Agriculture and Food Sciences Research

Effect of different additives on nutrient parameter and palatability of ensiled water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

2024-06-05T07:37:02+00:00

Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, is an invasive aquatic weed that covers major water bodies in Nepal, and its silage has great potential to be used as ruminant’s feed. An experiment was conducted with an aim to explore its ensiling attributes along with palatability test for cattle was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rupandehi in a completely randomized experimental design with three replications. The quality and palatability of water hyacinth silage prepared with additives such as rice straw, molasses, wheat flour, and rice bran were assessed. The treatments included: water hyacinth with rice straw(T1); water hyacinth with rice straw and rice bran(T2); water hyacinth with rice straw and wheat flour(T3); water hyacinth with rice straw and molasses(T4); water hyacinth with rice straw, wheat flour and molasses(T5); water hyacinth with rice straw, wheat flour and rice bran(T6) and water hyacinth with rice straw, wheat flour, molasses and rice bran(T7). The results showed, crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), total ash (TA), pH, and palatability had significant differences across all treatments (p<0.05). CP (15.13) and CF (23.73) were found to be highest under control whereas rice straw, wheat flour and rice bran had the highest EE (12.74), TA (15.13), pH (3.87), palatability (100%), and considerably high CP (12.40) and CF (19.75). Hence, silage of water hyacinth with rice straw, wheat flour, and rice bran has high nutrient content, palatability and can be used as a feed alternative to solve the problem of feed scarcity.

Evaluation of the mineral and antinutritional composition of bottled and sterilized Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) milk

2024-08-05T09:37:14+00:00

Nowadays, beverages are not just considered as thirst quenchers; specific functionality is the major ingredient expected in beverages, which has becomes a lifestyle. In recent years, these initiations have led to newly developed products in the beverages sector. Companies are learning the consumption styles of various individuals and making novel beverages through blends of milk and energy drinks. Tigernut milk is among the most valued plant-based beverages, obtained from the aqueous extract of tigernuts tubers. This study investigated the mineral and antinutritional components of bottled and sterilized tigernut milk. Two varieties of tigernut tuber (Yellow and brown) were processed using three methods (Boiling, soaking and malting), and the milk was bottled and further sterilized. The results obtained showed that Iron recorded the least value at (1.73mg and 2.24mg) for yellow and brown tigernut tubers; alsotigernut tubers were low in some antinutrients except flavonoids. The result for the tigernut milk elucidated that processing and sterilization had little effect on the mineral content of tigernut milk. The study also showed that the pre-processing treatment applied (Soaking, boiling and malting) to the tigernut either increased or caused a decline in the mineral content of the tigernut milk, whereas, processing and sterilization affected the antinutrient content of tigernut milk. All processing methods showed a significant difference (p<0.05.) as there was a decrease in the phytate and oxalate content. The study highlighted the possibility of processing tigernut tubers into milk extract that can be bottled and sterilized for a period of time.

The grasshopper arcyptera (Pararcyptera) meridionalis ikonnikov (Insecta, orthoptera) as a possible agricultural pest in temperate Asia

2024-10-04T06:06:20+00:00

The goal of the article is to estimate possible changes of the distribution of Arcyptera meridionalis in the contemporary and potential future climatic conditions. The data were collected during field trips. Two packages to produce the species distribution models, namely MaxEnt and ellipsenm, were used. The generated models predict that the status of A. meridionalis as the important pest will not change significantly in the nearest future, however, in the middle of this century, its distribution patterns will become more complicated. The areas those will be the most suitable for the species will remain mainly in the western and central parts of its range. The harmful activity of A. meridionalis can be especially important due to its early hatching, because hoppers may damage and destroy shoots with first leaves and tillers. The models generated for A. meridionalis look like quite different from the models for other steppe acridids. On the contrary, some resemblance between forecasts for two harmful, but quite different grasshopper species, namely Siberian-Mongolian A. meridionalis and East-Mediterranean A. labiata, are revealed. The models for both species demonstrate some possible significant depletion of the territories with suitable conditions for each one in the second half of the 21^st century.

Agri-food fraud in Africa vis-à-vis global health

2024-11-06T07:32:36+00:00

This paper reports on the extent of agri-food fraud in Africa, its occurrence across the Africa-EU trade borders, and associated implications for global health. It revealed that agri-food fraud in Africa and across Africa-EU trade borders may be a concern. Meanwhile, a few suspected cases have been reported, there may be more unchecked/unnoticed agri-food fraud practices ongoing in Africa requiring food trade border checks and rapid decisions making processes to reduce exposures. Exposure to adulterants can have significant implications for global health, as consumers unknowingly pay for, and consume, products that may be adulterated with substances which constitute a risk factor to one or more unchecked hazards against consumers' health protection. As global trade in agri-food products expands, the supply chain vulnerability to fraudulent activities becomes increasingly evident. This may be worse partly due to the inadequate food safety laws in African countries or poor enforcement. There is a need for food safety regulations in Africa that aim to ensure the safety and authenticity of food products, protect public health, and maintain consumer confidence. Finally, there is a need for rapid detection tools to make quick decisions on the field and agri-food traceability systems.