Main Harvest Season Research Articles

Efforts to increase the value of salak products in Wonokerto Village, Sleman

Salak is a prominent agricultural commodity in the Sleman Region, particularly in Wonokerto Village, Turi District. Residents of Wonokerto continue to rely on salak as a source of income, selling it in its fresh fruit form. However, salak farmers currently face a challenge with the declining selling value of their produce, especially during the main harvest season. Salak with a low selling value tends to go unsold and may end up rotting. The objective of this community service activity is to increase the added value of processed salak products, such as salak fruit vinegar, and provide licensing assistance for effective marketing. The community service activities are divided into two parts: learning and mentoring. The results of the activity demonstrate that residents can successfully produce salak fruit vinegar. Participants showed great enthusiasm and interest in making salak vinegar, with 44.44% expressing high satisfaction with the training. The salak vinegar product has received certification with P-IRT number 1093404011436-28 and Business Identification Number (NIB) 1610230086544.

Pelatihan dan Pemanfaatan Olahan Tomat sebagai Selai Tomat Desa Sidokumpul, Kecamatan Sambeng, Kabupaten Lamongan

Sidokumpul Village is one of the villages in Sambeng District, Lamongan Regency, classified as a tropical area with agricultural potential. one of the commodities that are often cultivated are Tomato and Tobacco plants. During the main harvest season, generally the price of tomatoes will experience a drastic price drop. Efforts that can be made to keep tomato prices high is to process tomatoes into processed products with economic value. This training program aims to: 1. Form and develop an innovative society, 2. Increase knowledge or skills, especially diversification of food processing, 3. Increase production and marketing knowledge. Training activities are carried out through 3 main stages, namely preparation, implementation and evaluation. processing of tomato jam was chosen as one of the processed tomatoes with a longer shelf life and higher economic value. This training activity by the KKN group was able to increase public knowledge and the selling value of tomatoes, as well as being an alternative solution when the selling price of tomatoes was cheap. The processing process is relatively easy and uses simple equipment

Warehouse Receipt as Credit Guarantee to Welfare Farmers Based on Pancasila Justice at Bandar Lampung

A common problem with agriculture in Indonesia is falling prices during the main harvest season. Farmers cannot store their crops longer because they run out of funds and do not have sufficient warehouses. This condition is exploited by middlemen and loan sharks to make huge profits. Then the government tried to overcome these problems through the aspirations of the Warehouse Receipt System (SRG) and Warehouse Receipts to be used as collateral for loans in banks. In implementing Warehouse Receipts for the welfare of farmers, in this case, it is stated in the values of Pancasila, which in essence, justice must be obtained for the welfare of farmers, especially in agricultural commodities, so that at the time of harvest, farmers can get a stable harvest price by using the Warehouse receipt system. In this case, the author takes a normative approach which is carried out by conducting a study of legal science materials or by using library materials known as library research or it can also be supporting legal scholarship such as principles and regulations, especially Law Number 9 of 2011 concerning Amendments to Law Number 9 of 2006 concerning Warehouse Receipt Systems. The results of the study show that in the implementation of SRG in Bandar Lampung city district, government policies are still experiencing problems in their implementation. Among other things, the lack of socialization among farmers, not on target, high interest in the second year for farmers who use WRS, high operational costs of transporting agricultural products from farmers' places to WRS warehouses, and not all banks. Willing to accept warehouse receipt certificates as collateral for bank loans.

Pemberdayaan Kelompok Wanita Tani Bawang Merah sebagai Upaya Peningkatan Kesejahteraan Keluarga

Tarubatang Village is one of the shallots producing centers in Central Java. When the main harvest season arrives, the supply of shallots becomes abundant and causes shallot prices to fall. The existence of the Sumber Rejeki Women Farmers Group (KWT) is an alternative to improve people's welfare, through further processing shallots into fried shallots. Even though the production process is still incidental, this activity needs to be managed properly. In determining the cost of products, there were still errors in the calculations, so that the impact on profit information was greater than it really was. Some factory overhead costs are not calculated. With this training, it is hoped that KWT Sumber Rejeki can review the calculation of the cost of its products.

