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Internal organization and management of fresh produce marketing in retail supermarket chains: implications for marketing specialty produceBeamer, Bobby G. 03 March 2009 (has links)
The purpose of this research is to describe the management of the fresh produce marketing system in retail supermarket chains and to assess the marketing opportunities for specialty produce therein. Results provide new growers with knowledge of the retail industry necessary to establish good relationships with retailers.
A selective sample of 17 retail supermarket chains in the Virginia area were identified for inclusion in the study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the person most responsible for produce merchandising within each chain. Interviewees were asked to discuss management positions and operations and produce procurement and merchandising practices.
Results of the interviews provided for a generalization of management structures within supermarket chains. Distribution of strategic responsibilities within the different structures are described. Product movement is found to be the primary criterion used to measure the success of a produce item. Firm image is found to be important in explaining a firm's space allocation and other merchandising decisions. Full service supermarket chains carry the greatest variety of produce, but may be less likely to work with small growers. A core of 40 specialty items are carried by two-thirds of the chains in the study. Items that can be grown in Virginia are identified.
Results suggest that marketing niches exist for innovative growers who are willing to place special emphasis on high quality and service to retailers. Most direct relationships between growers and retailers are initiated by growers. An algorithm for produce market identification is presented. / Master of Science
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South African citrus farmers' perceptions of the benefits and costs of compliance with private sector certification schemes for citrus exports.Ndlovu, P. G. January 2010 (has links)
The main objective of this study was to analyse South African (SA) citrus farmers’ perceptions of the benefits and costs of complying with quality assurance (QA) certification schemes for citrus exports to the European Union (EU). The study used an e-mail and postal survey questionnaire mailed to a stratified random sample of 260 SA commercial citrus growers during July 2007. The survey yielded 108 usable responses - a response rate of 10.8% from the target population of 1001 commercial SA citrus growers. The main factors motivating respondents to adopt QA certification were to keep and maintain access to existing markets; to improve customer confidence in their products; to access new markets; and to meet food safety and retailer requirements. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
identified six underlying dimensions of motivators, which suggest a drive by sampled respondents to gain certification to meet market requirements, achieve intra-farm benefits such as cost-reduction, and to remain competitive in existing and new foreign markets. The sampled respondents identified the main internal benefits from QA certification as the ability to retain existing markets; improved worker health and safety; better access to foreign markets; better farm organisation; and improved fruit safety
and orchard management. The PCA identified six broad dimensions of these internal benefits. Comparing the motivator and perceived benefit dimensions, most of the motivators seem to have been in part realised by the respondents. Respondents rated shared goals and values about the product; more joint decision making on fruit safety; more working together on quality assurance; a better business working relationship; improved
coordination; and improved trust as the six major supply chain benefits from QA certification. The two dimensions identified from these external benefits by PCA were: (1) Improved working relationship and product quality benefits, and (2) Improved cooperation and contractual benefits. The major costs of implementing EUREPGAP certification related to initial investment costs and the recurrent annual costs of compliance. The respondents, on average, spent an estimated R70655 on initial compliance
costs, mainly for infrastructure, additional buildings and employees training. Some 60% of respondents spent less than 1% of annual farm turnover on initial compliance costs, while most of the respondents (84%) spent less than 1% of annual farm turnover on recurrent costs of compliance. Growers that owned a pack-house had statistically significantly higher initial and annual costs of compliance. Most (63%) of the respondents had a relatively high level of overall satisfaction with QA certification. The second objective of this study was to analyse the determinants of SA citrus farmers’ overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression estimated that perceived dimensions of internal benefits, namely (1) Foreign market access benefits; (2) Intra-farm benefits; (3) Improved fruit safety and orchard management; (4) Quality and worker welfare benefits; and (5) Ability to retain existing markets, all had a statistically significant positive influence on the sampled growers’ overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Supply chain benefits also had a positive effect on overall level of satisfaction, although the effects were not
statistically significant. Similarly, no statistically significant relationship could be established between farm size or the respondents’ level of satisfaction with their certifying agents and their overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Record keeping is required by nearly all EUREPGAP control chapters and for farm audits. Crop protection is also perceived as a complex requirement of the EUREPGAP protocol. Policymakers thus need to be aware of the extra costs that protocols create for management. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) could consider providing more extension advice to farmers on the technical requirements of certification (particularly best practices for implementing the control
chapters). Comparing the motivator and perceived benefit dimensions, most of the motivators for QA certification seem to have been in part realised by the respondents. For instance, the drivers to improve business image/market competitiveness/market access requirements/farm profitability were realised via perceived reputation/input cost savings/foreign market and profit improvement benefits. The study results, therefore, provide some evidence that QA certification is a necessary strategy for maintaining competitiveness in EU citrus markets. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.
