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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science December 2018 | Vol. 13 No.
12 |
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Title: |
Effect of three types of
plastic packaging material on the preservation of
physicochemical and organoleptic quality of plantain banana
chips (Musa spp) |
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Author (s): |
Koné Kisselmina Y., Cissé
Moctar, Cissé Ibrahima, Soro Doudjo, Gnimpieba Zohim E.,
Assidjo Nogbou E. and Laguerre Jean-Claude |
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Abstract: |
Packaging plays a major role
when choosing the food product. In this study, the impact of
plastic packaging, of various materials, on the chemical and
organoleptic quality of plantain chips has been realized in
order to propose a better choice for marketing. Three types
of plastic packaging material (PE, PP and PET) were used to
preserve, over seven weeks, plantain chips from cultivar
Corne. Investigation of monitoring of chemical (water
content and peroxide index) and organoleptic (color,
crustiness, aftertaste, taste of rancidity, odor and general
evaluation) parameters evolution was carried out. The
results indicate that the most suitable plastic packaging
materials for the preservation of banana chips are
respectively those in high density polyethylene (HDPE), in
polypropylene (PP2: in bag form) and in low density
polyethylene (LDPE1: 60 μm), in view of experimental and
statistical analyzes carried out. |
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Title: |
An investigation of current
status of agricultural mechanization services in Iraq and
future suggestions |
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Author (s): |
Zuhal Rdhaiwi Kadhim |
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Abstract: |
The use of mechanization in
different agricultural production processes lead to
occurrence of latent changes in agriculture like quantity
increase and quality of farm products, decrease of
production costs and increase of cultivated areas. The
agricultural mechanization services in Iraq have notably
improved since the 1960s, and this can mainly account for
the rise in agricultural production and productivity
nationwide. However, the investment of Iraqi government in
aspect of agricultural mechanization did not play its role
required in increasing the farming areas and development the
production and productivity levels of different agricultural
crops. This investigation tries to identify the current
status of agricultural mechanization services and view the
important obstacles that led to non-expand the agricultural
mechanization services in Iraq. The economic analysis based
on descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and
measure of annual growth rates by estimating the
half-logarithmic regression equation. Results indicated that
the agricultural mechanization for cereal crops production
has been the most impressive to use in Iraq. Northern
provinces of the country are the highest mechanized region
during 2015 year. The largest percentage of tractors,
irrigation sprayers and water pumps services was
concentrated in Salahaddin province by 14.71%, 44.47% and
19% respectively, while the biggest percentage of
harvester’s services was focused in Nineveh province by
31.63%. Usage rates of agricultural tractors and harvesters
of cereal crops areas have increased during the study period
compared with standard needs; on an average there are 52
hectares per one tractor and 601 hectares per one harvester.
Out of four main agricultural mechanization services in
Iraq, the agricultural water pumps service occupies the
first rank with ratio 91% to be provided by local markets
followed by agricultural tractors service (86%),
agricultural harvesters service (82%), and agricultural
irrigation sprayers service (46%). Currently there are two
types of utilizing agricultural machinery: as an owner (30%)
or through custom hiring service (70%). Results also
indicated that there is decreasing in agricultural
mechanization services (tractors and harvesters) in Iraq.
Annual growth rate of tractors services is negative and it
becomes 0.7% for period (2000-2017). Similarly, the annual
growth rate of harvester’s services is negative and it
becomes 0.1% for the same period. The failure in managing
the agricultural machineries and lack of scientific studies
related to the agricultural mechanization in Iraq are
considered the more important reasons of this result. Lack
of labor and necessity to lower cost of production in Iraqi
agriculture make agricultural mechanization services a
predictable solution in the present agricultural
countryside. In light of this result, some future
suggestions are formulated to develop the current status of
the agricultural mechanization in Iraq. It is expected that
the use of agricultural machinery services will increase in
coming years if the Iraqi government takes the greater
responsibility to achieve these suggestions. |
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