Browsing by Author "Bani, R.J."
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Item Availabilty of energy and agricultural mechanization in Ghana(Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 2008) Josiah, M.N.; Bani, R.J.; Mahama, A.A.A variety of definitions have been postulated for food security. The bottom line, however, is the availability of food of good quality at an affordable cost to all and at all times. Many approaches have been adopted to achieve an increase in the availability of food. These include among others increased use of mechanization to expand area under cultivation. Many developing countries have adopted agricultural mechanization to modernize and speed up the process of agricultural land expansion. The available land in Ghana that is suitable for mechanization is put at 8 million hectares for which an estimated energy input of 6 × 106 kW is required. Of this amount only 3.1% is available. Analysis have shown that out of the 1.6 million hectares of land currently under mechanized cultivation the required energy input is 12 × 105 kW out of which only 15.6% is available. This shows a wide gap between the energy required and what is available to meet the objectives of agricultural mechanization.Item Effect of processing equipment and duration of storage of palm fruits on palm oil yield and quality in the Kwaebibrem District, Ghana(Wudpecker Research Journals, 2012-02) Zu, A.K.S.; Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Bani, R.J.We carried out a study in the Kwaebibrim District in the Eastern Region of Ghana to investigate the type of processing equipment and processing practices being used among small scale palm oil processors and their effects on yield and quality of crude palm oil produced. Questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and participant observations were used to collect data on the processing equipment and practices being used by the small-scale processors. The major processing practice identified to have a major effect on quality of processed palm oil was duration of storage of palm fruits before processing. Three categories of processing equipment were identified; digester screw press, digester with separate screw press and digester with separate hydraulic press. These three equipment were used to process palm fruits stored for 6 and 15 days after harvest to determine their effect on oil extraction rate and oil quality. The digester screw press had the highest extraction rate and oil yield of 13.5 and 25.5% respectively while the digester with separate screw press had the lowest extraction rate and oil yield of 11.7 and 22.1% respectively. The two durations of storage of palm fruits before processing however did not have any significant effect on the extraction rate. However, both the processing equipment and storage durations had significant (P<0.05) effect on the resultant quality of crude palm oil processed. The study suggests the need to avoid storing palm fruits before processing in order to produce high quality crude palm oil.Item Loss assessment in the production of gari from cassava (Manihot esculenta)(Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 2007-04) Akosua, A.; Bani, R.J.This paper reports the results of experiments carried out to establish losses that occur at the different stages in the processing of cassava into gari at both local and improved technology centres. An average loss of 6.1% occurred during cassava processing into gari at the peeling stage for local and 4.7% at improved technology centres. The grating process recorded average losses of 5.9% at both local and improved technology centers. The losses at the dewatering stage ranges from 3.0% for local and 5.6% for improved technology centres. The sifting process recorded losses of 4.3 and 5.4% for local and improved technology centres respectively. The total average loss in cassava processing into gari for local centres was 19.3% while that for improved technology centres 21.5%. A garification rate of 0.32 and 0.33 was established for local and improved technology centres respectively.Item The market factor in the processing of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Ghana(Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 2007-07) Aggey, M.; Amoah, Y.; Bani, R.J.Local industrial tomato processing in Ghana remains insignificant in the mist of perennial tomato glut in the Upper East region of Ghana. A basis for processing decision making has been provided using exploratory research techniques to review tomato consumption, market segmentation and structure, production surpluses, prices and buying process of fresh and paste tomato. Fresh tomato surplus projects at 23,000 to 118,000 t p a (2000-2007) though actual glut period is short, occurring from February to March when 92 percent of farmers harvest, and traders use hedging tactics to avoid tomato spoiling on their hand. With the short glut period, large-scale processing requires planning and investment in semi-processed or cold storage facility, integrated project with