ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Effect of planting date and poultry manure on flower abortion, yield and post-harvest quality of three tomato varieties in Ghana (f1 kaira, pectomech and pectofake)

The study aimed at evaluation of different planting dates and levels of poultry manure on flower abortion, yield and fruit quality of three tomato varieties. A factorial experiment with Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications was adopted for the field experiment and Complete Block Design for the laboratory experiment. Planting was done at three different dates with two weeks interval. Four different manure levels and three tomato varieties were used. The addition of poultry manure had significant effect on the growth and yield of the three tomato varieties. There were significant differences (p>0.05) between the varieties tested and the different levels of manure. Yield increased significantly with increase in the application of poultry manure with significant differences (p>0.05) between the manure levels. Addition of poultry manure at 2,4,and 6tons/ha increased tomato yield by 28.04, 38.09 and 61.90% for 2, 4 respectively. Other parameters such as branching, number of fruits per plant, girth diameter, plant height, fruit dry matter content, total soluble solids and fruit firmness increased as the amount of poultry manure applied increased. Planting date had significant effect on the number of fruits, flower abortion, plant height and pest and disease infestations. The early sowing date (March 26 th ) showed higher number of branches compared to the late sowing dates but not significantly different (p>0.05). Planting of tomato on the 26 th of March with 6 tons/ ha of poultry manure resulted in the highest fruit yield/ ha. The yield of the tomato decreased with delay in planting date. The cultivars had significant effect on growth as well as quality. This may be due to differences on growth habit of genotypes. Pectofake, the local variety had the highest fruit weight but lowest means for fruit pericarp thickness, firmness, and total soluble solids. Pectofake recorded the best performance compare to F1 Kaira and Pectomech.

Source: KNUST
The effect of pollinators and pollination on fruit set and fruit yields of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench) in the forest region of Ghana.

The indiscriminate application of chemical insecticides on crops has resulted in reduction of the numbers of beneficiary insects which provide pollination services. The reduction in pollination services has led to reduction in crop yields of which okra is no exception. This study investigated the effect of pollinators and pollination on the reproductive performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench). The experimental design used was the randomized complete block design (RCBD) involving three treatments with three replications. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) using the General Linear Module procedure was used to analyze the data. The treatments were control, insecticide application and net covering. The parameters studied were the number of flowers per plant, number of aborted flowers per plant, number fruits per plant, yield per plant, number of seeds per pod and number of honeybee visitation in a day. The results indicated no significant differences (p > 0.05) in number of flowers per plant and number of aborted flowers per plant but significant differences (p < 0.05) were shown in the number of pods harvested per plant, yield per plant and number of seeds per pod. The bee visitation also showed significant differences between treatments. The number of aborted flowers did not show significant difference but very high abortion rates were recorded in all the treatments with figures as 40%, 43% and 51% for control, insecticide and net respectively for the major season and 41%, 41% and 50% in the same order for the minor season. The study indicated that insect pollination helps to improve the yield in okra. I therefore recommend the use of bee hives in future research in order to determine the real potential of insect pollination in the yield of okra.

Source: KNUST
The effect of population growth and energy intensity on electricity consumption in Ghana.

Electricity use has become a necessary and key input and an engine for growth for most economies in the world. In this era of industrialization, the quantity of electricity consumed in a country has been linked closely with economic structure and the level of population growth. This study investigates the effect of population growth and electricity intensity on electricity consumption in Ghana. The study employed two methods to individually assess the impact of population growth and energy intensity on electricity consumption on one hand and the sector effect of electricity intensity on electricity consumption on the other hand. Vector autoregressive (VAR) model was employed to ascertain the impact of Ghana’s growing population and energy intensity on electricity consumption using time series data from 1980 - 2015. Findings of the model reveal that population growth has a positive significant impact on electricity consumption whiles intensity has a significant negative effect on electricity consumption. The decomposition analysis also revealed that intensity impacts negatively on electricity consumption. The study further revealed that activity effect is the major contributor of electricity consumption. The study therefore recommends more rigorous energy conservation policies and that policies on efficient gadget use should be enforced to avoid energy loses. Also, it further recommends that households should be encouraged to use renewable energy as supplement, so as to cut back intensity on the national grid.

