This research work examined the use of calcium carbide as ripening agent for banana and plantain in major markets within Ilorin metropolis. Open ended/structured questionnaires were administered to banana/plantain handlers in six different markets, afterward samples of ripe banana and plantain were also collected from different points in each market at the same time for physicochemical and mineral analyses. Results showed that a total of 85 respondents returned their questionnaires from all the markets; of which majority were female (99 percent), 89 percent of them were married, only 35 percent had formal education, 94 percent of them do store their plantain/banana, 83 percent were aware of the use of calcium carbide in ripening of plantain/banana but only 1 percent admitted using it. Comparing with the control samples, the physicochemical and mineral analyses showed that there were reduced moisture and vitamin C contents with increased values of arsenic and phosphorus being recovered from banana and plantain samples. Many authors had associated induced ripening with the use of ripening agent such as calcium carbide with reduced moisture and vitamin C contents with elevated values of arsenic and phosphorus in ripe fruits which had many health risks. Samples of banana and plantain collected from Ilorin markets were probably forced ripen with artificial ripening agents. The needs for constant education of the public especially fruits handlers on the health implications of the use of calcium carbide as ripening agent cannot be overemphasized.

Performance of different cover materials on improving Cavendish banana quality was examined during winter and summer. The banana bunch was covered with a thin nonwoven innermost layer, followed by cover materials arranged from inner to outer as follows. (1) Control (commercial cover), paper/polystyrene sheet (PS)/non-perforated blue polyethylene (NPPE), (2) nonwoven (NW)/NPPE, (3) waterproof nonwoven (WPNW), (4) aluminum foil (ALF), and (5) WPNW + ALF. For the summer trial, control without PS layer was applied. Material properties including thickness, light transmissivity and heat energy (Qx) were evaluated. Results showed that Qx values transferred through PS sheet, NW, WPNW and ALF were not significantly different. ALF exhibited the lowest light transmissivity, associated with the highest fruit lightness (L*) and lowest fruit weight. For the winter trial, all cover materials exhibited chilling injury on fruit caused by temperatures below 10 °C. For the summer trial, five treatments prevented sunburn defect. Under field air temperature of 47.5 °C, ALF exhibited the lowest temperature (31.6 °C). All cover materials reduced hand and fruit sizes, whereas WPNW resulted in an increase in total soluble solids and prevented fading of the green peel color. Results suggested that WPNW, with reduced layers as environmentally friendly and reusable materials, had potential as a cover material to improve the quality of Cavendish banana.