Genetic divergence and cluster analysis for bulb yield and related traits in garlic (Allium sativum) accessions at Dorze, southern Ethiopia

AbstractDespite the benefits of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in human life, only a little amount of breeding effort has been done so far. The initial stages of a systemic breeding program include the collection and evaluation of genetic variability. As a result, understanding genetic divergence and cluster dispersion between accessions is a great way to improve future crops. This study was aimed to estimate the extent of genetic divergence across 28 Ethiopian garlic accessions using 11 agromorphological traits to identify parent lines for hybridization programs. The experiment was set up with a randomized complete block design with three replicates in Dorze, southern Ethiopia, during the 2017 main harvest season. The cluster analysis revealed the existence of four divergent groups, with the greatest distance among them being between Groups I and IV (D2 = 4.15), and the shortest distance being between Groups I and II (D2 = 2.93). To obtain accessions with high grain yield and early maturing, cross from Clusters I and IV and from III and IV were obtained. Parent material should be produced among clusters rather than within clusters for future hybridization breeding efforts.

Mango Fruit Processing: Options for Small-Scale Processors in Developing Countries

Postharvest losses of mango fruit in a number of developing countries in Africa and Asia have been estimated to be as high as over 50%, especially during the main harvest season. Micro, small, and medium scale food processing enterprises play an important economic role in developing economies in processing of a diversity of healthy food products as a sustainable way to reduce postharvest losses and food waste, extend shelf life of food, boost food security, and contribute to national gross domestic product. Processing of mango fruit into the diverse shelf-stable products makes the seasonal fruit conveniently available to consumers all year round. Over the years, research and food product development have contributed substantially to a number of unique and diverse processed mango products with specific qualities and nutritional attributes that are in demand by a wide array of consumers. These mango products are derived from appropriate food processing and value-addition technologies that transform fresh mango into shelf-stable products with ideal organoleptic, nutritional, and other quality attributes. Some of the common processed products from mango fruit include pulp (puree), juice concentrate, ready-to-drink juice, nectar, wine, jams, jellies, pickles, smoothies, chutney, canned slices, chips, leathers, and powder. Minimum processing of mango fruit as fresh-cut product has also gained importance among health-conscious consumers. Apart from the primary products from mango fruit, mango pulp or powder can be used to enrich or flavor secondary products such as yoghurt, ice cream, beverages, and soft drinks. Byproducts of mango processing, such as the peel and kernel, have been shown to be rich in bioactive compounds including carotenoids, polyphenols, and dietary fibers. These byproducts of mango processing can be used in food fortification and manufacture of animal feeds, thereby gaining greater value from the fruit while reducing wastage. This review focuses on the current trends in processing and value addition of mango applicable to small-scale processors in developing countries.

Opportunities and challenges of implementing the legal policy of the warehouse recipe system in improving farmers welfare and food security

Aim: A common agricultural problem in Indonesia is falling prices during the main harvest season. Farmers could not retain their crops any further due to a lack of funds and insufficient storage facilities. This condition is usually exploited by middlemen and loan sharks to make a big profit. The application of warehouse receipts to improve farmer welfare as a marketing model for agricultural commodities is a new innovative term that this study introduces and explores its impact on farmers’ welfare and food security.Methodology: The investigation technique applied was judicial decisions study, supplemented with field conducting advice, by conducting a literature study examining various literature, laws, and regulations. The research team has also carried out field research by conducting in-depth interviews. Researchers are divided into two targets for field research, namely informants from government circles and informants from the community.Findings: Results revealed that juridical the SRG policy made by the government with the aim of the welfare of farmers had provided legal protection for farmers, both in terms of guarantees in banking institutions, other financial institutions, and legal protection for farmers who use the warehouse receipt system, both for disbursing bank loans with guarantees. Warehouse receipts and security in the form of invoices raised can be transferred; Second, in practice, the government policy still faces obstacles in its implementation. The factors that become obstacles include: (1) an unawareness among farmers about the availability of warehouse receipts. (2) The numbers of intermediaries who use warehouse receipts, causing the warehousing receipts to be inaccurate. (3) There are banking concerns about the reduced value of assets in implementing warehouse receipts as collateral; the internal banking regulations constrain this.Implications/Novel Contribution: This article examines the recent innovations and the advantages and difficulties that they present. Its primary focus is on foodstuff logistical, including cost control, material handling, shipping, forecasting, and warehousing receipts. Banks prefer fixed assets or real and fixed assets, and if possible, the value can increase or increase in the next few years. We need intervention from the central and local governments that provide a sense of security for banks in providing credit using warehouse receipt guarantees to improve the farmer’s welfare.

