Additional Value Research Articles

The impact of inflation on bank stability: evidence from the MENA banks

PurposeSerious concerns about the stability of the international financial systems have arisen recently, resulting from the mounting inflation rates and the accompanying procedures to control them. Consequently, this study aims at examining empirically the impact of inflationary pressures/shocks on the stability of banking sectors.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a dynamic GMM models and exploits a sample of 188 banks operating in 14 MENA economies, over the period 1999–2021.FindingsThis research finds that high inflation does indeed harm bank financial stability and deteriorates banks credit risk. Furthermore, the examination of the impact of interaction terms between inflation and bank-specific and institutional quality variables shows that better capitalisation levels, higher liquidity buffers, larger asset size, greater market power, foreign ownership and overall political stability, all can counterbalance the impact of inflationary pressures on MENA banks financial stability.Originality/valueIn addition to empirically revealing how inflationary shocks can deteriorate financial stability, the main novelty of this research is examining how the interactions between inflation on one hand, and bank-specific and institutional quality on the other, affect bank stability.

Post Merger Financial Analysis: An AI & ML tool for Banks

This paper models the significance of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in reviving the growth of obsolete or low performing organizations. In line with adapting to the changing circumstances and limiting exposure to the volatility, higher level of capital backing is necessary which only consolidation can achieve (Mantravadi, 2007). Banks being economic institutions are expected to be more directly involved in inclusive growth by including the whole economy in the growth and development, therefore, to support this belief, merger and acquisition as a strategic tool is studied. M&A is considered as one of the significant tools for organizational restructuring and value addition considering the volatility prevailing in the present business environment. It enables organizations to expand their horizon of operation, mitigating risks, explore new markets and geographical locations by creating synergies thereby increasing profitability gaining through competitive advantage. It includes the study of the factors and series of events that led the Government of India (GOI) to the merger of 10 public sector banks (PSB) into 4 merged entities, adoption of M&A as technique to achieve objectives moreover it studies acquisition of the Allahabad Bank by the Indian Bank to identify and interpret the purpose and potential of consolidation backed by a comparative analysis of pre-acquisition and post-acquisition performance of the above-mentioned banks. Key Words: Mergers and Acquisitions, Public Sector Banking (PSB), Indian Bank, Allahabad Bank, NPA and Synergy.

Application of Pomace Powder of Black Carrot as a Natural Food Ingredient in Yoghurt.

Researchers and food manufacturers are investigating the use of fruit and vegetable by-products as nutrient-dense food ingredients in response to increasing consumer requests for healthier and more natural foods. Black carrot (Daucus carota L.), a root vegetable variety of deep purple carrot, is a valuable source of nutrients with excellent health benefits and nutraceutical effects. Black carrot pomace (BCP), a by-product of industrial juice extraction, is abundant in bioactive compounds, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and pigments such as anthocyanins. Value addition and sustainability are perspectives provided by using this underutilized agricultural by-product in food applications. With an emphasis on BCP powder's effects on phytochemical and physicochemical qualities, mineral and color characteristics, and sensory aspects, this study aims to assess the effects of adding BCP powder to yogurt formulations. The findings show that the addition of BCP powder improved the nutritional, and the color of the yogurts, providing a visually appealing product. Moreover, adding the BCP powder raised the amount of phytochemicals and the antioxidant activity in the final product's formulation. The manufacturing of such products can not only aid in promoting sustainable food production but also offer consumers a wider range of innovative food options with improved properties.

