ABSTRACT Biodiesel, defined as the monoalkyl esters of vegetable oils and animal fats, is becoming prominent among alternatives to conventional petro-diesel due to economic, environmental and social factors. Transesterification is the most preferred method of biodiesel production. Knowledge of transesterification reaction kinetic enables prediction of the extent of the chemical reaction (or the conversion) at any time under particular conditions. It is also essential in the optimization of op...
ABSTRACT Micronutrients are comprised of vitamin and mineral nutrients needed during pregnancy for fetus growth, development, maturation and reducing/preventing maternal complications. In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) micronutrient rich foods (vegetables and fruits) are lacking due to restrictions on cultivation and unavailability of vegetables and fruits in the local markets. Therefore, the current study introduced a food basket intervention and assessed its effectiveness in addres...
ABSTRACT This study reports for the first time in Ghana long-term monitoring of heavy metal contamination of vegetables. As reliable residue data analysis resulting from monitoring programs in foods is of great value to the general populace; this could address the possible risk of heavy metal exposure to human health. In this study, monitoring of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in consumable vegetables was assessed for a period of 2 years, 2013-2014. In all, a total o...
ABSTRACT The 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) and Micronutrient Survey reportshowed malnutrition among children aged 5-11 years in Kenya. In particular,malnutrition in Machakos County manifested as stunting (26.3 %), wasting (6.3 %),underweight (12.7 %), marginal vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (33.9 %), anemia (16.5%), zinc deficiency (82.5 %) and iron deficiency (9.4 %). African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables (AILVs) such as Vigna unguiculata and Amaranthus cruentus can be usedto fight ...
ABSTRACT The concentration of heavy metals such as Pd, Cd, Cu and Cr were studied using AAS on vegetable samples such as Tomato (fruit and leaf) and Onion bulb. Trace element as Cu showed high concentration. The concentration of heavy metal like Cu ranged from of 0.155 to 0.024mg/kg in tomato fruit; 0.120 to 0.057mg/kg in leafy tomato; 0.118 to 0.121mg/kg in onion bulb which were more than the maximum permissible limit according to the International organization like FAO and WHO. The conce...
ABSTRACT Thrips are crop pests causing damage to a wide range of crops ranging from fruits to vegetables to ornamentals through direct feeding or oviposition on plants. The main objective of this study was to determine the species composition of thrips and their host range in some selected parts of Greater Accra and Eastern Regions of Ghana. Thrips were collected from flowers, leaves and twigs of vegetable, ornamental and tree crops by beating and jarring and identified to species level. Fi...
ABSRTACT This study was carried out to analyze processing, marketing and demand for processed fruits and vegetables in Tanzania. Data for the study were collected from a sample of 320 households, 77 traders and 59 processors using structured questionnaire. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that fruit and vegetable processing firms were not able to utilize their capacities almost throughout the year with very low capacit...
ABSTRACT Spider plant (Cleome gynandra) is among traditional leafy vegetables whose consumption is increasing in Kenya. Characterization of spider plant ecotypes has not been exclusively done even though a collection exists at the national museums of Kenya. Production of spider plant as a vegetable is constrained by low leaf yields resulting from lack of improved planting materials and a short vegetative phase of the plant. The objective of this study was to morphologically characterize 36 sp...
ABSTRACT Increased consumer awareness has raised concerns over food safety and production methods. In Nigeria, consumption of organic produce is low. This study assessed consumer willingness to pay for selected organic leafy vegetables. Data from 129 respondents were obtained using a simple random sampling technique. Conjoint analysis and contingent valuation were used to analyze willingness to pay and determinants of willingness to pay. Contingent valuation indicated that 84.5%, 76%, and 62...
ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining the quality of wild vegetables under different growing conditions. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and single time collected samples from planted wild vegetables were laboratory tested to determine nutrient values. SAS statistical tool was used to analyse the data. Vitamin C content was found to be highest in Solanun scabrum (3.40 ± 0.1mg/100gm) under forest conditions, followed by Launaea cornuta (3.1 ± 0.1mg/100gm) under...
ABSTRACT Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an edible crop produced in Ghana for both the local and export markets. The perishable nature of the fruit results in huge postharvest losses. The use of edible coatings to preserve commodities is inexpensive, easy to apply, requires less labour, technology and improves fruit qualities. However usage of this technology has raised some concerns with major stakeholders of the fruits and vegetables industry regarding health, safety, availability and cost...
ABSTRACT The main goal of this study was to develop aready-to-serve gluten free vegetables based infant food product with high nutritional value, high physicochemical, microbial and organoleptic characteristics in order to contribute in solving the problem of children malnutrition in Sudan. The results obtained in this study indicated that the developed vegetables based infant food product was found with high levels of available carbohydrates (68.32%), total sugars (12.75%) and protein (6.7%...
ABSTRACT Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) often known as common nettle is an herbaceous perennial flowering plant on the family of urticiae. The plant originated from colder region Europe and Asia. In Kenya the plant is grown in many part including Nero, Laikipia, Embu, Meru, Narok and in the slope of Mt Kenya. The plant is grown for its leaves which are used as vegetables, roots and stem which is a good source of fibre. The plant is rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin A and C. howev...
ABSTRACT The study investigated the nutrients and phytochemical compositions of some leafy vegetables in Nigeria (Hibiscus cannabinus, Adansonia digitata, Sesamum indicum and Cassia tora leaves) and the effects of their extracts on blood glucose and lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Two kilogrammes of each of the vegetables were bought fresh, sorted by removing extraneous material, washed with deionized water and separately pulverized using Gallenkamp mixer Kenwood –MPR 201. ...
INTRODUCTION The main objective of this essay is to examine the role played by women in commercialization of agriculture in particular in small holder production of agro exports in MeruAbothuguchi west and non traditional exports especially French beans production. Commercialization of agriculture may take different forms both involving production for domestic market and international market. Is this paper I concentrate on the input of women in output geared towards sale at the internat...