Simulasi Pengadaan Usaha Turunan Berbasis Buah dan Limbah Salak Pondoh untuk Meningkatan Pendapatan Industri Salak Pondoh di Kabupaten Sleman

The high production of salak pondoh in Sleman Regency is not in line with the welfare of the farmers. The farmers receive a low price during the main harvest season, where the selling price per kilogram drops below the cost of production, so that the profit margins of farmers are not met. Abundant production during the main harvest and characteristics of perishable fruit are the cause of this problem, so that most farmers sell their crops to the nearest traders. This condition makes the bargaining position of farmers weak and the price determined by the traders, thus impacting on the decline in their welfare level. The purpose of this study is to formulate the salak pondoh business model in Sleman Regency in the form of dynamic simulations to carry out various scenarios of procuring business products based on raw materials in the form of fruit and waste from salak pondoh. The results of this simulation are expected to provide an alternative picture of solutions, steps, and conditions for academics, business people, and government in the form of a simulation template for each scenario. Data collection was carried out through direct observation to the salak pondoh place of business in Sleman Regency, brainstorming, interviews with related parties such as the salak pondoh association and the Sleman District Agriculture Office, and secondary data documentation on research topics. Scenarios of derivative business procurement (fruit and waste-based raw materials) provide a significant increase in income compared to business as usual business conditions, ranging from 4% - 44% in various fractions tested and up to 293% in extreme conditions and able to reduce the number of unemployed in Sleman Regency. The scenario of supplying derivative business made from pondoh salak fruit provides a significant increase in income compared to procurement of derivative business made from pondoh salak plant waste. It takes a probability value of sales of derivative products of more than 48.97% so that the revenue value from the business procurement scenario is greater than business as usual

Republic of South Sudan

South Sudan is a very fragile post-conflict country. After five years of civil conflict, the warring parties came to an agreement for power-sharing in September 2018 and formed a unity government in February 2020. However, peace remains fragile in the face of difficult humanitarian and economic conditions. Already very high levels of poverty and food insecurity have been exacerbated by severe flooding in recent months. The floods (the worst in 60 years) have killed livestock, destroyed food stocks, and damaged crops ahead of the main harvest season. South Sudan’s economy has been hit hard by lower international oil prices following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Detecting peat extraction related activity with multi-temporal Sentinel-1 InSAR coherence time series

Monitoring of when, where and in which quantity peat is harvested is currently based on manual declarations. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a powerful tool for change detection and monitoring. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Sentinel-1 6-day interferometric SAR (InSAR) temporal coherence could allow peat extraction monitoring from satellite. We demonstrate that temporal median coherence enables to detect harvest related surface altering works and therefore also spatially explicitly determine active and inactive extraction areas. A polygon-based multi-orbit time series approach is sufficient for the task. Hereby, vertical–vertical polarisation (VV) is more sensitive to the changes compared to vertical-horizontal (VH). During the main harvest season the peat extraction area has median VV coherence lower than 0.2 while the abandoned area and open bog which serve as reference for undisturbed extraction area have close to 0.6. Also, the potential for coherence based milled peat extraction intensity estimation is demonstrated and an indication is given how partially extracted areas could be distinguished from fully harvested and not harvest areas, by the use of coherence standard deviation. Regarding the influence of rainfall, only heavy rain on one of the acquisitions of the image pair whereas the other is from dry conditions seems to cause decorrelation comparable to surface altering works. Moreover, deploying images from multiple consecutive orbits or introducing backscatter intensity σ0 or reference polygons of undisturbed area helps to reduce risk for rain induced false positives. Developing an operational algorithm for peat extraction identification could be undertaken in future studies.