Fractional epidemic model of coronavirus disease with vaccination and crowding effects

Most of the countries in the world are affected by the coronavirus epidemic that put people in danger, with many infected cases and deaths. The crowding factor plays a significant role in the transmission of coronavirus disease. On the other hand, the vaccines of the covid-19 played a decisive role in the control of coronavirus infection. In this paper, a fractional order epidemic model (SIVR) of coronavirus disease is proposed by considering the effects of crowding and vaccination because the transmission of this infection is highly influenced by these two factors. The nonlinear incidence rate with the inclusion of these effects is a better approach to understand and analyse the dynamics of the model. The positivity and boundedness of the fractional order model is ensured by applying some standard results of Mittag Leffler function and Laplace transformation. The equilibrium points are described analytically. The existence and uniqueness of the non-integer order model is also confirmed by using results of the fixed-point theory. Stability analysis is carried out for the system at both the steady states by using Jacobian matrix theory, Routh–Hurwitz criterion and Volterra-type Lyapunov functions. Basic reproductive number is calculated by using next generation matrix. It is verified that disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if R0<1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${R}_{0}<1$$\\end{document} and endemic equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if R0>1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${R}_{0}>1$$\\end{document}. Moreover, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R0<1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${R}_{0}<1$$\\end{document} and endemic equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if R0>1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${R}_{0}>1$$\\end{document}. The non-standard finite difference (NSFD) scheme is developed to approximate the solutions of the system. The simulated graphs are presented to show the key features of the NSFD approach. It is proved that non-standard finite difference approach preserves the positivity and boundedness properties of model. The simulated graphs show that the implementation of control strategies reduced the infected population and increase the recovered population. The impact of fractional order parameter α\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\alpha$$\\end{document} is described by the graphical templates. The future trends of the virus transmission are predicted under some control measures. The current work will be a value addition in the literature. The article is closed by some useful concluding remarks.

The Influence of Supply Chain Integration, Agility, and Innovation on Company Performance

This research aims to determine and investigate the role of supply chain integration, agility, and innovation in the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in the food and beverage sector. By optimizing these factors, companies can enhance the value and profitability generated across the supply chain, encompassing value addition from suppliers to manufacturers, manufacturers to distributors, and ultimately to consumers. This value is created from the service value and price of a finished product, with the total costs borne by the entire supply chain system. The study focuses on MSMEs in the Yogyakarta region, employing random sampling techniques to gather data from various stakeholders, including owners, managers, and operational staff. Questionnaire-based data collection is followed by Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis using AMOS software. The results of this research indicate that integration, agility, and innovation have a positive effect on company performance, both in terms of financial performance and operational performance. This study contributes to the supply chain literature, specifically in the food and beverage industry, by expanding the understanding of supply chain dynamics. To enhance supply chain integration, managers can implement broader strategies and utilize information technology for better collaboration. To improve supply chain agility, the focus should be on developing flexibility and partnering with agile businesses. Supply chain innovation can be promoted through investments in technology and prioritizing innovation in products, processes, and business models.

Development of Polylactic Acid Films with Alkali- and Acetylation-Treated Flax and Hemp Fillers via Solution Casting Technique.

This study aims to enhance value addition to agricultural byproducts to produce composites by the solution casting technique. It is well known that PLA is moisture-sensitive and deforms at high temperatures, which limits its use in some applications. When blending with plant-based fibers, the weak point is the poor filler-matrix interface. For this reason, surface modification was carried out on hemp and flax fibers via acetylation and alkaline treatments. The fibers were milled to obtain two particle sizes of <75 μm and 149-210 μm and were blended with poly (lactic) acid at different loadings (0, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%) to form a composite film The films were characterized for their spectroscopy, physical, and mechanical properties. All the film specimens showed C-O/O-H groups and the π-π interaction in untreated flax fillers showed lignin phenolic rings in the films. It was noticed that the maximum degradation temperature occurred at 362.5 °C. The highest WVPs for untreated, alkali-treated, and acetylation-treated composites were 20 × 10-7 g·m/m2 Pa·s (PLA/hemp30), 7.0 × 10-7 g·m/m2 Pa·s (PLA/hemp30), and 22 × 10-7 g·m/m2 Pa·s (PLA/hemp30), respectively. Increasing the filler content caused an increase in the color difference of the composite film compared with that of the neat PLA. Alkali-treated PLA/flax composites showed significant improvement in their tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus at a 2.5 or 5% filler loading. An increase in the filler loadings caused a significant increase in the moisture absorbed, whereas the water contact angle decreased with an increasing filler concentration. Flax- and hemp-induced PLA-based composite films with 5 wt.% loadings showed a more stable compromise in all the examined properties and are expected to provide unique industrial applications with satisfactory performance.

