permanganate, as an ethylene scrubber. The PEC at 50% mhc produced the longest green life of 28, 26, 16, and 15 days and post-climacteric storage life of 34, 32, 22 and 21days for Apem, Apentu, Oniaba and Asamienu, respectively. Peel splitting disorder did not occur at any of the mhc levels used for the study. However, all varieties were susceptible to finger drop after three weeks. The MA exhibited varying effect (P< 0.001) on post-climacteric storage life. The use of KMnO4 increased green life by 3 to 6 days across treatments. Inclusion of moist sawdust in MA increased green life of Apem from 11 to 16 and further to 18 days when KMnO4 was added. Principal component analysis established that for any one variety of plantain, all treatments received statistically comparable scores for colour, flavour, mouth feel, taste and overall acceptability by the trained sensory panel of ten, except for texture. There were significant differences among varieties for all sensory attributes. Thus, PEC and MA can be promoted as low-cost systems for the handling and storage of plantain during its marketing

Participatory variety selection of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) genotyes for adaptation to the semi-arid agro-ecology of northern Ghana

In a two-year study, participatory variety selection (PVS) was employed to evaluate the performance of 19 okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) c. v. Moench genotypes in a semi-arid agro-ecology in northern Ghana. The PVS sessions were organized at 65, 80 and 95 days after planting for 272 farmers to select the most preferred genotypes base on plant growth, maturity period and yield components. Results of this study indicate high significant differences among the genotypes (P< 0.0001) for most essential agronomic yield traits evaluated. Five most recurring preference traits were high fruit yield, early maturing, multiple harvest frequency, drying quality and long tender-life. Glabrous leaf, stem and fruit were important to farmers because most of the production operations are still being manually done. Genotypes with high potential included: NOKH 1004 (9.55 ton\ha), FV-Unn-manna (5.85 ton\ha), NOHK 1003 (5.17 ton\ha), NOKH 1002 (2.83 ton\ha), FV-Kpazeya (2.83 ton\ha), TZ-SMN-86 (2.30 ton\ha), AAK (2.11 ton\ha), NB-55-Srivan (1.98 ton\ha), Sasilon (1.70 ton\ha), FV-Unn (2.20 ton\ha) and Ex-Makutopora (1.27 ton\ha). Genotypes Sasilon, NOKH-1004, NB-55-Srivan and NOKH-1003 recorded the highest ranking among farmers during the PVS. High yielding and early maturing genotypes which are amendable to drying may show wide adoption rate due to the premium on dehydrated okra. These genotypes can be suggested as candidates for inspection by the National Variety Release and Technical Committee for release to farmers to increase access to improved okra varieties

Integrated peanut aflatoxin management for increase income and nutrition in northern Ghana

Aflatoxins contamination in peanut seeds remains a major challenge in Ghana. This study evaluated aflatoxin levels in peanut samples from farmer storage units, and participatory on-farm research trials. In all, 240 respondents were covered from six main producing districts in northern Ghana through a multi-stage sampling approach. Samples were analysed for total aflatoxins using the indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay technique. Overall, total aflatoxins in the farmer stored nuts showed wide variations across communities and districts. At 20 ppm permissible level, 92.9% of samples (n = 240) from farmer stored peanuts and 98.7% of samples (n = 150) from the on-farm demonstrations were classified as safe at 4–8 weeks after harvest. Therefore, sustainable reduction of aflatoxins to safe limits is possible through greater collaboration among the value chain actors. Low-cost good agricultural practices within the remit of the growers should be prioritized alongside public awareness programmes

Improving Marketable Quality of Tomato: a Simulation of Shipping Conditions in Ghana

Aim: The study assessed the influence of a sequence of anticipated hazard elements (impact, compression, vibration) and shipment conditions on marketable quality under varying temperatures and ripeness stages. Study Design: The vibration test simulates a truck operating at highway speed and determines the ability of shipping units to withstand vertical and compression forces resulting from stacking during transport. Storage at 30ºC depicted ambient conditions; 15 and 20ºC are optimum temperatures for ripening; and pink and light-red ripeness depict typical harvest maturity in Ghana. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Postharvest Science Laboratory of the Horticultural Sciences Department of the University of Florida from September to December 2011. Methodology: Round-type tomato at pink and light-red ripeness were subjected to a vibration test and incubated in ripening chambers set at 15, 20 and 30ºC. Critical data was taken on days to red-ripe, CO2, ethylene production, color, firmness, weight loss, pH, titratable acidity and soluble solids content. Results: Overall, the influence of vibration and ripeness on marketable shelf life was marginal; however temperature significantly (P≤0.05) influenced shelf life. Vibration increased weight loss, respiration and ethylene production, which were plummeted at lower temperature. Days to red-ripe indicated that tomato should preferably be marketed by 2-4, 8-12 and 10-15 days at 30, 20 and 15ºC respectively, at pink to light-red ripeness under current distribution conditions. Best chemical properties were maintained at 15 and 20ºC; vibration and ripeness did not influence chemical properties, but increasing temperature affected all physico-chemical properties. Conclusion: The study concludes that despite the cumbersome shipping conditions, tomatoes could be marketed at premium quality if lower storage temperatures were accessible. These facilities are beyond the purchasing power of small-holder traders, thus the involvement of the State and/or Private Sector to providing these facilities would be beneficial; particularly in urban markets where retail prices will merit such investments