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Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the efficacy of the long-term controlled atmosphere storage of brown cowpeas under nitrogen in Kano, Nigeria, where hot dry weather prevails, typical for a semi-arid zone. The 30-month storage trial consisted of the application of nitrogen in an experimental 0.65 m3 mini-silo containing half a tonne of the commodity. The storage in nitrogen completely suppressed insect infestation, and grain quality was maintained during the period. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the population of insects in the cowpea stored under nitrogen, and the control. The initial insect population of 15 adults of C. maculatus, and one adult of T. castenium per kg of cowpea died after 12 months of storage under nitrogen. They however, increased in the control to 1288, and 54 adults per kg respectively before their eventual death. Free fatty acid contents increased from 2.60% to 6.51% under nitrogen, but increased rapidly to 58.60% in the control cowpea. This was attributed to the action of insect activities, mould infection and water activities in the control cowpeas. Viability dropped slightly from 89.75% to 72.84% in nitrogen, but dropped rapidly to 0.00% in the control. The palatability of cowpea did not change adversely in nitrogen, whereas it became very poor in the air-stored commodity. The germinability of cowpea seeds stored in the inert atmosphere silos was maintained above 85% after 12 months of storage, which shows that the technology is effective for seeds storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to study temperature fluctuation inside the inert atmosphere silos loaded with wheat, compare the temperature fluctuation across the top, middle and bottom part of the silo in relation to the ambient temperature. Temperature readings of the ambient and at the top, middle and bottom part of the two silos for twenty-eight (28) months of storage were recorded in order to monitor temperature fluctuation at different sections inside the inert atmosphere silos loaded with two varieties of wheat namely LACRIWHT-2 (Cettia) and LACRIWHT-4 (Atilla-Gan-Atilla) from Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software was used to run analysis of variance and t-Test on the data. The findings revealed that there is significant difference in the mean temperature at different position or sections of the silos and as well between the two silos. The mean temperatures at the top, middle and the bottom of the inert atmosphere silos were approximately 29.35 °C, 28.19 °C and 26.51 °C respectively. Temperatures decreases from the top of grain bulk towards the floor of the inert atmosphere silos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigeria, packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables especially tomatoes is mostly done using traditional woven baskets from palm fronds. There is a belief that the introduction of reusable plastic crates (RPC) may take away the source of livelihood of basket makers and sellers who are majorly domiciled in the southeastern zone of Nigeria. The study assessed the potential socio-economic impact of replacing baskets with plastic crates for fresh tomato transportation on the livelihoods of basket makers in southeast Nigeria. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires. Overall, 430 basket makers were drawn from 16 basket production villages in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu states of the southeast. The primary source of income for the majority of the respondents (90.6%) was basket making, with other sources of income being mostly trading (21.3%) and farming (18.6%). About 28.9% of the respondents' income was between N11,000 and N20,000, while 34.7% were earning less thanN10,00 and 36.4% earning above N20,000. As many as 76.7% were willing to diversify into other businesses, particularly trading (37.3%), provision selling (16%) and skilled work (10.6%). The major challenges identified in diversifying were shortage of capital (96.3%) and a lack of prerequisite skills (3.7%). These challenges could be resolved by government intervention (47.8%), provision of financial aid, (39.2%); new jobs (2.2%) and loans (3.2%). Alternative income-generating activities include opening a provision store, food selling, rearing of animals/animal husbandry, trading in automobile spare parts, fruit selling, meat selling, bakery and confectionary. The perceived impacts of replacing baskets with RPCs were joblessness, increased poverty, crime and prostitution, rural urban drift and a dwindling economy. It is thus recommended that plastic crate introduction should be gradual and systematic and basket makers should be properly sensitized and informed. Government and nongovernmental organizations should assist basket makers in mitigating the potential impact of replacing baskets with RPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]