Determinants of commercialization of African Indigenous Vegetables among smallholder farmers in Bungoma County, Kenya

Rising awareness of various lifestyle diseases and illnesses has led to an increased understanding of healthy eating habits, the increased demand for African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs), and a strict healthier diet in Kenya. Apart from the awareness about the benefits of consuming the AIVs, their commercialization is still low due to how producers are less informed and not connected to market actors beyond their community. On the other hand, the literature on factors that influence commercialization is still limited. The purpose of this study is to sought to reduce that gap by determining the factors that influenced the commercialization of African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs) among smallholder farmers in Bungoma County. In order to identify 384 respondents from whom data was collected, multistage sampling was used through personally administered questionnaires. The fractional regression model (FRM) was used to determine factors influencing the commercialization of AIVs in Bungoma County. The FRM results indicate that the eight explanatory variables included in the model significantly influenced the commercialization of AIVs among smallholder farmers. These variables are the gender of the farmer, land size, mode of payment, distance to the markets, AIV yields, AIV cost of production, duration to reach the market, and value addition. The researcher recommended that all gender should be engaged in the commercialization of AIVs and that the government to put in place policies and regulations that support the commercialization of AIVs, as they support other cash crops, which would equally enhance the quality and quantity improvement of AIVs that are distributed to various markets.

Factors Associated with Supply of Butter and Optimal Value Chain of Milk Product in Kedida Gemela District of Kembata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Butter product is one of most important Dairy products in the livestock production and referred as livelihood base that ignites economy of the farming communities in Kedidagamela districts and Kembata Tembaro zones of Southern Ethiopia. But the level of value addition in butter and its determinants and optimal value addition channel was not identified and updated. Hence, the study done based on targets of gathering update information to examine factors affecting butter supply in the value chain and indicate optimal value addition channel for the districts. The study done at Kedidagamela districts of Kembata Tembaro zone and used cross sectional data from household survey of 101 households. The study applied multiple linear regression model and descriptive statistics for analysis. The study finding indicated that level of butter supply defined as function of agricultural and off-farm income earned, age of respondents, area of improved forage at farm land, number of cow owned and feeding and medication costs of dairy cow. The study identified the optimal value chain for producer that provokes the household to adopt value addition practise in making different products rather than selling fresh milks for consumers. The study points out that butter supply to market can be enhanced through promotion of improved forage cultivation, enabling producers to earn income from agricultural and none agricultural activities, reducing feeding and medication cost of cow rearing, owing more cows and obtain experience in production. The level of value added in dairy products and income of producers can be optimized in adopting value addition practices of daily products that experienced by more than two third households in the districts.

Nanostructured Solid/Liquid Acid Catalysts for Glycerol Esterification: The Key to Convert Liability into Assets.

Owing to the growing concerns about the dwindling fossil fuel reserves, increasing energy demand, and climate emergency, it is imperative to develop and deploy sustainable energy technologies to ensure future energy supply and to transition to the net-zero world. In this context, there is great potential in the biorefinery concept for supplying drop in biofuels in the form of biodiesel. Biodiesel as a fuel can certainly bridge the gap where electrification or the use of hydrogen is not feasible, for instance, in heavy vehicles and in the farm and marine transportation sectors. However, the biodiesel industry also generates a large amount of crude glycerol as the by-product. Due to the presence of several impurities, crude glycerol may not be a suitable feedstock for all high-value products derived from glycerol, but it fits well with glycerol esterification for producing glycerol acetins, which have numerous applications. This review critically looks at the processes using nanostructured solid/liquid acid catalysts for glycerol esterification, including the economic viability of the scale-up. The homogeneous catalysts reviewed herein include mineral acids and Brønsted acidic ionic liquids, such as SO3H-functionalized and heteropoly acid based ionic liquids. The heterogeneous catalysts reviewed herein include solid acid catalysts such as metal oxides, ion-exchange resins, zeolites, and supported heteropoly acid-based catalysts. Furthermore, the techno-economic analysis studies have shown the process to be highly profitable, confirming the viability of glycerol esterification as a potential tool for economic value addition to the biorefinery industry.