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A transaction cost analysis of the fruit supply chain in South Africa : a case study approachFundira, Takudzwa 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The agro-food sector is swiftly moving towards an internationally interconnected
system with a large variety of complex relationships, due to year-round supply,
product differentiation and developments in information technologies, with the aim
of enhancing competitiveness. In this context, vertical linking in the agro-food
business especially, vertical coordination has gained attention.
A case study approach is used to analyse two fruit supply chains -the table grape
and citrus fruit chain. The study uses a transaction cost approach to analyse the
supply chain of the fruit industry in South Africa. Transaction cost analysis (TCA)
represents one possible approach to understanding and evaluating supply chain
management and has the potential to be combined in an interdisciplinary setting
with the insights provided by the marketing, logistics and organisational behaviour
literatures.
By means of literature study, constructs are identified that help explain the choices
made, with regard to governance structures and the sources of competitiveness of
supply chains. The question of governance structures is addressed in transaction
cost economics (TCE) where asset specificity is of major importance. The sources
of competitiveness are addressed both in the literature study and from discussions
undertaken with key industry representatives.
The empirical application of the TCE theory helped demonstrate the extent to
which the exporter has adapted to changes in the global environment. The study
revealed that for both supply chains, the role-players overcompensate to minimise
their risk. Hence vertical integration rather than outsourcing takes precedence.
Bilateral contracting and strategic alliances should be given priority to enhance
effective communication, commitment and collective decision-making. This growing
recognition of the competitive advantage that can be gained through improving
coordination in the supply chain is the starting point for SCM initiatives and, these
are important signals that in the long run will determine the sustainability and
competitiveness of the industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die landbou-voedsel sektor is vinnig besig om na 'n internasionale interafhanklike
stelsel met 'n groat verskeidenheid van ingewikkelde verhoudings te beweeg, as
gevolg van heel-jaar aanbod, produk differensiasie en ontwikkeling in tegnologie,
met die doel om meer mededingend te wees. In hierdie konteks geniet vertikale
skakelinge in die landbou-voedsel bedryf, en veral vertikale koordinasie, baie
aandag.
'n Gevalle studie benadering is gevolg om twee vrugte waardekettings te analiseer
-die tafeldruiwe en sitrus ketting. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n transaksie koste
benadering om die waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugte bedryf te
analiseer. Transaksie koste analiese (TKA) verteenwoordig een moontlike
benadering om waardekettingbestuur te verstaan en te evalueer. Dit het oak die
potensiaal om gekombineer te word in 'n interdissiplinere omgewing met insigte
wat deur bemarking, logistiek en organisatoriese gedrags literatuur verskaf word.
Konstruksies is met behulp van literatuur studies ge"identifiseer wat help om die
keuses wat gemaak is met betrekking tot bestuurstrukture en die bran van
mededingendheid van waardekettings. Die kwessie van bestuurstrukture word
aangespreek deur transaksie koste ekonomie (TKE) waarin bate-spesifiekheid van
groat belang is. Die bran van mededingendheid is aangespreek deur beide
literatuur te bestudeer en deur besprekings met sleutel-figure in die bedryf.
Die empiriese toepassing van die TKE teorie help om die mate waarin die
uitvoerder aangepas het tot veranderinge in die globale omgewing aan te toon. Die
studie bewys dat firmas in beide waardekettings oorkompenseer vir transaksie
koste deur vertikale integrasie in plaas van kontrakte.
Bilaterale kontrakterings en strategiese vennootskappe moet prioriteit geniet om
effektiewe kommunikasie, verpligtinge en kollektiewe besluitneming te verbeter.