Source: KNUST
Effect of post harvest quality management practices on fruit juices of small scale industries in Ghana: a case study of fruit juice producers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Recent negative perception of people about locally produced fruits and vegetables have made the supervisory bodies to monitor the juice producers on the hazards associated with the unconcerned attitude to hygienic processing, packaging and transport of locally produced fruit and vegetable juices. However, little attention has been given to the hygienic handling of processed fruits and vegetables at the processing companies to the final consumer. This study, thus investigated the effect of postharvest quality management practices on fruit juices of small scale industries in Ghana, sought to assess people’s perception, producers handling practices, the challenges as well as to assess the quality of the locally made fruit juice products on the market. A field survey was conducted in Tanoso, Tafo, Bremang, Ejisu, Mampong, Offinso,Obuasi and Konongo of the Ahsanti Region of Ghana. Interviews together with structured questionnaire were used in data collection of 35 employees from seven (7) pineapple and orange juice processing companies and 265 consumers randomly selected from the study areas. Laboratory work was also conducted at the Biochemistry and Biological Science laboratories (KNUST) – Kumasi, Ghana. Quality parameters assessed during the study included pH, Vitamin C, Ash, Total Titratable acidity, Total soluble solids, Total viable count, Yeast and mould and Staphylococcus aureus counts. 40% of consumers indicated that, imported fruit and vegetable juices were better than the locally made ones, 28.66% agreed that imported fruit juices were better whilst 21.01% of the consumers disagreed that imported fruit juices were better. Only a few (28.6%) of the juice producers used sodium hypochlorite to wash fruits, whilst majority (71.4%) did not wash fruits under running with sodium hypochlorite. The chi-square analysis showed that, major challenges like finance, non-existence of cold storage transport vehicles and the use of old processing equipments were significantly higher (P<0.05) within the processing companies. There were significant differences in physico-chemical and microbial parameters of juices from the companies to the markets. The levels of pH, vitamin C, TSS, TTA, Ash as well as microbial loads within the processing companies were significantly different from the codex standard. However, juice from the processing companies 1 and 5 were within the range for consumption from the codex and Ghana standards.

Source: KNUST
Effect of population growth on electricity consumption: evidence from selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

It has been established extensively that the readiness of contemporary, consistent and productive electric power supply constitutes an essential and undeniably important tool for economic development. Diverse studies have sought to ascertain the relationship between population growth and electricity consumption. However, in sub-Saharan African, there are very limited empirical works that have been done to establish the link between population growth and electricity consumption and this has necessitated this study. The study employs the Random Effects model to examine the relationship between population growth and electricity consumption for the period 1980 to 2016. The study finds that population growth has a positive and significant effect on electricity consumption. Specifically, a 1% increase in population increases electricity consumption by 0.52%. Again, the study finds that GDP Per Capita has a positive and statistically significant relationship with electricity consumption. Foreign direct investment has a negative and statistically significant influence on electricity consumption. However, employment to population ratio does not explain electricity consumption as it does not have a statistically significant relationship with electricity consumption. The study recommends that projects aimed at increasing the generation capacity of electricity in Sub-Saharan African should be encouraged and as such clean sources of energy should be harnessed to provide electricity as it would assist in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Source: KNUST
Effect of post-harvest management on cassava production, processing and quality of starch produced during gari-making

Cassava is a major staple food crop characterized by its cultivation, processing and uses. The survey was to study the effect of post-harvest management on cassava production, factors affecting post-harvest management of cassava and quality acceptability of tapioca in different kinds of foods prepared from gari. Data of cassava yield and production were obtained from the District Department of Food and Agriculture and SRID-MoFA. Additional data were obtained by randomly selecting and interviewing 100 each of processors and consumers in 6 study zones of the district. Tapioca and gari were produced from the four common varieties of cassava for the analysis of gari: tapioca ratio and the acceptability of quality of different food kinds prepared from tapioca and gari. The results showed that the collapse of cassava processing factory in the district is causing a continuous decline in the annual cassava production, which can likely result into a localised food crisis in subsequent year(s). However, post-harvest processing of cassava mainly depended on the availability of cassava in the district, many years of experience of processors, acceptability of simple packaging and high consumer preference for ethnic-based products. The quantity of tapioca from starch suspensions, usually discarded during gari processing, is about one-eighth of the weight of gari. The new products (soakings of a mixture of tapioca and gari) have higher quality acceptability than eba from tapioca and/or gari.

