One of the most important impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic that broke out in China in the last months of 2019 was on the agricultural sector and, consequently, on the food supply. This situation manifested itself in an increase in food insecurity and food prices in countries around the world, and rising food prices highlighted the risk of undernourishment. The study attempted to statistically represent the impact of the pandemic on food security and food price increases in countries around the world. The study first compared the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods in terms of three basic indicators, such as food security, food prices, and undernourishment rates, and examined whether there was a significant difference between the two periods. Within the context of these three indicators, an attempt was then made to determine whether the negative impact of the pandemic was more severe in low-income countries. The results of the analysis showed that food prices, food insecurity, and undernourishment increased during the pandemic and that these impacts were relatively greater in developing countries. Therefore, the financial burden of these negative impacts associated with food supply was greater in developing countries.

Bu çalışma, farklı düzeylerde organik asit temeline dayalı sodyum format (SF) ilavesinin koçansız şeker mısır silajlarının ham besin madde içerikleri, fermentasyon kalitesi, kuru madde tüketimi, sindirilebilir kuru madde ve nispi yem değeri üzerine etkisini tespit etmek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada, koçansız mısır hasıllarına %0 SF (kontrol grubu); %1 SF ve %2 SF ilave edilerek gruplar oluşturulmuş ve 60 gün fermentasyona bırakılmıştır. Araştırma sonunda, SF katkısının mısır silajlarının kuru madde, ham protein, ham yağ, ADF, NDF, nişasta, ME, asetik asit, propiyonik asit, bütirik asit ve etanol içeriklerini azalttığı, buna karşılık laktik asit, ham kül ve nişasta düzeylerini artırdığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca araştırma silajlarının pH değerlerinin, %1 SF ilavesiyle istatistiksel olarak önemli düzeyde azaldığı belirlenirken; kuru madde tüketimi, sindirilebilir kuru madde ve nispi yem değerlerinin ise arttığı tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma sonunda, %1 SF ilavesinin koçansız mısır silajlarının pH’sını düşürücü ve laktik asit artırıcı etkisinin yanı sıra kuru madde tüketimi, sindirilebilir kuru madde ve nispi yem değerleri üzerine pozitif etkisi nedeniyle kullanılabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

This study evaluated the possibility to use pomegranate peel: an agro-industrial bay product as a conservative agent for fruit juice. Extraction of active compounds of. Punica granatum L. peels was made by maceration with ethanol and the evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were conducted using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and disk diffusion method in agar medium, while self-life tests of orange juice monitoring the pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, cloud value, browning index and total mesophilic germs were conducted during 18 days. The results highlighted that pomegranate peel extract (PPE) showed a higher phenol and flavonoid content and strong antioxidant activity with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 6.22 μg / mL, as well as the antimicrobial activity indicated a higher inhibitory effect. Furthermore, shelf life tests showed a significant effect on browning index, titratable acidity, and lowering of microbial growth during storage compared to the controls, while pH, total soluble solids, and cloud value are not affected. These results allow us to consider pomegranate peel extract as a potential conservator for healthy and sustainable food.

The oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), also known as wild olive, is a small fruit with three parts: the outer peel or exocarp layer, the edible part or mesocarp layer, and the inner seed or endocarp layer. The mesocarp layer is rich in essential vitamins and has great potential for use in various food products. The flour made from the mesocarp layer has a moisture content of 8.99%, an ash content of 2.66%, a fat content of 0.55%, a protein content of 5.99%, a crude fiber content of 3.32%, and a total dietary fiber (TDF) content of 26.36%. The TDF content is divided into insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF), which are 21.35% and 5.01%, respectively. The flour has color values of L*: 75.14, a*: 2.86, b*: 23.87, and a water activity value of 0.314. The water solubility, water absorption, and oil absorption are 67.33%, 4.91 g water/g sample, and 2.26 g oil/g sample, respectively. Additionally, the mesocarp layer contains minerals such as Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Na. The mesocarp layer significantly affected the thermomechanical properties of wheat flour. As the substitution level of the mesocarp layer increased from 10 to 30%, the water absorption capacity, dough development time and stability time of the wheat dough significantly decreased. Specifically, the water absorption capacity dropped from 53.5% to 47%, dough development time reduced from 1.10 to 0.75 min, and stability time decreased from 8.90 to 2.25 min. Substituting a mesocarp layer in wheat flour can significantly improve product shelf-life due to slower retrogradation. The mesocarp layer is an functional ingredient in the food industry.

A survey of 200 farmers in the Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region was conducted between June and October 2016. It was to determine their knowledge of different pests and disease control methods employed, access to extension services, pesticides use and other pests control methods. The study relied on data collected from respondents, 12 key informants (pesticides dealers, vegetable buyers and local chief farmers), field surveillance and observation as well as the reports of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Municipality. Data were captured and analyzed using MS Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) and interpreted into simple percentages on tables and charts. The result showed that farmers are above 20 years and 18% were female. The majority (74%) have at least basic education with six (6) or more years’ of experience in tomato production. Sixty-four percent (64%) had no access to extension services due to poor contact with the agricultural extension agents (AEAs). Most respondents (70%) lacked education on pesticides and alternative (e.g., integrated pests’ management) control. Nine-two percent acknowledged the dangers of pesticides to public health. Sixty-four percent practice bi-weekly calendar spraying while 30 % and 6% practice weekly and occasional spraying respectively. Forty-four percent of farmers throw used containers or leave them on the farm. More education is needed to ensure safe use of pesticides and wholesome tomatoes for the public.