Die groeiende erkenning wat gegee word aan mededingende voordeel wat gewen
kan word deur koordinasie in die waardeketting te verbeter is die begin punt vir
ketting initiatiewe en, dit is belangrike seine wat die volhoubaarheid en
mededingendheid van die bedryf in die lang termyn sal bepaal.
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The feasibility of automated traceability in fruit export chains in South AfricaOlivier, Rene 12 1900 (has links)
Study project (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Deregulation of the South African (SA) fruit export industry in 1997 has caused
fragmentation in the supply chain, leading to significant inefficiencies. This sub-optimal
performance of the supply chain has made it difficult to respond to increasingly stringent
market requirements. One of the biggest challenges is legal and trade related traceability
requirements.
Traceability of all fruit exported to the European Union will be regulated from 1 Jan 2005 and
to the United States of America from 12 December 2003, affecting more than 80% of SA fruit
exports. Trading partners are also starting to demand certain global standards for traceability
purposes. The SA fruit export industry is not providing a sufficient level of traceability at
supply chain level and cannot afford the risk of not having an effective traceability system,
based on common procedures and standards, in case of a food safety incident.
Apart from the need to meet traceability requirements, the inefficiencies in the SA supply
chain; the cost pressure from legal and trade related traceability requirements; and the
pressure on high volume commodities (due to the general oversupply of fruit world-wide),
have created a need for additional efficiencies in the supply chain.
The consumer packaged goods industry has developed e-commerce building blocks based on
global standards that offer automated traceability of fruit exports as well as significant
benefits impacting the bottom line by ten to fifteen percent for companies of all sizes. These
building blocks are available to the SA fruit export industry and would enable the industry to
have traceability in place, as well as provide significant efficiency benefits. Further, by being
an early adopter of these building blocks, the industry would be able to achieve a strategic
advantage over its southern hemisphere competitors. Enough cohesion, willing participants
and supportive thinking seem to exist to create the critical mass for the implementation of
such an automated traceability system. The study concludes that automated traceability is
feasible for the SA fruit export industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Deregulering van die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugte uitvoer industrie in 1997 het fragmentering van
inligting en standaarde veroorsaak wat gelei het tot ondoeltreffendheid in die
verskaffingsketting. Die onderprestering van die verskaffingsketting maak dit moeilik vir die
industrie om te reageer op die toenemende vereistes van uitvoer markte. Een van die grootste
uitdagings is wetgewende en handelsverwante vereistes van naspoorbaarheid.
Naspoorbaarheid van alle vrugte uitvoere na die Europese Unie en die Verenigde State van
Amerika sal onderskeidelik vanaf 1 Januarie 2005 en 16 Desember 2003 gereguleer word, wat
meer as 80% van alle SA uitvoere sal beïnvloed. Handelsvennote begin ook om sekere
globale standaarde te vereis. Die SA vrugte uitvoer industrie voorsien nie 'n genoegsame vlak
van naspoorbaarheid in die verskaffingsketting nie en kan nie die risiko bekostig om, in die
geval van 'n voedselveiligheidsvoorval, nie 'n effektiewe naspoorbaarheidstelsel (gebaseer op
gemeenskaplike prosedures en standaarde) in plek te hê nie.
Afgesien van die behoefte om naspoorbaarheidvereistes na te kom, het die ondoeltreffendheid
in die SA vrugte uitvoerketting; die druk van wetgewende en handelsverwante
naspoorbaarheidkostes; en die druk op hoë volume vrugte (as gevolg van die algemene
ooraanbod van vrugte wêreldwyd); die behoefte laat ontstaan vir addisionele doeltreffendheid
in die verskaffingsketting.
