No abstract

Drying is one of the traditional means of preserving food. However, various drying methods can influence the nutritional and bioactive constituents of the food product. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of different drying methods on the proximate composition, physicochemical properties, and minor constituents of palm oil fruit mesocarp. Two varieties of fresh oil palm fruit (dura and tenera) were processed to separate the mesocarp from the other part of the fruit. The fresh fruit mesocarp was divided into five groups and subjected to different drying methods. Proximate and physicochemical characteristics of the oil palm fruit mesocarp were determined. The dried mesocarp had low moisture content (1.49-3.28%), high crude fat content (78.10-90.60%), carbohydrate (4.41-15.12%), crude protein (0.93-3.40%), and ash (0.53-1.15%). The free fatty acid (FFA) (1.06-3.54) and acid value (AV) (2.17 to 8.83 mgKOH/g) were lower because the samples were heated at 100°C for 30 min. The lower pH, FFA, AV, titratable acidity, moisture content, and high antioxidant activity of the oil palm fruit products could be an indication of shelf stability against microbial contamination and rancidity.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana has recorded a total of 130, 727 confirmed cases with 1,207 deaths at the time of writing this article. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant influence on nations and regions all around the world since it started and Ghana is no exception. This systematic review discusses COVID-19 measures in Ghana, the impact of COVID-19 on the import and export of Agricultural inputs and food, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on local food system actors. In the second part, measures to prevent food insecurity in Ghana during the outbreak of the pandemic, emerging lessons, and building resilience have also been presented. In several production regions, the Ghanaian food system experienced disturbances that resulted in reduced output due to limited labor mobility; nevertheless, these disruptions were minor and did not appear to have a significant impact on production. The COVID-19 epidemic has disrupted food supplies, putting billions of people's food security in jeopardy. According to some estimates, global hunger might treble as a result of food supply disruptions, especially in poor countries around the world. Ghana's economy is beginning to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in order to maintain this recovery, the government will need to continue to support both the productive and vulnerable sectors of the economy. Finally, there has never been a better time to eat more of what we grow and to grow more of what we eat than right now.

Traditional leafy vegetables have been noted to supply abundant amounts of minerals and to some extent calories and proteins which are vital to the alleviation of problems of malnutrition in developing countries. An experiment was conducted to study the effects of three different rates of application of cattle dung on growth parameters, proximate and mineral composition, weight loss and shelf life of Amaranthus cruentus and Corchorus olitorius. The treatments were cattle dung manure at rates of 0, 0.5. 0.8 and 1.1 t/ha. Application of 1.1 t/ha in Amaranthus cruentus resulted in the highest plant height on the 20th day after transplanting. The 0.8 t/ha rate of application gave the highest number of leaves and shoots of Amaranthus cruentus. Higher rates of application produced bigger stem girths which varied significantly from those without manure application. On the effects of the different rates of application on Corchorus olitorius, the results showed that, generally, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) from those without manure application. Increased rates of application resulted in a decline in the growth parameters. The results on shelf life for both Amaranthus cruentus and Corchorus olitorius showed that both wilted and dried on the 24th hour and 48th hour after harvesting respectively. In conclusion, the study showed that increased application of cattle dung produced positive outcomes on the growth parameters of Amaranthus cruentus.