Evaluation of Rice Brands by Sensory Qualities

A purposively selected 20 member sensory panel was used to do sensory and cooking qualities assessment of locally processed rice brands and popularly imported rice brands consumed by most Nigerians. The local brands are ‘Enyi, Lobi, Eagle and Veetee; while the imported brands are ‘Tomato and Caprice. The results showed that Olam was significantly better and distinguishable from Abakaliki, Tomato and Caprice brands for colour (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than Caprice for flavour (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than Abakaliki and Caprice for sogginess (P<0.05); Olam was significantly preferred than Veetee for stickness (P<0.05); Olam was significantly better than the other brands for taste (P<0.05); Olam was significantly preferred to other brands for texture (P<0.05) and significantly better from Tomato for general acceptability (P<0.05). On assessment of rice grains, the results also showed that Enyi and Abakaliki had poor grain colour rating (P<0.05); the general  acceptability of Olam, Caprice and Veetee grain brands were significantly better than the other brands (P<0.05). Generally speaking, the results of the analyses showed that local brands of processed rice competed well with imported brands for sensory qualities.Key words: rice brands, sensory qualities, consumer preference, general acceptabilit

Efficiency and its determinants among smallholder farming units supplying cassava to commercial starch processors in Nigeria: data envelopment analysis approach

Open Access JournalUnderstanding the resource allocation and use efficiency is essential considering the supportive role of agriculture in the advancement of other productive sectors of the economy. Technical efficiency and its determinants were investigated among smallholder cassava-farming and decision-taking units selected from eight states of the southeast and southwest zones of Nigeria. The states’ selection was purposive, being the states in which the IITA-Nestlé cassava starch project was implemented from 2011-2015. However, a multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 96 farming units from the clusters established under the project’s out-growers’ scheme. Primary data were collected from the farming units’ heads by administering the pre-tested household survey instrument. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, data envelopment analysis, and multivariate ordinary least square regression techniques. The DEA results revealed that majority (73.9%) of the farming units had efficiency scores less than 1 and as such classified as inefficient. Over 30.2% of the cassava farming units had efficient scores greater than 0.8 including 3.1% with scores that ranged from 0.81- 0.99. Farming units with efficiency scores from 0.6-0.8 constituted 17.7% of the sample while those with scores from 0.4-0.6 consist of 33.3%, which also corresponds to the percentage of farming units with efficiencies scores of less than 0.5. Only three variables: cassava farming experience, fertilizer use and quantity of stems used were statistically significant (p<0.05) in explaining cassava farming efficiency. Of these the influence of farming experience was positive while that of fertilizer use and stems were negative. The finding suggests that the elderly and better experienced farmers combined their versatile previous knowledge of farming with willingness to adopt and use improved farming practices to achieve efficiency. Contrary to expectation, fertilizer and stems were associated with less efficiency, a surprising result that could have resulted from misapplication and wastage of the vital resources. The results highlight the need for appropriate training and technical backstopping for the heads of farming units to enhance their knowledge of the good agricultural practices and improve their levels of efficiency

Cowpea demand and supply patterns in West Africa: the case of Nigeria

Cowpea is an important source of protein in the diet of many West Africans. As a result of research focused on supply-side factors, the share of cowpea production among various grain legumes in Nigeria has increased since 1988, making Nigeria the largest cowpea producing country in the world. Most of the cowpea produced is used for direct consumption in both urban and rural areas. Though relevant for food production and policy planning purposes, there are very few data on the demand factors for cowpea. This paper analyzes cowpea production trends and estimates consumption patterns in Nigeria using weekly consumption data from 960 households in three major cities. The paper also highlights regional and seasonal price variations as well as the likely supply gaps in the year 2015 with possible options for increasing production to satisfy demand