Die verbruikers verpakkingsgoedere industrie het e-handel boustene ontwikkel gebaseer op
globale standaarde wat ge-outomatiseerde naspoorbaarheid, asook potensiële
doeltreffendheidsvoordele, van tien tot vyftien persent op winste, verseker vir maatskappy van
alle groottes. Die boustene is beskikbaar vir die SA vrugte uitvoer industrie en sal die
industrie in staat stelom naspoorbaarheidvereistes na te kom, asook aansienlik meer
doeltreffendheid te verseker. Verder, 'n vroeë aanvaarding van die boustene, sal die industrie
in staat stelom 'n strategiese voordeel te hê bo suidelike halfrond mededingers. Genoeg
kohesie, gewillige deelnemers, en ondersteunende denke bleik beskikbaar te wees om die
kritiese massa te bereik vir die implementering van só 'n ge-outomatiseerde
naspoorbaarheidsisteem. Die gevolgtrekking van die studie IS dat die SA vrugte uitvoer
industrie vatbaar is vir ge-outomatiseerde naspoorbaarheid.
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Computer simulation of transient refrigeration load in a cold storage for apples and pearsAdre, Norberto 31 July 1987 (has links)
Increased consumer demand for fresh fruit throughout
the year has created a need for long term storage. Long
term storage of fruit uses more energy than fresh market
products, thus increasing production cost. Pacific
Northwest energy costs and more competition for markets
has made energy conservation an important factor to be
considered by the fruit industry. A BASICA computer
program, RLSIM, was developed to predict the transient
refrigeration load throughout the storage season in apple
and pear cold storage warehouses. RLSIM accurately
predicted the seasonal and component refrigeration system
energy demand curves during the 1985-1986 cold storage
season. The results also indicated that the largest single
energy use component is the continuous operation of
evaporator fans. Simulation of a six hours on and six hours off fan cycling technique indicated a reduction of 23.75 percent could be achieved in overall refrigeration
system energy use in the cold storage warehouse. Cold
storage warehouse management can be improved by using the
results of RLSIM. Fan cycling schemes could be properly
employed without risk of increasing fruit temperature.
Recommendations were made to update research in areas of
cooling and respiration rates of various fruits in both
controlled atmosphere and common storage. / Graduation date: 1988
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A study of fruit and vegetable vendors in the central region of the Eastern Cape ProvinceBediako, Abora 30 April 2007 (has links)
Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document Copyright 2000, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Bediako, A 2000, A study of fruit and vegetable vendors in the central region of the Eastern Cape Province, MInst Agrar dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04302007-120638/ > / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted
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The challenges of the fruit supply chain following the deregulation of the South African fruit industry in 1997Kruger, Karen Lisa 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act of 1996 resulted in the
deregulation of the South African fruit industry in October 1997. This led to independent
decision-making regarding the marketing of export products by a host of deciduous fruit
producers and exporters. No longer were the producers controlled by a monopoly. The
deregulation challenged the inflexible single-channel fruit pooling marketing structure of
the past and exposed domestic producers and exporters to the competitive global fruit
market. By implication this translated into a need to become globally competitive in the
interest of growing market share. The focus of this new marketing system is to give the
producer the opportunity to export high quality fruit and earn an associated premium for
his products, and to strengthen his brand and reputation through these efforts. The
deregulation also provided the opportunity for independent fruit growers to influence the
optimisation of the value chain, in the interest of lower costs and improved customer
service. The market has since changed from supply (stock "push") to demand driven
(stock "pull"). It is now imperative that the various producers and exporters provide an
efficient supply chain in order to satisfy the end user demands. A consequence of this
would be the increase in deciduous fruit quality as a determinant of decidU<;ms fruit
demand. Market research was conducted to determine the impact that deregulation has
had on South Africa's deciduous fruit industry and to establish the degree to which
Portnet should transform to accommodate this changing and deregulated environment.
