Modern Tehnologies Of Fruit Preservation/ Distribution In Nigeria
(A Case Study Of Akwa Ibom State)
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background Of The Study
Conservation and preservation of fruit is a prerequisite for food security and it provides economic stability and self-reliance to a nation. The need to preserve fruit has been felt by mankind since time immemorial, the seasonal nature of production, long distance between production and consumption centres and the rising gap between demand and supply have made the need to preserve fruit even more relevant (Cook 1998).
Leistner (2007) further explain that the hot and humid climate of a country creates a favourable environment for the growth of insect and microorganism that destroyed stored fruit, and cause fruit spoilage. Fruit spoilage can also be cause due to chemical and biological change in stored fruit; these fruit may carry harmful microbes and parasitic organism that cause illness to consumer (Olata 2007). Some fruit preservation techniques such as pickings and fermentation techniques which were practice by people has now been replace with a less energy consuming techniques such as refrigeration, irradiation, canning, modified atmosphere, waxing, curring and quarantine treatment. Each of these techniques has its merit and demerits respectively.
Fruit preservation is the process of treating and handling fruit in such a way that is value is preserved, the main reason for this is to greatly reduce or slow down spoilage to prevent fruit borne illness while maintaining or creating nutritive value of the fruit (Holdsworth 2006). In addition, Potter and Hotchiks 2007) pointed that preservation involve preventing the growth of bacterial, fungi, and other microorganism as well as retarding the oxidation of fat which cause rancidity. Furthermore, it includes the process that inhabit natural ageing and decolonization that can occur during preservation.
Paleg (2005) asserted that to preserve fruit from detoriating through the action of bacterial, fruit can be preserve using modern technologies such as dehydration which is the scientific removal of moisture in the fruit leaving a stable food that has a moisture content below that which microorganism can grow. Thermal process is another modern technology of fruit presentation and it entails the use of heat to destroy spoilage organism and to inactive troublesome enzymes that are responsible for browning, softening and development of off-flavour. Chemical preservation as one of the modern technology of fruit preservation it involve the use of chemicals to preserve fruit, and example of the later method is yeast fermentation which can cause an increase in ethyl alcohol sufficient to preserve the fruit product.
Bentlay (2007) added that irradiation method is more effective and it involve the process of exposing fruit ionsing radiation in order to destroy micro-organism, bacterial, virus or insect that are present in the fruit. Refrigeration is seen as the process of preserving fruit in a temperature that does not favour the growth of micro-organism in a refrigerator, refrigeration of fruit can halt the growth certain pathogen and spoilage micro-organism but will not eliminate them. Canning is another method of fruit preservation in which the fruit is processed and sealed in an airtight container.
Canning involves cooking fruit, sealing them in sterile container, can or jar and boiling the container to kill any remaining bacterial as a form of pasteurization. In AkwaIbomState various technologies has be adopted for fruit preservation. These technologies significantly increase yield due to government drive for food sustainability and security has resulted in surplus, large amount of fruit can be available for human consumption all year round if adequate preservation techniques are adopted.
Adoption of modern technologies in fruit preservation is related to the way fruit farmers and fruit vendors receive and practice the technologies introduce to them. Important factors in such are the difficulty inherent in using these technologies, the consistency or how adoptable the technology is to the fruit and vendor; analysis has shown that extension contact and mass exposure related to adoption of modern technologies in fruit preservation.
A fruit grower (farmer) who wants to sell or distribute his/her fruit should know the various distributing agencies nearer to his localities aside from the market in his/her fruit community. If he/she cannot sell directly from his/her Orchard through a direct buyer. He can sell through a middle man. Fellows (2005) asserted that the process of distributing the harvested fruit may be done through the retailer which may be fruit vendor, or fruit stand owner, brokers which are agent between buyers and sellers. Fruit can also be distributed through cooperate agencies, co-operative agency are group run by a group of people belonging to the same community of farmer. Researcher has keenly observe that government of AkwaIbom State through the ministry of Agriculture and other agencies have put in much effort to improve fruit production in the state by providing fertilizer, seeds and other services to farmers, despite the effort, fruit production is not still enough for the masses in the state.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
The need to preserve fruit has been felt by man, fruit is vital for human existence, the seasonal nature of production, long distance production and consumption centres and the rising gap between demand and supply have made the need for fruit preservation even more important today.
