No abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensory profile and acceptability of six types of fufu (a fermented cassava product) produced by different processes using sensory evaluation and consumer acceptability testing. Fufu samples were selected to evaluate the acceptability of dried fufu flours, which are increasingly being consumed, and compare with a traditional paste and a newly developed paste that produces less environmental waste. Descriptive sensory profiles of the selected samples demonstrated distinct differences in sensory profiles. They were evaluated for consumer acceptance at three demographic locations; Lagos (n = 91), Ibadan (n = 121) and Abeokuta (n = 99), Nigeria. Fufu made from a paste that produced less environmental waste had the highest acceptance scores, followed by flour and paste made by the traditional method and finally the remaining flours. Average consumer liking between the three locations did not differ. Three distinct consumer segments were identified and the number of consumers in these segments differed between the locations. Consumers differentiated fufu made from pastes and from flour. Internal preference mapping indicated that consumers associated the flours with sensory attributes such as sticky texture and raw cassava odour, while pastes were associated with soft texture, and shiny and creamy appearance. Fufu acceptance varies widely among consumers and is related to preferences for distinct fufu flavour profiles. Correlations between consumer acceptance scores and sensory scores appeared to be non-linear for many attributes but a larger sample size of fufu samples would be necessary to confirm this. The implications of these finding are discussed.

No abstract

Recent developments of widely reported incidents of dangerous levels of pesticides in food, fertilizer contamination of ground water and the occurrence of livestock diseases attributable to the production methods of large scale agriculture has stimulated the demand for organic food. Food safety is also gaining prominence in developing countries. This study was carried out to determine consumer awareness of organic vegetables and the determinants of willingness to pay a premium for the vegetables in south west Nigeria. The choice of the study area was premised on the fact that it is the most exposed to the organic agriculture movement in Nigeria. Primary data was collected with the aid of structured questionnaire. One hundred and fifty-two (152) copies of the questionnaire were found suitable for analysis. Most of the respondents were literate (100%) married (90.8%) men (65.8%), between 30 and 59 years old. The result shows that majority (88.8%) of the respondents indicated that they had a prior knowledge of, had seen (72.4%) and had eaten (61.8%) organic vegetables before. The respondents' willingness to pay a premium for organic vegetables and the factors affecting this decision were investigated using a dichotomous response model (logit). In the model, willingness to pay was specified as 1 if willing and 0 otherwise. The results of the restricted model shows that the ethnic background of the respondents and the perception that organic vegetables are not harmful influences their willingness to pay a premium price for organic vegetables. Respondents' age, work experience and household size significantly explains the perception that organic vegetables are healthier than conventional, Similarly, age, ethnicity, work experience, religion and household size equally explains respondents' impression that organic vegetables are costlier while the variable tastier was significantly explained by age and household income. There are strong indications of a ready market in Abeokuta, South west Nigeria in the event of extensive cultivation of organic vegetables.

This study examines the determinants of revenue of homestead fish production in Ogun State, Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, budgetary and regression models were the tools employed for the analysis of data obtained from 72 fish farmers. Most of the farmers are within the economically active age bracket, having a mean household size of 6 with high level of educational status. Farmers in the study area practiced mono-culture and poly-culture fish farming. Sole clarias enterprise recorded the lowest net farm income while Tilapia/heteroclarias enterprise has the highest net farm income. The quadratic functional form is chosen as the lead equation. The pond size, quantity of fish seeds stocked other significant, determinants of the revenue that accrue to homestead fish production in Ogun state, Nigeria. This study therefore suggests that policy variables such as pond size, labour and fingerlings that influence the aquaculture revenue should be strengthened for sustainable fish production to be attained in Ogun State and in Nigeria.