In summary, deregulation has created many opportunities for South African fruit
producers and exporters in the domestic and international markets. The only impediment
is whether the new logistical structures will be able to reduce costs and improve profit
margins, particularly now that economies of scale have been dissipated. Customer service
may improve, but at what cost? / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van die Bemarkingswet van Landbouprodukte in 1996 het gelei tot
die deregulering van die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugtebedryf in Oktober 1997. Die gevolg
hiervan was die onafhanklike besluitneming ten opsigte van die bemarking van uitvoerprodukte
deur 'n groep sagtevrugteprodusente en -uitvoerders. Die produsente is nie
langer deur 'n monopolie beheer nie. Die deregulering het die onbuigbare een-kanaal
vrugtebemarkingstruktuur van die verlede opsy geskuif en binnelandse produsente en
uitvoerders die geleentheid gebied om deel te word van die kompeterende intemasionale
vrugtemark. Dit het by implikasie aanleiding gegee tot 'n behoefte om intemasionaal
mededingend te wees in die belang van 'n groeiende markaandeel. Die fokus van hierdie
nuwe bemarkingstelsel is om die produsent die geleentheid te gee om hoe kwaliteit
vrugte uit te voer en die meegaande hoe premie vir sy produkte te verdien, asook om sy
handelsmerk en reputasie sodoende te vestig. Die deregulasie het ook die onafhanklike
vrugteprodusente die geleentheid gegee om seggenskap in die optimisering van die
waardeketting te kry wat tot laer koste en verbeterde klientediens gelei het. Sedertdien
het die mark verander vanaf 'n aanbodmark na 'n vraaggedrewe mark. Dit is nou uiters
belangrik dat die verskillende produsente en uitvoerders 'n effektiewe
voorsieningsnetwerk skep om in die eindverbruikers se behoeftes te voorsien. Die gevolg
sou 'n toename in die gehalte van sagtevrugte wees, wat weer belangrike determinant van
die sagtevrugte vraag is. Marknavorsing is gedoen om die impak van die deregulasie op
die Suid-Afrikaanse sagtevrugtebedryfvas te stel. Wat ook vasgestel moes word, was die
mate waartoe Portnet moet transformeer om in die veranderde en gedereguleerde
omgewing te funksioneer.
Om op te som, deregulering het verskeie geleenthede vir Suid-Afrika se vrugteprodusente
en uitvoerders in die binnelandse en intemasionale markte geskep. Die enigste vraag is
of die nuwe logistieke strukture wel koste sal verminder en winsmarges sal verhoog,
veral noudat skaalvoordele nie meer van toepassing is nie. Klientediens sal verbeter,
maar teen watter koste?
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Les contrats inter-entreprises dans le commerce de produits périssables : le cas des exportations de fruits du Chili analysé avec la Théorie des Coûts de Transaction et l’Analyse Institutionnelle / Inter-firm contracts in the international perishable products trade : the case of Chilean fruit exports through the lens of Transaction Cost Economics and Institutional AnalysisPavez, Iciar 10 July 2013 (has links)
Cette thèse examine les déterminants qui expliquent les types de contrats choisis par les exportateurs et les importateurs pour gérer les risques du commerce international. Elle analyse le cas des exportations chiliennes comme l'un des leaders de l'hémisphère sud sur le commerce des fruits. En appliquant la Théorie de Coûts de Transaction et l'Analyse Institutionnelle, ce travail étudie l'influence de l'incertitude environnementale et comportementale ainsi que la spécificité des actifs sur le degré de complétude, la formalisation et l'exécution des contrats. Cette recherche applique une méthodologie multistrand intégrant des méthodes qualitatives et quantitatives. L'analyse utilise les informations provenant de 39 entretiens directs avec des exportateurs et des importateurs et de 65 enquêtes auprès d' exportateurs conduites à l'aide d'un questionnaire. Elle s'appuie également sur une base de données exhaustive issue des douanes chiliennes et documentant les 170370 transactions avec leurs contrats respectifs réalisées par le Chili dans ses exportations vers l'ensemble du monde sur la période 2009-2010. Elle s'appuie enfin sur 44 cas d'arbitrage international dans le commerce de fruits et légumes. Les résultats montrent que les niveaux d'incertitude environnementale liés aux « risques - pays importateurs » conduisent à des contrats plus complets tandis que des niveaux d'incertitude liés à la périssabilité des fruits conduisent à des contrats moins complets. De son côté, la pénurie d'offre sur le marché met l'entreprise exportatrice dans une position favorable pour négocier des contrats plus complets. Ces transactions internationales sont supportées par des moyens oraux et écrits; dans le négoce international des fruits, les contrats signés sont plus importants que pressenti, et leur rôle est davantage destiné à satisfaire les exigences institutionnelles qu'à compenser les risques. Pour faire respecter les contrats, les entreprises adoptent des mécanismes formels comme les inspections, les assurances et l'arbitrage, ainsi que des mécanismes informels tels que la confiance et la réputation. Cette étude a ses limites car elle porte principalement sur le point de vue de l'exportateur, la base de données des douanes ne fournissant pas l'identité de l'importateur et l'analyse transversale ne permettant pas d'observer l'évolution des pratiques contractuelles