Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is one the most important root crops in the world, providing ... more Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is one the most important root crops in the world, providing energy to consumers due to the large amount of carbohydrates. However, farmers face the challenge of post-harvest losses of the crop. In order to avoid post-harvest losses, farmers have been engaged in traditional processing through peeling and drying chips to make flour and other products. Sun drying on a raised drying platform and direct passive solar dryers as the most used drying methods face the challenge of poor-quality dried cassava due to factors like inappropriate cassava chip size, poor drying layer depth, and long drying time. This study therefore sought to optimize these two cassava drying methods so as to improve the quality of dried cassava chips and the subsequent products. Randomized complete block design experiments were conducted and the measurements considered were drying time, moisture content, and microbial contamination in terms of Total plate count (TPC), Total coliforms (TC), and Yeast and moulds (YM). Models to predict moisture content for cassava chip size and drying layer depth were also generated. Results show that for all cassava chip sizes, there was no significant difference in drying time for drying layer depths of 3cm and 5.5cm. The optimal cassava chip sizes were 5cm arc length and 2 cm arc length for the raised drying platform and passive solar dryer respectively. Samples of drying layer depth of 3cm were least contaminated by coliforms and total plate count. Statistical analysis showed that for both drying technologies, individual factors of chip size and drying layer depth did not significantly affect the TPC (p>0.05). Samples from a 3cm drying layer depth were least mouldy and could therefore be stored for a longer time yet samples dried in a solar dryer had higher counts of yeast and moulds compared to those dried on a raised platform.
Drying has been widely used as a food processing unit operation since ancient times. Though dryin... more Drying has been widely used as a food processing unit operation since ancient times. Though drying practices have evolved and each time improving, the prevalence of agricultural losses especially in developing countries has gone unnoticed. Challenges for well-engineered solar drying systems still exist. This is attributed to drying technology developers focusing on industrial technology design. The objective of this paper was to shed light on solar drying challenges and opportunities in Uganda and how they can be harnessed for development of appropriate solar drying systems. Systematic review of literature was done. In a nutshell, there has been unceasing efforts towards reducing food losses through advancement of drying techniques but this is not based on a complete analysis of all key players. Major focus is on large scale processors with less attention to small and medium enterprises yet they dominate food/crop processing in the developing world. There is therefore need for realignment of plans to cater for drying needs of the small and medium processors. This may be through providing affordable, improved and efficient drying systems that use readily available renewable energy and materials.
Dried cassava chips have varied applications by end users that include breweries, confectionaries... more Dried cassava chips have varied applications by end users that include breweries, confectionaries, starch and flour for food. In Uganda, over 80% of Cassava farmers dry their products by open sun drying and direct passive solar dryers. However, these two drying practices produce varying quality of dried products which may not be good all for the various end users. The quality of dried products depends on factors like cassava chip size, drying technology, temperature, air flow and relative humidity. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of cassava sun drying on a raised platform and drying in a direct passive solar dryer. The two drying technologies were assessed basing on drying rate and product quality of cassava using a randomized complete block design experiment. The measurements considered for drying rate and quality assessment were drying time, moisture content, pH, peak viscosity, starch content and microbial contamination in terms of Total plate count (TPC...
The increasing interest in human resource practices is driven by the hypothesis that employees an... more The increasing interest in human resource practices is driven by the hypothesis that employees and their management are critical to the success of an organization. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute significantly to several countries’ economies in terms of gross domestic product, employment fraction and exports. Human resource management (HRM) on the other hand plays a pivotal role in the growth and survival of SMEs if systematically understood and implemented in these businesses. As such, this paper aims to analyze factors that affect successful HRM and implementation in small and medium enterprises. Our findings demonstrate that SMEs need to make an effort to close the gap between demand and supply of labor for them to be able to compete with larger firms in the market. We conclude that the factors that affect human resource management are mainly due to the internal organization of these businesses and if HRM is properly implemented, it almost guarantees sustainability...