Survey of emerging technologies and return on investment in oil palm business in south-south states of Nigeria

The difference between the oil palm business in developed economy like Malaysia and that in less developed economy like Nigeria can be traced to technological advancement. Therefore there is continuous search for production and processing technologies that can drive development of the oil palm value chain. The broad objective of the study was to investigate the effect of innovative technologies on performance of oil palm business in South-South geo-political States of Nigeria. The study employed a multi-stage sampling procedure. Well validated structured questionnaires were used as instrument for data collection. Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as mean, Percentage, Standard Deviation, Frequency Distribution Table, enterprise budgeting, and ordinary least square regression analysis. Socioeconomic characteristics of operators were diverse, with a predominance of young, married, male farmers (60.9%) engaged in small-scale production (mean farm size: 13.2 hectares). Traditional tools still dominated harvesting, but hydraulic press (adopted by 71.1%) and automated mills (5.3%) were adopted for processing. Value addition was substantially improved by processing technology and harvesting equipment in the South-South States of Nigeria. The study concluded that appropriate innovative technologies positively impacted profitability, efficiency, product quality, sustainability, and competitiveness. Training, subsidies and robust extension services to promote adoption of innovative technologies in the South-South States of Nigeria were recommended. The study has contributed to existing body of knowledge by affirming the central role of innovation in profit function and sustainability in the oil palm sector.

Nutritional Evaluation of Peanut Chikki Incorporated with Amla Pomace Powder

Amla processing generates a significant amount of amla residue, known as amla pomace, which is a valuable byproduct. Amla pomace is rich in nutrients and can be utilized as a raw material for further processing and value addition. In this study, peanut chikki was developed by adding amla pomace powder as a functional ingredient at different levels (2%, 4%, and 6%) along with peanuts, and compared with a control sample. The chikki with 6% amla pomace (T3) had the highest overall acceptability score (7.85) compared to other variations. The nutrient composition of the most preferred chikki included protein (10.2g), fat (15.6g), dietary fiber (6.5g), carbohydrates (50g), and 26 mg/100g of ascorbic acid. Storage studies showed an increase in moisture, and peroxide value, a decrease in sensory scores and ascorbic acid content over time. However, the microbiological load remained within acceptable limits. This study demonstrates that amla pomace powder can be successfully incorporated into peanut chikki, providing nutritional and health benefits while addressing waste management issues.

Nexus between value addition in maize and empowerment of rural women: evidence from Osun state, Nigeria

Nexus between value addition in maize and empowerment of rural women: evidence from Osun state, Nigeria

Regional sustainability of the Kattunayakan tribe in Kerala, India through the enhancement of agricultural, livestock, and livelihood options