dans la durée. Jusqu'à présent, peu de recherches empiriques ont été faites sur les contrats intégrés dans différents contextes institutionnels; cette thèse contribue donc à la connaissance des choix contractuels dans 117 pays importateurs et plus généralement à la compréhension du commerce international des produits périssables. Elle est sur le plan académique, une contribution à la littérature économique et gestionnaire des contrats (complétude, formalisation, exécution) et des changements de forme de gouvernance dans les filières internationales. / This doctoral dissertation examines the determinants explaining the type of contracts chosen by exporters and importers to manage the hazards of international trade. It analyzes the case of Chilean off-season exports as one of the southern-hemisphere leaders in the fruit trade. Applying Transaction Cost Economics and Institutional Analysis as a framework, this work will analyze the influence of environmental and behavioral uncertainty and time-specificity on the degree of completeness, formalization and enforcement of contracts. A multi-strand research design integrating qualitative-quantitative methods is applied to analyze information gathered through: 39 face-to-face interviews with exporters and importers; questionnaire surveys from 65 exporters; an exhaustive Chilean customs database containing 170,370 shipments and contracts from Chile to worldwide buyers; and 44 international arbitration cases for the fruit and vegetable trade. The results show that high levels of uncertainty in the alternative importing countries increase the use of more complete contracts. When levels of fruit perishability are high, this often leads to less complete contracts. Shortage of market supply allows the exporting company a favorable position to negotiate a more complete contract. International transactions are supported by oral and written means; the use of signed contracts is more important than perceived in the fruit industry, but its role is more oriented to respond to institutional requirements rather than as a mechanism to offset hazards, such as exporting to risky countries or dealing with distrustful importers. To enforce contracts firms adopt formal and informal mechanisms. These include inspections, insurance, arbitration, in addition to trust and reputation. Limitations of this study include: the customs database does not include the identity of the importer, the cross-sectional analysis performed does not allow observing the evolution of contracting practices, the study is placed predominately from the exporter's perspective. There is also little empirical research on contracts analyzing transactions embedded in different institutional settings. This thesis contributes to the knowledge of contractual choices in 117 importing countries. It contributes to the understanding of international trade of perishable products. It also contributes to the economics and management literature on international contract completeness, formalization, enforceability, and to literature focusing on the changes of governance in the international supply chains.
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Anaerobic bioconversion of the organic fraction from the fruit processing industryGriessel, Wilmare 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc Food Sc )--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a developing country that relies heavily on its agricultural sector for
economical welfare especially in the Western Cape Province. However,
development gives rise to new technologies, new products, economical stability
and unfortunately also to the production of larger volumes of liquid and solid
waste.
Anaerobic composting is becoming a very attractive treatment option for
solid waste disposal because of its unique operational advantages and two valueadded
by-products, compost and biogas. Over the last decade progress has been
made in anaerobic digestion of solid wastes, but no literature could be found on
the anaerobic composting of apple and peach pomace.
The main objective of this study was to develop a method to anaerobically
compost apple and peach pomace. In the first phase important operational
parameters were identified and a method was developed to optimise the
parameters. In the second phase of the study, the scaling-up and optimisation of
the process were the major objectives.
During the first phase of this research 2 L modified glass containers were
used as composting units. The most important operational parameters (leachate
pH, inoculum source and size, and initial moisture levels) were identified.
Anaerobic compost from previous tests, brewery granules and anaerobic sludge
were also used as inocula and evaluated for the best source of microbes. After
optimising all the identified parameters, good results were obtained, which
included higher biogas production, good volume reductions, less bad aromas and
a compost product with a neutral pH.
After developing the 2 L laboratory-scale method to compost the apple
pomace anaerobically, the next step was to ascertain if the method would work if
larger volumes of solid fruit waste were composted. A special 20 L composting
unit made of PVC was designed to suit the operational requirements of the
anaerobic composting process. It was also decided to mix apple pomace and
peach pulp together and to use this solid waste source as part of the composting
substrate.