cultivation of tomato variety suitable for harsh lean season climatic conditions and production staggering to prolong harvesting. Projected paste from surplus produce exceeds catchments area market, yet access is in competition with established brands such as Salsa, La bianca, Bonito, Tomaroma and Obaapa. Processing could target a paste market of 2,000-3,0001, requiring 16,470 t fresh tomato, at a processing capacity of 2.3 t per hour, 24 hour-day and for 300 days p a, with plans for future expansion. This study was conducted in the last quarter of 2002.Item Postharvest losses of tomatoes in transit(AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 2006-03) Bani, R.J.; Josiah, M.N.; Kra, E.Y.Tomatoes are highly perishable and very susceptible to mechanical damage with poor handling and transportation. This study was conducted with the primary objective of establishing the current practices of handling and transportation of tomatoes from a main producing area, Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region of Ghana, to a main marketing center, Accra, 815 kilometers away. The primary method was to interview the producers, tomato merchants and sellers in the market with the help of a prepared questionnaire. Observations were made on the journey from Bolgatanga to Accra. An assessment of losses along the route was found to be 20%.Item Prediction of surface area of garden egg (Solanum Aethiopicum L) from weight measurements(AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 2009-09) Bani, R.J.; Kra, E.Y.; Amoah, J.; Aggey, M.Estimation of surface area of various agricultural produce can have a wide range of applications for both producers and processors. The methods available are tedious and in certain cases destructives Studies have been conducted with respect to predicting the surface area of some fruits and vegetables such as apples and tomatoes. Very few, if any, similar attempts have been made to estimate the surface area of indigenous African crops. The objective of this study was to develop a model that will predict the surface area of the garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum L) from weight measurements. It is easier to measure the weight of the garden egg than to measure its surface area. Weight and surface area measurements of each garden egg were used to develop equations to predict fruit surface area (cm2) from the raw weight. The linearregression model developed showed strong correlation between surface area and weight measurement and can be used to estimate the surface area of garden egg. For a garden egg weighting 47.4 gm, the model predicts its surface area between 96.3 and 118.5 mm2 with 95 % confidence.Item Prediction of volume, weight and surface area of banana (Musa acuminata) using picture image analysis(Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 2012-07) Dorvlo, S.Y.; Bani, R.J.; Sinayobe, E.The design of processing equipments, materials and processes for the handling of crops require data of the physical properties of the crops such as weight, volume and surface area. Obtaining these data can be very tedious and destructive to the samples being used. This research aims at a non- destructive, fast, but accurate and easy way of finding volume, weight, and surface area of a crop from its picture image. Banana (Musa acuminata) was used for the study and the mean weight, volume, surface area, plan area, and plan perimeter were 142.07±23.48 g, 158.90±33.14 cm3, 171.25±22.32 cm2, 79.34±10.45 cm2 and 47.41±3.72 cm, respectively. The values obtained were correlated, using plan area and perimeter as the independent variables and weight, volume and surface area as the dependent variables. The prediction equations obtained using plan area measurements are Weight (g) = 1.866×plan area (cm2) - 5.9649; Volume (cm3) = 1.8518×plan area (cm2) - 11.978; Surface area (cm2) = 1.5568×plan area (cm2) - 47.737. These prediction equations offer better prediction values than perimeter, but of these equations only the prediction equation for weight can be used with an appreciable r-squared value of 68.89%. Therefore, this equation can be used by designers after obtaining a picture image of the banana.Item Survey of waste management practices in cassava processing to gari in selected districts of Ghana(Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 2007) Sackey, I.S.; Bani, R.J.In the processing of cassava into gari, a significant amount of waste is generated. These include peels, fibrous materials, liquor and waste water. A lot of studies have been conducted with the objective to reduce drudgery and improve yields. These studies to introduce improved technology for gari processing often do not have a component for waste management. A survey was conducted in the selected areas to obtain information from gari producers on current waste management practices. The survey showed that the wastes generated were the cassava peels, fibrous material, chaff, wash water and liquor. The management of these wastes has been described with the aid of pictures.