Effects of drying of cowpea grains on consumer acceptability of moin-moin

A drying test was conducted on wet de-hulled cowpea grains to ascertain the effects of drying at 60oC, 70oC, 80oC, and 90oC on the physico-chemical properties and sensory evaluation (consumer acceptability) of moin-moin from different flours. Chemical analyses were conducted on the flour to ascertain the effect of different levels of drying on the protein, carbohydrate and water binding capacity of the flours. A fifteen member trained panelist was purposively chosen to assess the quality of the moin-moin produced. The results of the analysis revealed that temperature of drying affected the protein, carbohydrate and water binding capacity of cowpea flour. The different drying scenarios also affected the acceptability of moin-moin by consumers. The study showed that moin-moin produced from a 60oC dried cowpea grains was sensorily preferred and accepted by consumers. Key words: drying, cowpea flour, moin-moin, consumer preference Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 125-13

RUSEP: marketled agricultural technology transfer and commercialization in Abia State, Nigeria

RUSEP is the latest attempt by the federal government of Nigeria to alleviate poverty through the transfer of market-driven agricultural technology to farmers and the commercialization of agriculture in selected states in Nigeria. Through this project, employment will be generated through enhanced agricultural enterprises. Abia state in the south East was chosen as one of the pilot states. The needs assessment study provides information on existing and available improved technologies and level of commercialization of agriculture in the rural communities. The constraints to commercialization and adoption of market-driven technologies were identified and recommendations were made towards the effective implementation of the project. The report would be useful in the implementation of the pilot project which has a lifespan of 18 months. Yam, cassava, rice and plantain were selected as priority major crops, taking into consideration their potential adaptability to commercial processing capability, socioeconomic and cultural significance as well as their comparative advantage in terms of production and consumption in various processed forms. Yam and plantain flour were found to be the most profitable processed products for the study area. Plantain and cooking banana flour are new, emerging products with a high future market driven potential

Farmer evaluation of improved soybean varieties being screened in five locations in Kenya : Implications for research and development

In order to determine the improved soybean varieties that if recommended to the farmers would have a high probability of adoption, a farmer participatory approach was used to evaluate 12 soybean varieties at full podding in five locations (Oyani, Riana, Kasewe, Akiites, and Mabole) in western Kenya. These comprised of 11 improved varieties (TGx1871-12E, TGx1895-4F, TGx1895-33F, TGx1895-49F, TGx1878- 7E, TGx1893-7F, TGx1893-10F, TGx1740-2F, TGx1448-2E, NAMSOY 4m, and MAKSOY 1n) and one local variety (Nyala). Farmers generated all the 17 criteria for use in the evaluation, with researchers only facilitating. One hundred and two farmers (52% females) participated in the evaluation. A scoring matrix was employed to articulate the results. Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel. This paper shows that of the seven dual-purpose varieties tested in all the five locations, only TGx1740-2F was acceptable in all. Some varieties were acceptable in specific locations: TGx1895-49F in Oyani, Nyala in Kasewe, TGx1448-2E in Akiites, and TGx1893-7F in Mabole. This result shows that to avoid low adoption, a blanket recommendation of varieties that were accepted only in selected locations must be avoided. TGx1740-2F was the only variety that could be recommended across locations and that was clearly better than the existing farmers’ own variety, Nyala

Determinants of the decision to adopt integrated soil fertility management practices by smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Kenya

Declining soil fertility is a major cause of low per capita food production on smallholder farms of sub-Saharan Africa. This study attempted to provide an empirical explanation of the factors associated with farmers' decisions to adopt or not to adopt newly introduced integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) technologies consisting of combinations of organics and mineral fertilizer in Meru South district of the central highlands of Kenya. Out of 106 households interviewed, 46% were 'adopters' while 54% were 'non-adopters'. A logistic regression model showed that the factors that significantly influenced adoption positively were farm management, ability to hire labour and months in a year households bought food for their families, while age of household head and number of mature cattle negatively influenced adoption. The implication of these results is that the adoption of ISFM practices could be enhanced through targeting of younger families where both spouses work on the farm full-time and food insecure households. It is also important to target farmers that lack access to other sources of soil fertility improvement. Examples include farmers that do not own cattle or those owning few and who, therefore, have limited access to animal manure.status: publishe