CONTEXTThis research investigates the living sustainability of the Kattunayakan tribe in the Wayanad district of Kerala, India, focusing on the factors influencing their agricultural, forest, and livestock practices in the context of changing social conditions. OBJECTIVEThe main objective of the study is to identify critical factors that affect the Kattunayakan community and improve the living sustainability by linking agriculture, forest, livestock, and social conditions. METHODSA total of 598 families were sampled in the 103 settlements spread across 14 panchayats and three municipalities in Wayanad district of Kerala. Population distribution and land use pattern were related, and cluster analysis was carried out to identify tribes having agricultural land and livestock. The analysis of 21 factors with significant correlations with Kattunayakan's living sustainability was carried out. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe Kattunayakans' average annual agricultural income is extremely low, standing at US$472.54 and the average annual income from livestock is US$3.22. The increased wildlife conflicts have hindered Kattunayakans' ability to engage in agriculture and livestock-rearing activities. The factors considered included: agricultural infrastructure with eight factors, coefficients ranging from 0.523 to 0.969; forest and wildlife six factors 0.647–0.811; livestock four factors 0.527–0.696; and social conditions three factors with rotated values 0.499–0.856. The lack of land for agriculture, very low attainment in education, and wildlife conflict correlate highly with the community's lack of sustainability. Allocation of degraded land for the landless tribes as non-sellable land for the cultivation of crops, increasing the awareness among the tribe to cultivate crops which is not palatable for wild animals, providing training for the tribe on the value addition of forest produce, selling milk through cooperative societies, can improve income generation among the tribe, thereby improving their living sustainability. SIGNIFICANCEThis study unveils the intricate dynamics influencing the living sustainability of Kattunayakan communities in Wayanad, Kerala. Findings of the study provide actionable insights to improve agricultural practices, mitigate conflicts, and promote sustainable development in the Wayanad district.

Comparative Assessment of External Third Party Administrators and In-house Teams of Insurers in Health Insurance Claims Settlement Process in Bangalore, India

Claim servicing in health insurance is an important area for insurers. Third party administrators (TPAs) are a critical link in India that process health insurance claims. Several insurers have started in-house claim teams for health insurance claims instead of outsourcing the work to TPAs. The study aims to explore the role played by external TPAs in terms of value addition done by them for insurers, policyholders and healthcare providers. The study aims to find the benefits of roping in an in-house team to settle health claims and the benefits accruing out of this decision to policyholders and hospitals. The role of TPAs in claim processing, issues faced by customers while making a claim, and improvement areas in the process have also been examined. The author has tried to explore and research this area so that policyholders can choose a health insurance company without bias whether it has an in-house claim settlement process or engages an external TPA. The study brings out the concerns of customers and hospitals regarding the settlement of health insurance claims and suggests improvement areas required for both TPAs and in-house teams in claim settlements by evaluating the same.

Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions in Expanding The Blue Economy in Sri Lanka: Special Reference to The Fisheries Sector

Purpose: The blue economy emphasizes the sustainable utilization of marine resources to promote economic growth, create job opportunities, and enhance livelihoods while ensuring the protection of the ocean ecosystem. The blue economy comprises a variety of activities such as fisheries, aquaculture and Mari culture, marine and coastal tourism, boat and shipbuilding, seaports and shipping, marine transportation, renewable energy, offshore hydrocarbons and minerals, and marine biotechnology. The primary objective of this research is to identify the opportunities and challenges in expanding the blue economy in Sri Lanka, with a focus on the fisheries sector.&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach: The qualitative research method was employed for data collection, using key person interviews with 20 Sri Lankan blue economy stakeholders. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data.&#x0D; Findings: The study identified several opportunities, including the introduction of a sound VMS and forecasting system, technology improvement, properly trained human resources, reducing post-harvest loss, value addition to the fish, and diversification towards aquaculture and Mari culture. The study also identified challenges such as limited access to finance, lack of infrastructure, and weak governance. With the right policies and management practices in place, the fisheries sector in Sri Lanka can achieve sustainable development, contribute to the country's economic growth, and provide livelihoods for fishers and their communities.&#x0D; Originality: Though Sri Lanka is an Island, ideal for practicing the blue economy, the attention given by the scholars and practitioners to develop the sector is not sufficient.  This study stands out for its thorough examination of opportunities and challenges in expanding Sri Lanka's blue economy, with a specific emphasis on the fisheries sector.&#x0D; Implications: The theoretical contribution lies in the identification of opportunities and challenges in expanding the blue economy, particularly within the fisheries sector. This research significantly contributes to guiding policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies for the sustainable growth and management of the fisheries sector in Sri Lanka.&#x0D; Keywords: Blue Economy, Fisheries, value addition, Post-harvest loss