Impact of insecticide and pollinator-enhancing substrate applications on cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cherelle and pod production in Côte d’Ivoire

Cocoa yield in the major cocoa-producing countries is far below potential levels. It has been shown that apart from poor soil fertility, inadequate genotypes and pest and disease incidence, this yield gap is caused by below-optimum pollination levels. On 3 Ivorian cocoa farms, during the six months preceding the main harvest season of 2018–2019 (August 2018 until January 2019), we used generalized mixed models to investigate how the creation of a pollinator-friendly environment by applying rotting organic material (banana pseudostems) to cocoa fields, combined with and without insecticide applications, influences cocoa production. It was found that banana pseudostem treatments had a positive effect on cherelle production but that this effect was only observed in plots treated with insecticide to protect cherelles against sap-sucking mirids, at the beginning of the experiment. Furthermore, although we did not find significant differences in cherelle wilt rates between treated and control plots, we did not observe a significantly higher accumulated number of mature pods that were produced on trees treated with substrate and untreated control trees during the 25 week experimental period. The pollination-enhancing effect of the substrate on cherelle production in sprayed plots was significantly higher in trees that were close (<1 m) to the holes to which the substrate was applied, compared to trees that were further away from these holes. Reduced rainfall towards the end of the minor rainy season of October – November, concurred with a decrease in the number of flowers but also with a decrease in fruit set rate. Soils of all experimental farms had nutrient levels considered to be inadequate for cocoa production, which can explain why the increase in cherelles (+ 75 % and + 50 % in trees respectively close to and further away from substrate holes) did not result in significant increases in mature pods. Our results suggest that closing the pollination gap will close the cocoa yield gap, only when other factors that prevent cherelles to develop into mature pods, are addressed.

Satsuma mandarins grafted onto Swingle citrumelo for early season harvest in subtropical conditions in Brazil

ABSTRACT Although Brazil is the sixth producer of mandarins in the world, fresh fruit exports are neglectable, and few cultivars are available for the domestic market. Main harvest season comprises May to November, with Ponkan mandarin and Murcott tangor representing more than 70% of the production. Therefore, there is a need for alternative early season, seedless varieties that should also be preferably resistant to Alternaria brown spot. We investigated the horticultural performance of ten selections of Satsuma mandarin in subtropical conditions in Bebedouro, northern state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Clausellina, Okitsu, Unshu SRA-529, Saigon SRA-227, Panache SRA-579, Salzara SRA-341, Miyagawa SRA-444, Kowano SRA-167, FCAV-59 and A2 60.0 selections were grafted on Swingle citrumelo and evaluated up to 7 years old. Unshu, Miyagawa and A2 60.0 presented the highest tree size. These three selections, in addition to Okitsu and Kowano mandarins, resulted in higher fruit yield for the five first harvests (mean of 31.3 kg∙tree–1∙year–1). Panache had the smallest yield efficiency. Miyagawa and A2 60.0 selections presented lower alternate fruit bearing in the evaluated period due to their early bearing habit. These same selections had the largest fruits with the earliest maturation; similar to the Okitsu mandarin, but with lower soluble solids and higher juice content. The overall performance of the Satsuma mandarin selections grafted on Swingle citrumelo and drip irrigated was promising under subtropical climate. The Okitsu, Miyagawa and A2 60.0 mandarins were selected because of their highest productive potential and their valuable quality traits for the Brazilian domestic market.

Yerba mate: Nutrient levels and quality of the beverage depending on the harvest season

Yerba mate is one of the most consumed teas in South America. However, studies on the nutrient composition are rare. Hence, this study investigated total and hydrosoluble nutrient content levels of yerba mate regarding two harvest seasons. The experiment was performed at the Canguiri Experimental Farm (Pinhais, Brazil). For the present study, 30 trees were sampled in two blocks. The total and hydrosoluble nutrient contents in leaves and in the prepared Chimarrão (70% leaf and 30% branches) were chemically analyzed. All plants were nutritionally indicated for tea consumption. Leaves of yerba mate sampled in the main harvest season had highest total nutrient contents, while leaves sampled in the secondary harvest season had higher contents of hydrosoluble nutrients. The daily consumption of mate tea has no adverse impacts on human health; in addition, leaves sampled in the secondary harvest season contributed more hydrosoluble nutrients to RDI.