Researchers treated seed technology and crop yield as exogenous, thereby generating bias estimates. In practice, seed technology increases yield and it’s stimulated by social capital and other factors. This paper develops a choice model of maize-seed exogenously, then tested and corrected for causality. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted using seven Agricultural Development Programme zones drawn from purposively selected Oyo and Osun states. A block each was randomly selected per zone. Twenty-one cells were randomly selected, then data were collected from 385 respondents using a structured questionnaire: Data were analyzed using Ordinary Least Square and Two-Stage Least Square α 0.05. Durbin score chi2(1) = 6.65 (p= 0.009) and Wu-Haussmann F (1,37) = 6.431 (p = 0.012), showed reverse causality that was resolved by the Two-Stage Least Square model. The Two-Stage Least Square result indicated that education (β=-0.53), seed quantity (β=-0.13), seed price (β=-0.08), negatively affected the choice of seed and yield while farm size (β=2.05), fertilizer (β=0.004), herbicide (β=0.22), output-price (β=0.02), meeting attendance index(β=0.02), and improved seed ((β=2.66), had a positive influence. Social capital spurs the use of improved seed, thereby increase maize yield. Consequently, active participation in social groups and the use of improved seed is recommended to increase yield.

The chokeberry plant, which is native to North America and the south of Canada, is a deciduous, shrub-shaped, berry-like plant belonging to the Rosaceae family, which survives for many years. It is seen as a plant that adapts easily to almost every climatic condition and soil and has many beneficial properties for health. Within the scope of this study, methanol, 70% ethanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and water extracts were prepared from the fruits collected from the Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott plant, which is cultivated in the Kırklareli region. The chemical contents of the obtained extracts were clarified by high performance liquid chromatography. It was determined that phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, quercetin-3-galactoside, p-coumaric acid were found in the extracts, and ethyl acetate extract was found to have the richest phenolic substance profile. Malvin anthocyanin compound was detected only in methanol extract.

The main focus of this research was to explore the present status of pineapple cultivation in Madhupur tract of Bangladesh. Primary data were collected using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire by face-to-face interviews from a sample of 300 pineapple growers and two focus group discussions were also carried out from March to May 2022. According to the study findings majority (51%) of the respondents cultivate pineapple in their own land having medium experience (53.3%), followed mixed cropping pattern (89%) where 25.33 percent respondent cultivate banana as companion crop. ‘Calendar’ is the top most cultivated variety of pineapple in Madhupur tract. Majority of the respondent use balanced pesticide and ripening agent due to increasing demand of chemical free farm fresh pineapple among consumers. Higher profit compared to other crops (82.00 %) was the main reason for producing pineapple in the study area. Majority (26.67%) of the respondent followed (Grower- Faria- Bepari- Aratdar- Wholesaler- Retailer- Consumers) channel among the six dominant marketing channels to market their produced pineapple. The results of SWOT analysis revealed that weakness of pineapple cultivation in Madhupur tract have the potential to improve. If the government and other policy making organizations come forward to solve the problems arising in pineapple cultivation, then the position of pineapple as fruit will be consolidated soon in home and abroad.

This study analyzed the proximate, minerals, phytochemical profiles and antioxidant capacity of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants and Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S.Moore leaf meals as potential feed additives. The result of the proximate analysis revealed that C. crepidioides contained higher moisture (6.66%), ash (21.04%), crude fibre (3.85%), crude fat (5.41%), crude protein (17.11%) contents and lower carbohydrate content (45.60%) than D. ambrosioide leaf powder which had 6.31% moisture, 13.69% ash, 3.09% crude fibre, 4.48% crude fat, 15.99% crude protein and 56.12% carbohydrate. The result of the mineral analysis showed that D. ambrosioides contained higher concentration of sodium (19.8ppm), potassium (51.05ppm), calcium (29.18ppm), magnesium (24.1ppm), iron (0.42ppm) manganese (0.33ppm) and zinc (0.91ppm) compared to C. crepidioides leaf meal at sodium (18.71ppm), potassium (41.87ppm), calcium (25.77ppm), magnesium (20.34ppm), iron (0.28ppm) manganese (0.13ppm) and zinc (0.36ppm). The result of the phytochemical analysis revealed that aqueous extract of C. crepidoides possessed higher total phenolic (13.34 mgGAE/g) and flavonoid (2.29 mgrutin/g)) contents than that of D. ambrosioides at (13.07 mgGAE/g) and (1.62 mgrutin/g) respectively. The Tannin and phytate contents were significantly higher in D. ambrosioides leaf meal at 2.39mg/g and 40.28 mg/g respectively, compared to that of C. crepidioides at 2.12mg/g and 29.4mg/g, respectively. The aqueous extract of D. ambrosioides exhibited higher that antioxidant free radical scavenging activity (24.83%) than that of C. crepidioides (16.42%). In conclusion, this study has shown that these two vegetables contained nutrients and antioxidant and could be used as alternative feed additives in animal nutrition.

This research was carried out within the scope of spatial evaluation of the land and soil properties of Edirne-Meriç district, located in the Thrace region (Türkiye) by using GIS. Arc GIS 10.3.1 software was used in the classification of soil and land features. Digital soil maps (1/25.000 scale) were used to determine soil and land properties. Alos Palsar (12.5m) satellite images were used to determine land elevation and aspect distributions. As a result of the research, it was seen that the soil class with the largest area in terms of large soil groups in Meriç district is lime-free brown forest soils (261.2 km2). III. It was determined that class lands (153.7 km2) cover the largest area. In general, it was observed that the soil depth was greater than 150 cm (261.9 km2). It was determined that 23.3 km2 of the Meriç district lands were exposed to severe water erosion. It was determined that the study area consists of lands with a steep slope of 12-20% (126.7 km2). It has been observed that the height distribution of Meriç district lands varies between 4.7-120.5 m. It was defined that the majority of the lands were in the southwestern direction group. It is thought that the soil and land information database created as a result of the research will make significant contributions to researchers and the public, institutions and organizations.