Different inocula, including cattle manure, anaerobic sludge, brewery
granules and anaerobic compost produced in the previous tests, were used. Although good results were obtained with the anaerobic compost and cattle
manure as inoculum, the aim was also to decrease the composting period by
shortening the pH stabilisation period. To achieve this, it was decided to add
NaHC03 to the substrate to be composted to facilitate a faster pH stabilisation.
The composting period was subsequently shortened to 25 days with satisfactory
results, which included a volume reduction, biogas production and faster pH
stabilisation.
An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) bioreactor was also used to
assist the composting process by facilitating the removal of the VFA's present in
the composting leachate. This proved to be a valuable addition to the composting
process as the UASB bioreactor also provided the composting units with a
'moisturising liquid', which was 'enriched' with a consortium of active anaerobic
bacteria when the effluent from the bioreactor was re-added to the composting
units.
With all the operational parameters in place, good results were obtained
and these included a volume reduction of 60% (m/m), a good biogas production, a
composting period of only 25 days, a compost that was free of bad aromas, a final
compost pH of > 6.5, final leachate COD values of less than 3 000 rnq.l", and a
final leachate VFA's concentration of between 0 and 250 rnq.l".
If in future research further scaling-up is to be considered, it is
recommended that the composting unit be coupled directly to the UASB
bioreactor, thus making the process continuous and more practical to operate. If
the operational period of the anaerobic composting set-up could be further
shortened and the inoculum adapted so that the process could be used for the
treatment of other difficult types of solid wastes, it would probably be
advantageous for the fruit processing industry to use this method as an
environmental control technology. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is 'n ontwikkelende land wat baie afhanklik is van die sukses van die
landbousektor vir ekonomiese welstand, veral in die Wes Kaap Provinsie.
Ontwikkeling gaan gepaard met nuwe tegnologie, nuwe produkte, ekonomiese
stabiliteit en daarmee saam gaan die produksie van groter volumes vlooiebare en
soliede afvalprodukte.
Anaërobiese kompostering is tans besig om opgang te maak as en
doeltreffende behandelingstegnologie vir vaste afvalstowwe. Tydens die laaste
dekade is baie vooruitgang gemaak in die veld van anaërobiese vertering asook
kompostering van afvalmateriaal met en hoë vaste stof inhoud. Anaërobiese
kompostering van appel- en perskepulp, afkomstig van die versappingsindustrie,
het tot dusver min aandag geniet.
Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n anaërobiese komposterings
metode te ontwikkel vir die beheer van vrugte afval om sodoende die basis neer te
lê vir en nuwe tegnologie wat baie voordele (biogas en kompos) inhou. In die
eerste fase is die belangrikste operationele parameters geïdentifiseer om
sodoende beter beheer oor die anaërobiese proses uit te oefen. In die tweede
fase is die anaërobiese proses wat gedurende die eerste fase ontwikkel is,
opgeskaal om optimum resultate te verkry.
Gedurende die eerste fase van hierdie verhandeling was 2 L
gemodifiseerde glas houers gebruik as komposteringseenhede. Die belangrikste
operasionele parameters (pH beheer, inokulasie grootte, vloeistofvlakke en
hoeveelheid vog asook vlugtige vetsuur produksie en verwydering) vir die beheer
van die anaërobiese komposteringsproses was geïdentifiseer en gebruik as
uitgangspunt om 'n anaërobiese komposteringsmetode te ontwikkel. Anaërobiese
slyk, brouery granules en anaërobiese kompos van vorige eksperimente was as
inokula gebruik. Gedurende hierdie studies was goeie resultate verkry en het 'n
hoë biogas produksie, goeie volume reduksies, vermindering van slegte aromas
en kompos met 'n neutrale pH ingesluit. .
Nadat hierdie goeie resultate met die 2 L laboratorium-skaal metode verkry
was, was groter volumes vaste vrugte afval gebruik om te bepaal of dieselfde
metode toegepas kan word op en groter skaal. Spesiale 20 L
komposteringseenhede was ontwerp om aan die operasionele vereistes van 'n anaërobiese proses te voldoen. Dit was ook besluit om appel pulp met perske
pulp te meng en te gebruik as deel van die komposteringssubstraat.