Post-harvest handling practices and associated food losses and limitations in the sweetpotato value chain of southern Ethiopia

Household food insecurity is a chronic problem in Ethiopia; the situation is being exacerbated by high population growth rates and recurring droughts in the country. The interest to address post-harvest value chain (VC) constraints leading to food losses has increased significantly to provide adequate nutrition to the growing population. In this study, mapping of sweetpotato VC not only quantifies the degree of losses but establish links between distinct VC constraints and respective food losses and limitations. Harvest and handling at farm level and shelf life issues at distribution were identified as vulnerable hot-spots of the sweetpotato food losses. Apart from physical and biological factors, demand and supply mismatch during the main harvest season at the wet markets leads to food (up to 25%) and economic losses (33–75%) followed by deficiencies in the lean season. A multi-stakeholder cooperation is required to mitigate food losses, which can have a high impact on the nutritional and financial status of the producers, market operators, and the consumers.

Seasonal and spatial factors related to longitudinal patterns of child growth in Bwamanda, DR Congo

Studying the influence of geographical factors on child growth is important, especially given the increasing interest in climate change and health in resource-poor settings and the recognized importance of growth faltering as a general marker of population health. We describe patterns in children's weight and length velocity and relate them to seasonal and spatial factors in rural DR Congo. The study setting is a food-insecure area with a majority dependent on rain-fed subsistence farming and expected to be one of the regions most affected by climate change. We studied the effect of selected geographical factors, i.e. season, village size and distances to hospital, health center, forest, fishing grounds and market on growth of children under two years old. We calculated individual growth velocity Z-scores according to the WHO-2009 growth velocity standards for up to five successive 3-month growth periods. Associations with geographical factors were examined in multivariate mixed effects regression models. For the study population of 2223 children is characterized by low nutritional status. Age and season were the only independent predictors of growth velocity in the multivariate regression analysis. Mean velocity Z-scores were already low in children aged 0-6 months for weight [-1.34 (95% CI: -1.45, -1.22)] and for length [-0.99 (95% CI: -1.13, -0.84)]. They increased with age, while Z-scores of attained growth gradually decreased. Mean growth velocities were lowest before the main harvest season with a mean improvement of 1.2 and 2.3 Z-scores for weight and length velocity thereafter. A seasonal pattern was not seen in attained growth. No relation to spatial factors was found. In this rural subsistence economy area, geographical factors relating to distances to food sources and health services are less important determinants than harvest season, which is the major underlying determinant of child growth in these settings.

Cultivo do mirtilo: atualizações e desempenho inicial de variedades de baixa exigência em frio no Estado de Säo Paulo

A produção comercial de mirtilos na América do Sul tem passado por mudanças importantes nos últimos anos, em função do aumento da oferta de frutos frescos dos principais países produtores, causando forte queda de preços em plena safra, entre os meses de dezembro e fevereiro. Uma alternativa para esta situação é a produção de mirtileiros de maturação precoce ou muito tardia, fora da época de meia-estação, caracterizada pelos menores preços da fruta. Em 2010, foram introduzidas no Brasil novas variedades de mirtileiros de baixa exigência em frio desenvolvidas pela Universidade da Flórida, que podem ser cultivadas em regiões quentes e apresentam uma frutificação mais precoce, quando comparadas com as variedades tradicionalmente cultivadas no Brasil. Essas novas variedades apresentam grande potencial para a produção precoce de mirtilos no País em regiões sem frio hibernal, aumentando significativamente a rentabilidade da cultura. Para viabilizar esta produção, é necessário validar estratégias de manejo para estas variedades, devido à falta de informação técnica sobre seu cultivo nas condições edafoclimáticas brasileiras. Atualmente, estäo sendo conduzidas as primeiras pesquisas fitotécnicas no Estado de Säo Paulo para avaliar o crescimento e a produção destas variedades na ausência total de frio, situação de ocorrência particular em poucos países produtores do mundo.