Value Addition of Fruits: An Effective Process to Combat Post-harvest Losses

Bruising, breaking, impact wounding, cutting, and other forms of injury are the common causes of deterioration and rotting losses of freshly harvested fruit crops due to poor harvesting, handling, storage, transportation, and marketing practices. For combating the huge losses, proper post-harvest management and value addition are considered an effective solution. Therefore, it is of utmost necessity to enlighten farm workers, producers, managers of trade, and exporters on the scope of losses being experienced and their financial drawbacks to improve the issue and enhance their income. This study aims to encompass different value-added food products like Ready to serve drinks, fruit bars, jam, jelly, marmalade, squash, pickles, candy, fruit powders, etc., that can be prepared easily from different fruits, especially the underutilized fruits when they are available in bulk during their harvesting season. This will reduce post-harvest losses and make them available for consumption in the off-season.

Abstract 77: Real-time multiparametric assessment of immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Abstract A hallmark of effective immunotherapy is the reliance on the cytotoxic effects of immune cells, such as T-cells and natural killer (NK) cells, on tumor lesions. Cell cluster formation is an important sign of activation, and proliferation, as well as an indication of the killing capability of immune cells. Understanding and modulating the mechanisms underlying the activation, proliferation, and clustering of immune cells is essential for the development of innovative approaches to promote immune cell-induced cytotoxicity and address tumor progression. Here, we report a novel kinetic immuno-oncology assay using the Agilent xCELLigence RTCA eSight, which can simultaneously and quantitatively assess effector/immune cell clustering and proliferation through brightfield live cell time-lapse imaging and immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity of target/cancer cells through real-time monitoring cancer cell viability over a chronic treatment. In this study, we validated the assay using 2 cell models, including CD19 CAR T-cells against Raji cells and NK-92 cells against A549 cells, in a 96-well plate format. The activation, clustering, and proliferation of CD19 CAR T-cells and NK-92 at different Effector: Target (E: T) ratios, as well as the sequential killing of the target cancer cells, were plotted using imaging and cellular-impedance-based readouts throughout the entire assay, respectively. Our results showed 1) the clustering and proliferation of the effector cells could be accurately assessed by brightfield without the facilitation of fluorescent label using the image analysis module of the system; 2) the killing efficacy of the effector cells quantified by the impedance readout highly correlated to their clustering and proliferation assessed by the live-cell imaging; 3) cellular impedance provided a sensitive readout CAR-T killing of immobilized Raji cell count, independent of fluorescent labeling; 4) the kinetics of cluster formation/proliferation and killing efficacy of CD19 CAR T-cells were different from NK cells. The capability of multiparametric assessment of immune cell-medicated cytotoxicity from both effector and target cell perspectives of the assay provides a simple and real-time workflow to understand the correlation and interaction between effector and target cells, which could be an addition of immense value to the development of innovative immunotherapies. Citation Format: Grace Yang, Yan Lu, Tian Wang, Peifang Ye, Xiaoyu Zhang. Real-time multiparametric assessment of immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 77.

Characterization and antioxidant activity of peel extracts from three varieties of citrus sinensis