Although different technologies are developed and used by both men and women less has been done i... more Although different technologies are developed and used by both men and women less has been done in the analysis of gender consideration during technology development As economies reposition themselves to compete in the global economy the gender gap in technology development and adoption has caught the attention of planners When projects include gender sensitive components the ability to defend the interests of women and men can be increased The objective of this paper is to develop a strategy of gender incorporation in technology development A literature review of case studies was done In conclusion the development of technologies is generally not based on a comprehensive analysis of gender roles Additionally technology development projects do not offer equal participation of both genders during execution of technology development projects due to the fact that on addition to productive activities women also dedicate some of their time to reproductive activities in their families
Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is one the most important root crops in the world, providing ... more Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is one the most important root crops in the world, providing energy to consumers due to the large amount of carbohydrates. However, farmers face the challenge of post-harvest losses of the crop. In order to avoid post-harvest losses, farmers have been engaged in traditional processing through peeling and drying chips to make flour and other products. Sun drying on a raised drying platform and direct passive solar dryers as the most used drying methods face the challenge of poor-quality dried cassava due to factors like inappropriate cassava chip size, poor drying layer depth, and long drying time. This study therefore sought to optimize these two cassava drying methods so as to improve the quality of dried cassava chips and the subsequent products. Randomized complete block design experiments were conducted and the measurements considered were drying time, moisture content, and microbial contamination in terms of Total plate count (TPC), Total coliforms (TC), and Yeast and moulds (YM). Models to predict moisture content for cassava chip size and drying layer depth were also generated. Results show that for all cassava chip sizes, there was no significant difference in drying time for drying layer depths of 3cm and 5.5cm. The optimal cassava chip sizes were 5cm arc length and 2 cm arc length for the raised drying platform and passive solar dryer respectively. Samples of drying layer depth of 3cm were least contaminated by coliforms and total plate count. Statistical analysis showed that for both drying technologies, individual factors of chip size and drying layer depth did not significantly affect the TPC (p>0.05). Samples from a 3cm drying layer depth were least mouldy and could therefore be stored for a longer time yet samples dried in a solar dryer had higher counts of yeast and moulds compared to those dried on a raised platform.
Drying has been widely used as a food processing unit operation since ancient times. Though dryin... more Drying has been widely used as a food processing unit operation since ancient times. Though drying practices have evolved and each time improving, the prevalence of agricultural losses especially in developing countries has gone unnoticed. Challenges for well-engineered solar drying systems still exist. This is attributed to drying technology developers focusing on industrial technology design. The objective of this paper was to shed light on solar drying challenges and opportunities in Uganda and how they can be harnessed for development of appropriate solar drying systems. Systematic review of literature was done. In a nutshell, there has been unceasing efforts towards reducing food losses through advancement of drying techniques but this is not based on a complete analysis of all key players. Major focus is on large scale processors with less attention to small and medium enterprises yet they dominate food/crop processing in the developing world. There is therefore need for realignment of plans to cater for drying needs of the small and medium processors. This may be through providing affordable, improved and efficient drying systems that use readily available renewable energy and materials.
Dried cassava chips have varied applications by end users that include breweries, confectionaries... more Dried cassava chips have varied applications by end users that include breweries, confectionaries, starch and flour for food. In Uganda, over 80% of Cassava farmers dry their products by open sun drying and direct passive solar dryers. However, these two drying practices produce varying quality of dried products which may not be good all for the various end users. The quality of dried products depends on factors like cassava chip size, drying technology, temperature, air flow and relative humidity. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of cassava sun drying on a raised platform and drying in a direct passive solar dryer. The two drying technologies were assessed basing on drying rate and product quality of cassava using a randomized complete block design experiment. The measurements considered for drying rate and quality assessment were drying time, moisture content, pH, peak viscosity, starch content and microbial contamination in terms of Total plate count (TPC...
The increasing interest in human resource practices is driven by the hypothesis that employees an... more The increasing interest in human resource practices is driven by the hypothesis that employees and their management are critical to the success of an organization. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute significantly to several countries’ economies in terms of gross domestic product, employment fraction and exports. Human resource management (HRM) on the other hand plays a pivotal role in the growth and survival of SMEs if systematically understood and implemented in these businesses. As such, this paper aims to analyze factors that affect successful HRM and implementation in small and medium enterprises. Our findings demonstrate that SMEs need to make an effort to close the gap between demand and supply of labor for them to be able to compete with larger firms in the market. We conclude that the factors that affect human resource management are mainly due to the internal organization of these businesses and if HRM is properly implemented, it almost guarantees sustainability...
Although different technologies are developed and used by both men and women less has been done i... more Although different technologies are developed and used by both men and women less has been done in the analysis of gender consideration during technology development As economies reposition themselves to compete in the global economy the gender gap in technology development and adoption has caught the attention of planners When projects include gender sensitive components the ability to defend the interests of women and men can be increased The objective of this paper is to develop a strategy of gender incorporation in technology development A literature review of case studies was done In conclusion the development of technologies is generally not based on a comprehensive analysis of gender roles Additionally technology development projects do not offer equal participation of both genders during execution of technology development projects due to the fact that on addition to productive activities women also dedicate some of their time to reproductive activities in their families
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Papers by James Menya