Source: KNUST
Effect of post-harvest Aflatoxin contamination reducing activities on groundnut marketing in Northern Region of Ghan

The main objective of this study was to examine the cost of aflatoxin reducing activities on net revenue in groundnut production and marketing in the Northern Region of Ghana. A total of 165 respondents comprising 75 producers, 60 retailers and 30 wholesalers were selected through a multi-stage sampling approach in Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu Nanton and Tolon-Kumbugu Districts for the study. Data for 2012 crop year and trading information from wholesalers and retailers as well as their level of awareness regarding aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts were examined using descriptive statistics. Enterprise budget was used to examine the costs involved in producing quality groundnuts which in effect reduces aflatoxin contamination. A multiple regression model in the log-linear functional form was employed to examine the relationship between the cost of drying, sorting and storage on one hand and net revenue on the other hand. The study revealed that producers’ awareness of aflatoxin contamination and the health effect in animals and humans was higher than the awareness of the traders. Aflatoxin awareness level among retailers was found to depend on educational level and years of experience. From the study groundnut production and marketing are profitable in the Northern region. Although sorting was generally found to reduce the net revenue of producers and traders, the net revenue of retailers in Tamale was higher for sorting their groundnuts than for their counterparts in the other two districts. Results from the regression analysis showed that, the costs of sorting had a significant negative effect on the net revenue obtained by producers. Drying and sorting costs had a negative influence on the net revenue obtained by producers and retailers. However, storage cost had a positive relationship with net revenue received by producers and retailers whiles it had a negative influence on wholesalers net revenue. The study recommends awareness creation especially on the health and economic effects of aflatoxin contamination through public education. Such education and sensitization should also focus on proper pre and post-harvest activities which can reduce contamination and lead to the supply of quality groundnuts. There should also be conscious effort by market actors to segment the groundnut market to allow for premium price to compensate actors for the extra cost incurred in embarking on aflatoxin reducing activities.

Source: KNUST
Effect of postharvest hot water and fungicide application on the severity of crown rot disease and quality of cavendish bananas (Musa spp.)

Crown rot is a serious postharvest disease problem in all banana-producing areas of the world including Ghana. It causes severe losses in fruits shipped over long distances covering 10 days or more in transit. A study was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, KNUST Kumasi to evaluate the effect of hot water, fungicide concentration and time of dipping on crown rot disease, and to assess the banana fruit quality after treatment. Treatments were made up of three (3) levels of water temperature, i.e. water at 45 °C, 40 °C and ambient temperature (28±2 °C); three levels of fungicide concentration — 700 mg/l, 500 mg/i and 0 mg/I with three levels of dip time: 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 30 minutes. The experimental design used was a 3x3x3 Factorial in Complete Randomized Design. Isolations were made from rotted banana crowns obtained from three (3) locations in the Ashanti region over a period of 8 months. In general, those fungi isolated were those previously reported to cause crown rot, with Colletotrichum musae, Botryodzlodia theobromae and Fusarium moniW’orme var subglutinans being the most common. These fungal isolates were used In a pathogenicity test (Koch’s postulates). Mature Cavendish bananas of export quality were inoculated with 7-14 day old spore suspensions of the isolates and dipped in the various treatments. The treated bananas were later assessed for crown rots and fruit quality. Quality attributes measured included pH, Total Titratable Acidity (TTA), Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and Peel Color. Twenty (20) volunteers were used in consumer-oriented tests. Analysis of Variance showed no significant differences (P<0.05) among treatment means for pH; TSS and TTA but there were significant differences (P<O.05) among treatment means for crown rot and peel color. Results indicated that the treatments with higher water temperatures (45 °C) and higher fungicide concentration (700 mg/l) irrespective of dip time were the most effective against crown rot disease development. There were no adverse effects of all treatments on fruit quality, and consumer-oriented tests indicated that all the treated bananas were acceptable.

Source: KNUST
Effect of poultry and inorganic manure (N.P.K 15:15:15) on growth, yield and shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill)

The tomato sector in Ghana has failed to reach its potential in terms of attaining yields comparable to other countries. Soil nutrition plays a major role in determining growth, yield and shelf life of tomato. The research was conducted to assess the effect of poultry and inorganic manure (N.P.K.15:15:15) on the growth, yield and shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculuntum) at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study was conducted on a randomized plot design with three replicates per treatment for poultry manure and N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer applied at different rates. Plots without poultry manure or N.P.K 15:15:15 fertilizer served as control. Data were collected on vegetative growth, yield and shelf life to assess the influence of the various treatments on these parameters. Data were taken using five randomly sampled plants per plot. The data were subjected to a one- way Analysis of variance to determine the differences in growth, yield and shelf life for the various treatments. Least Significant Difference was carried out using MS Excel to determine difference from control and between the treatments (p≤0.05).Higher values were recorded in all parameters measured under poultry manure than N.P.K fertilizer and control treatments, with increase in poultry and N.P.K fertilizer concentrations various parameters also increased. It is recommended that tomato farmers in Ghana apply poultry manure to their farms for them to attain higher yields to promote food security.