Determinants of income diversification in rural Ethiopia: Evidence from panel data

The aim of this study is to examine the determinants of income diversification in rural Ethiopia. Rural households allocate their work time between farm and of-farm activities to have secure income (consumption) for their family members. However, it is not clear why some households participate only in farm activities while others engage in both. Using survey data collected from 1500 rural households in 1994 and 1997, this study investigates the impacts of demographic, economic, and risk factors on participation and intensity of off-farm activities. The results of the study show that families with high dependency ratio, female household heads, high livestock value, and poor quality of land participated less in off-farm activities. Competition between off-farm and farm activities and effects of seasonality were more apparent from the intensity results than from participation. Increased crop production and sale of part of production during the main harvest season led households to engage less in off-farm activities. The results also confirm that off-farm activities were practiced as a means of subsistence when crop production fails; otherwise farmers abandon off-farm activities. Key Words: Dynamic Livelihood, Off-farm Income, Diversification, Ethiopia

The Dynamics of Livelihood Diversification in Ethiopia Revisited: Evidence from Panel data

Block and Webb (2001) in food policy address the issue of the dynamics of livelihood diversification in Ethiopia using ratio of per capita income derived from crops to all other sources as a measure of livelihood diversification for the years 1989 and 1994. Their study uses small sample and focuses only on areas affected by famine during the survey years. The present study explores further the demographic, ecological and economic determinants of the dynamics of livelihood diversification using rural household data, which covers lager and representative sample, colleted in Ethiopia in 1994 and 1997. The present study analysis not only the determinants of participation and intensity of off-farm activities but also the determinants of the dynamics between the years 1994 and 1997. The results of this study answer the question that to what extent initial conditions (for instance, asset holdings, income level, demographics) prompts households to diversify to off-farm activities overtime. The results show that participation in off-farm activities is mainly driven by demographic factors, where as land and other asset ownership as well as crop income, together with demographic factors, affect intensity of off-farm activities. The dynamic model result shows that initially female headed households and households with more land holdings subsequently realized less diversification into off-farm activities. On the other land, families with larger initial crop income from main harvest season realized greater income share from off-farm activities. As opposed to the static model, the dynamic model implies that off-farm activities are not substitute for farm activities, at least during the main harvest season.

`Lavi'—A New Avocado Cultivar

Based on the IBPGR descriptors for avocado (1992): the tree is small in size (about 6 m without pruning), smaller and narrower than ‘Lamb-Hass’ and upright with dense foliage. The leaves are fl at and smooth, medium in size with slightly upstanding edges. The fl ush is red-brown and almost no anise scent is noticeable in the leaves. Flowering season is during the month of April. ‘Lavi’ belongs to the A fl owering group and its potential as an effi cient pollenizer for the cultivars of the B fl owering group is under investigation. Productivity of ‘Lavi’ is good (about 20 t/ha) and compared to the ‘Hass’, ‘Lavi’ is a better producer with a smaller tendency toward alternate bearing. The fruit can be harvested without the stem (snapped) with no damage to the pericarp. It is ovate shaped and uniform in shape and size (Fig. 1). Like ‘Hass’ the peel color changes to black towards ripening (Table 1). Fruit weight is from 260 to 400 g according to the crop load and time of harvest. The peel is glossy, pebbly, stony, breakable and somewhat thicker than ‘Hass’. Peel separation of the ripe fruit is intermediate. The seed is small, oval and usually 6% to 12% of the fruit weight. The cutting. Harvest season is from December to March which coincides with the main harvest season of ‘Hass’. Based on preliminary studies, at the Department of Postharvest Science at the Volcani Center, ‘Lavi’ can be stored for 3 weeks at 5 °C and 95% RH without damage and hardly any rotting. After this period of cold storage, shelf life at 20 °C, is 5 to 7 d. Softening at room temperature takes 11 to 12 d. The level of rotting increases towards the end of the harvest season. The only detected fungus was Colletotrichum gloeosporioides which affected the fruit body and not the stem end. Storage experiments to generate suffi cient data regarding the incidence of rottenness are in progress.

Quality of lemons sealed in high-density polyethylene film during long-term storage at different temperatures with intermittent warming

Storage of lemons is designed to extend the marketing of fruit throughout the year, from the main harvest season in the winter until late summer, which is a period of short supply in the market. This work was concerned with physiological and chemical attributes of stored lemons either seal-packaged in high-density polyethylene plastic film (HDPE), or left unwrapped, during storage at 13, 8 and 2°C. Intermittent warming (IW) was used to prevent chilling injury at the lower temperatures. Differences between fruit subjected to the two treatments which produced longest storage (sealed at 13°C and non-sealed at 2°C with IW) are discussed. Both treatments are recommended for adoption in commercial practice.