This study aimed to establish the quality characteristics of raw and boiled yam by involving stakeholders along the food chain using a methodology that includes a state of knowledge review, focus group discussion and individual interviews, participatory processing diagnosis with processors and consumer testing. Predictive characteristics of yam for producing a high-and low-quality boiled yam were related to morphological or physicochemical characteristics: peeled yam discoloration and mucilage content being negatively appreciated while the ease of peeling, viscous state of cooking water and the ease of breaking yam into pieces positively valued. High-quality boiled yam should be white or yellowish, sticky to the fingers, nonfibrous, easy to chew, crumbly/friable, with a sweet taste and a good smell. The overall liking of boiled yam is greatly penalised by a too dark colour, hard to the touch, no sweet taste and no friability while eating.
In previous work successful trapping of the legume podborer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was accomplished using a synthetic pheromone blend consisting of ( E , E )-10,12-hexadecadienal, ( E , E )-10,12-hexadecadienol, and ( E )-10-hexadecenal in a 100 : 5 : 5 ratio. In the present work, experiments were conducted in cowpea fields in Benin to compare different trap designs, and other aspects of the lures. A water-trap made from a plastic jerry-can was found to be superior to commercial funnel-and sticky-trap designs, and 120 cm was the optimum height for captures. Generally, lures consisted of polyethylene vials containing 0.1 mg of pheromone. Results showed that shielding the lures from the adverse effects of sunlight with aluminium foil did not increase trap catches of M. vitrata . The degree of isomeric purity of the ( E , E )-10,12-hexadecadienal and ( E , E )-10,12-hexadecadienol blend components, in the range 73-99%, had no significant effect on captures, while lures of 80% isomeric purity showed no loss of effectiveness for up to 4 weeks. Similar results were observed with lures from a commercial source containing 0.46 mg of pheromone in the blend ratio 100 : 11 : 6 and 95% isomeric purity. Residue analysis showed that vial lures exposed for 2 weeks in the field still contained 73% of the initial amount of ( E , E )-10,12-hexadecadienal, compared to rubber septa dispensers, which only retained 22%. Females comprised 11-50% of total catches, confirming earlier, unexpected results for synthetic lures. The observations that effective traps can be made from locally available plastic containers, and that pheromone blend composition and purity are not critical, should reduce costs and improve the feasibility of traps as practical monitoring tools for M. vitrata .
The legume podborer, Maruca vitrata (syn. M. testulalis) (F.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pantropical pest of legume crops. Sex pheromone was collected by gland extraction or trapping of volatiles from virgin female moths originating in India, West Africa, or Taiwan. Analysis by GC-EAG and GC-MS confirmed previously published findings that (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal is the most abundant EAG-active component with 2-5% of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol also present. At least one other EAG response was detected at retention times typical of monounsaturated hexadecenals or tetradecenyl acetates, but neither could be detected by GC-MS. Laboratory wind-tunnel bioassays and a field bioassay of blends of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal with (E,E )-10,12-hexadecadienol and a range of monounsaturated hexadecenal and tetradecenyl acetate isomers indicated greatest attraction of males was to those including (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol and (E)-10-hexadecenal as minor components. In subsequent trapping experiments in cowpea fields in Benin, traps baited with a three-component blend of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal and these two minor components in a 100:5:5 ratio caught significantly more males than traps baited with the major component alone, either two-component blend, or virgin female moths. Further blend optimization experiments did not produce a more attractive blend. No significant differences in catches were found between traps baited with polyethylene vials or rubber septa, or between lures containing 0.01 and 0.1 mg of synthetic pheromone. Significant numbers of female M. vitrata moths, up to 50% of total catches, were trapped with synthetic blends but not with virgin females. At present there is no clear explanation for this almost unprecedented finding, but the phenomenon may improve the predictive power of traps for population monitoring.
This present study analyses gender and governance in the rice and vegetable-based value chain systems in 3 lowlands of southern Benin and 2 lowlands in Southern Mali. A sample of 243 farmers, 1 modern processing unit, 18 traditional processors, 76 traders and 8 national institutions were interviewed in Benin and Mali. Descriptive statistics and Harvard analytical framework were used for the analysis of governance and gender respectively in the value chains. The majority of farmers have access to the use of land. Women produce up to 80% of basic foods for household consumption and sale. However they don't have the control of these resources (capital and land). Decision making in relation to resources (land, water labor, credit) is under the control of men and natives. The governance analysis showed that the products of lowlands are not subject to quality control, with no public inspection for health and product quality. There is no input subsidy for actors in both countries. There are informal contracts between actors of the rice based systems in Mali and Benin. The markets are open for all the products and credit systems do exist. Some structures are involved in upstream and downstream chain components for training in various activities.
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