Source: KNUST
Effect of Post-Treatment (Composting) Methods of Digestate from Dry Fermentation on Compost Quality

Over the years, the volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) from various communities has been increasing day by day as a result of rapid growth in population and urbanization. This has brought about major sanitation problems in towns and cities in the country. The growing waste quantity and its detrimental effects on humans and their environment has led to the invention of various processes for treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste stream. Dry anaerobic digestion is currently gaining prominence because of its easy application. However, digestate, the by-product of digestion, if not utilized will add up to various waste streams. Composting, which involves the aerobic biological decomposition of organic materials, can be employed to post-treat the digestate to produce a stable humus-like product. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative study of untreated digestate and post-treated digestate from three different methods of post-treatments (composting). To achieve the objective, the physicochemical parameters of the digestate from a dry anaerobic digestion plant at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) were analyzed after which the digestate was post-treated for 58 days with three different methods of composting: vermicomposting, turned windrow composting and co-composting digestate with fresh food waste. Temperature was monitored daily and the physicochemical parameters of the composts produced were analyzed to determine the effects of each of the composting methods on the quality of composts produced. At the end of the study, it was realized that vermicomposting yielded the best quality compost and considered the best method for composting of the digestate, since it had all its physicochemical parameters falling within the standard values required for composts. The co-compost, however, produced the lowest quality compost.

Source: KNUST
The effect of post-merger and acquisition (M&A) integration on customers’ switching behaviour (A case study of Fidelity Bank, Ghana)

The world is in a state of flux, being influenced by the forces of globalization and fast technological changes and as a consequence firms are facing intense competition. To face the challenges and explore the opportunities, firms are going for inorganic growth through various strategic alternatives like mergers and acquisitions (M&As), strategic alliances and joint ventures. Overall, firms go for M&A with high expectations and there is conflicting evidence, both for and against, on impact of M&As on firm performance. In spite of these expectations, mergers and acquisitions have become more often associated with lowered morale, job dissatisfaction, unproductive behaviour, increased turnover and absenteeism, rather than with increased financial performance as expected. The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of Post-M&A integration on Customers’ switching behaviour in the Ghanaian banking industry using Fidelity Bank as a case study. The research employed both descriptive and explanatory research designs. The population for the research comprised customers, management and staff of Fidelity Bank. Fidelity bank has a staff strength of 3000 and an estimated customer base of 600,543. Both purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used. Data sources include primary and secondary. STATA 13 was used for the analysis. The study found a low customer switching behaviour among customers. I also found a positive correlation between customer switching behaviour and post M&A integration. The regression result also indicated showed an R2 of approximately 0.33 indicating that changes in the model can be explained by 33 per cent. The study also found a positive correlation between customer satisfaction and post M&A integration. The study recommends that management of Fidelity should commit more resources to upgrade current accounting software as most respondents disclosed that they received wrong statements especially whenever they used the Bank’s ATM services.

Source: KNUST
Effect of Probiotic (RE3) supplement on growth performance, diarrhea incidence and blood parameters of N’dama calves

A sixteen week trial was conducted at the Research Farm (Technology Village) of the Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast. This study sought to investigate the effects of Probiotic (RE3) products on growth performance, diarrhea incidence and blood parameters of N’dama calves. Sixteen N’dama calves of an average initial weight of 44.2 kg were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments according to their body weight, age and sex (T1- Control (No RE3 supplementation, T2- 0.03 ml RE3 per kg body weight, T3- 0.06 ml RE3 per kg body weight and T4- 0.09 ml RE3 per kg body weight) in a Completely Randomize Design (CRD) and there were 3 replicates per treatment. The calves were allowed access to feed and water ad libitum. The body weight of the calves was recorded with a weighing balance at the start of the experiment and thereafter regularly at two weeks interval. Weighing was done early morning before the calves are allowed to access feed and water and were also observed in their pens for occurrence of diarrhea and faecal scores recorded. Blood samples were obtained from each calf at the end of the study through jugular vein puncture. Supplementation of RE3 to calves had showed a beneficial effect by reducing the incidence of diarrhea. The highest faecal score was recorded in T1 and the least faecal score was recorded in T3. There were significant difference in the faecal score between the treatment group and the control after two weeks of the experiment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the average daily gain of the animals (P>0.05). Hematological and biochemical indices of calves were all within the normal range except in treatments (1, 3 and 4) which recorded high WBC count with no significant difference (P>0.05).

Source: KNUST