High volume of postharvest materials including peels from citrus fruits is periodically generated, which contributes to environmental pollution. Investigating the chemical composition cum antioxidant property of these ‘wastes’ would be instructive in achieving value addition in the food and pharmaceutical value chain. On this premise, this study carried out phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of three (3) commonly cultivated citrus varieties namely Citrus sinensis ‘valencia’, Citrus sinensis ‘washinton’ and Citrus sinensis ‘thompson navel’. The peels were extracted using ethanol and hexane in a Soxhlet extractor and thereafter subjected to phytochemical and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), hydrogen peroxide scavenging and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays to evaluate their antioxidant potentials. Results show that Citrus sinensis peel extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, phytosterols, diterpenes, tannins and glycosides. GC/MS analysis identified about 48 compounds in each extract; with the predominant bioactive compounds being limonene (16.5%), ascorbic acid (17.7%), stearic acid (26.3%), linalool (4.7%), linoleic acid (16.18%), palmitic acid (15.23%), pentadecyclic acid (1.1%). Ethanol and hexane extracts of Valencia exhibited higher FRAP (9.09 ± 0.13) and CUPRAC (2.04 ± 0.06) values while the ethanol extract of Ibadan sweet demonstrated greater hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (1.39 ± 0.00). Citrus peels are rich in bioactive compounds with excellent antioxidant activity and may serve as potential sources of natural antioxidants for food products or pharmaceutical formulations.

An Examination of Farmers Engagement in Assam’s Rural Periodic Markets

The agricultural marketing scenario of Assam is having some distinct features due to its topographicalfactors. Several issues including intensity of flood etc., makes the agricultural marketing process achallenging task for the farmers as well as the other stakeholders. Often, it appears as a discouraging factorfor the farmers to produce certain crops because of issues related to storage and marketing. Primary marketsare the first connecting link between the producer and buyer of agricultural commodities. Thus theseavenues play a crucial role in providing remunerative return or a means of livelihood to the growers. Thereare mainly three major players in the agricultural marketing scenario of Assam. These are the periodicmarkets, daily markets and mobile markets. Rural periodic markets occupy a significant place for a state likeAssam, where 75 percent of the populations are dependent on agriculture for living directly as well asindirectly. More than 80 percent of the farmers are marginal or small in terms of land holding status. Due tosmall amount of disposable surplus, primary markets are the major avenues for disposal of their produces.Apart from livelihood creation, periodic markets also help in the process of value addition of agriculturecommodities by providing scope for forward and backward linkages for the farmers. In this paper attempt ismade to analyze farmer’s participation in the periodic market of Assam. The study is carried out in theSonitpur district of Assam. The work is primarily descriptive in nature. Primary and secondary data wereused for the study. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were followed to collect the desiredinformation. It was observed that primary markets are the major avenues for disposal of agricultural surplus.The prevalent prices of primary market, distance to the nearest market, volume of marketable surplus etc.,influences the marketing decision of the growers. The study suggest for solving several issues for creating aconducive marketing platform for the benefits of the growers.

How useful do communities find the health and wellness centres? A qualitative assessment of India’s new policy for primary health care

BackgroundThe policy attention to primary health care has seen a global upswing in recent years, including in India. Earlier assessments had shown that a very small proportion of Indian population used the government primary health facilities. Starting in 2018, Indian government has established more than 100,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) to increase rural population’s access to primary health care. It is crucial to know how useful people find the services of HWCs.MethodsA qualitative inquiry was made to understand the perceptions, experiences and expectations of the rural communities regarding HWCs in Chhattisgarh state. Fourteen focus group discussions were conducted with community members. The study areas were chosen to include both the central and remote districts of the state. The study used accessibility, availability, acceptability and quality (AAAQ) framework to assess HWCs.ResultsCommunity members felt that the most important change brought about by HWCs was to offer a wider range of curative services than previously available. Services for noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes were seen as a key value addition of HWCs. People felt improvements in services for acute ailments also. The services people found missing in HWCs were for injuries, dental care and mental health. In people’s experience, the availability of essential medicines and point-of-care tests at HWCs was satisfactory and the treatment was effective. People appreciated the supportive behaviour of health workers in HWCs. They did not find the referrals from HWCs as excessive but often faced difficulties in receiving necessary services at higher facilities.ConclusionsThe assessment based on community perceptions showed that the services of HWCs matched well with people’s needs of curative primary care. It shows that people are willing to use the government facilities for primary health care if the services are relevant, adequately functional and accessible.