In AkwaIbom State, fruit spoilage has been attributes to ineffective adoption of fruit preservation techniques and these has resulted in fruit shortage which in turns give rise to unavailability of fruit and malnutrition for the people with low income. Price of fruit keep fluctuating due to the fact that some fruit abounds in their season and may even be in surplus but when out of season the become very scarce and expensive.
This study intend to investigate the level of awareness, adoption and influence of the various modern technologies such as dehydration, thermal process, chemical preservation, irradiation, refrigeration, and canning in fruit preservation and distribution in AkwaIbom State.
1.3 Purpose Of The Study
This study is carried out to
1. Determine the level of awareness of the modern technologies of fruit preservation by fruit farmers and fruit vendors.
2. Assess the level of adoption of modern technologies in fruit preservation byfruit farmers and fruit vendors in AkwaIbom State.
3. Examine the influence of adoption of modern technologies in fruit preservation/distribution in AkwaIbom State.
1.4 Research Questions
What are the levels of awareness of modern technologies by fruit farmers and fruit vendors in AkwaIbomState.
What are the levels of adoption of modern technologies by fruit farmers and fruit vendors in AkwaIbomstate?
What are the influences of adoption of modern technologies of fruit preservation by fruit farmers and fruit vendors on fruit preservation and distribution in AkwaIbomstate?
1.5 Hypothesis
Derive from the purpose of the study and research questions above, the following null hypothesis were formulated.
There is no significant level of awareness of modern technologies of fruit preservation among fruit farmer and fruit vendors in AkwanIbom state
There is no significant level of adoption of modern technologies of fruit preservation by fruit farmers and fruit vendors in AkwaIbom state
There is no significant influence of adoption of modern technologies of fruit preservation by farmers and fruit vendors in AkwaIbomState.
1.6 Significance Of The Study
The study will be of great benefits to virtually every fruit farmers, fruit vendor, fruit juice production companies and every citizen of AkwaIbom state because everyone is bound to be associated with fruit preservation whether directly or indirectly since fruit is one of the basic nutritional need in human’s health.
Specifically fruit vendors will benefit from this study because the aim is to enlighten and update their knowledge on how to adopt and preserve their scientifically using various modern technologies to avoid incurring losses due to fruit spoilage, fruit farmer will also benefit from this study because the will gain knowledge on how to preserve their fruit for profit maximization and to enable the, have lift for the next planting season. Moreover super market, restaurant and fruit juice producing companies will also benefit from this study because the will be enlightened on how to preserve their fruit bulk and then sale they require quantity at a time to avoid wastage and loses arising from fruit spoilage.
Home makers will also benefit from this study because the will gain knowledge on how to preserve fruit purchased in bulk for use in the home, the will learn how to preserve the left over fruit for better utilization in the home to avoid waste and prevent unnecessary expenditure resulting from fruit spoilage.
1.7 Delimitation Of The Study
At the geographical level, the study is delimitated to nine Local government areas which covers the three senatorial districts of AkwaIbom State, these Local Government Area are Uyo, Ibiono and Ibesikpo Local Government Area falling under the Uyo Senatorial District, IkotEkpene, Ikono and Ini Local Government Area falling under IkotEkpene Senatorial District and Eket, Oron and IkotAbasi Local Government Area representing Eket Senatorial District.
At the content level, this study will revolve around determine the level of awareness and adoption of modern technologies in fruit preservation and also examining the influence of modern technologies in fruit distribution in AkwaIbomState.
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