Verskeie inokula was weereens gebruik en het die volgende ingesluit: vars
beesmis, anaërobiese slyk, brouery granules en anaërobiese kompos van vorige
eksperimente. Hoewel baie goeie resultate met vars beesmis en anaërobiese
kompos as inokula verkry was, was 'n volgende doel gewees om die kompoterings
tydperk te verkort deur die pH vinniger te stabiliseer. Daar was besluit om
NaHC03 by die komposteringssubstraat te voeg en so 'n vinniger pH stabilisasie
te fasiliteer.
'n UASB ('upflow anaerobic sludge blanket') bioreaktor was ook gebruik om
die komposteringsproses aan te help deur die vlugtige vetsure wat in die
kompostloog teenwoordig was, te verwyder. Die insluiting van die bioreaktor in die
anaërobiese komposteringsproses het bygedra tot die sukses van die proses
deurdat die uitvloeisel as 'n vogmiddel vir die komposteringseenhede gebruik was
en 'n konsortium van aktiewe anaërobiese bakterieë bevat het.
Nadat al die operationele parameters in plek was, was goeie resultate
bereik en het die volgende ingesluit: 'n volume reduksie van 60% (m/m), goeie
biogas produksie, 'n komposteringstyd van 25 dae, 'n kompos wat vry was van
slegste aromas, 'n finale kompos pH van >6.5, finale loog CSB van <3 000 rnq.l'
en 'n finale vetsuur konsentrasie van tussen 0 en 250 mq.l'.
lndien verdere navorsing onderneem word, word dit aanbeveel dat die
UASB bioreaktor direk aan die komposteringseenheid gekoppel word om
sodoende die proses meer aaneenlopend en die proses prakties makliker
uitvoerbaar te maak. Indien die operationele tydperk nog korter gemaak kan word
en die inokulum aanpasbaar kan wees om moeilik verteerbare afvalprodukte te
akkomodeer, sal hierdie tegnologie baie voordelig wees as 'n metode om
omgewingsbesoedeling te beheer
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Utilisation of indigenous fruit by rural communities in Mwanza District, MalawiChilimampunga, Francis Harvey 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Deforestation in Malawi is said to reach 2.3% per annum and negatively affects
agricultural production, the backbone of the country's economy. High dependence on
indigenous wood for sale as fuelwood or charcoal by rural communities due to
poverty largely contributes to this deforestation. Women and children suffer most
because they spend more time collecting firewood than men, affecting other activities
like child-care and education.
The study, aimed at investigating ways to alleviate deforestation by increasing rural
people's economic benefits from non-destructive indigenous fruit utilisation, was
conducted in Mwanza District from February to June 2001. The district's customary
forests which contain a wide variety of wild fruit species are currently deforested due
mainly to charcoal production. Five out of 16 villages facing deforestation were
randomly chosen by the lottery method. Group, individual and key informant
interviews focused on the utilisation of preferred fruit species by communities while
participatory resource assessment was used to determine availability and distribution
of fruit trees. A market survey to assess fruit trade in the country was conducted in
Balaka, Blantyre, Mangochi, Mwanza and Zomba Districts in early June 2001.
Twenty-six wild fruit species were found to be utilised by villagers in the study area
but Adansonia digitata (Baobab) was the most commonly found near villages and the
most preferred fruit by 90% of respondents. Other preferred species were Tamarindus
indica (Tamarind), Diospyros kirkii, Flacourtia indica and Vangueria infausta. Most
fruit trees except for baobab were found to be of small size classes because of being
young stems regenerating while others were shrubs. The poor largely depended on
fruit as a meal and for sale. Mainly children and women sold baobab and tamarind
within the villages while only men sold fruit at distant markets for more income.
Middlemen largely benefited from fruit sales compared to villagers who sold at low
prices and lacked marketing information. Fruit rot affected retailers outside the study
area. Tree climbing to harvest fruit was mainly done by boys and destructive
harvesting methods were associated with commercial use. Large, sweet tasting fruit
were mainly chosen by rural communities for subsistence use. Land clearance, mast
fruiting, perishability and seasonality of fruit seemed to have affected harvest both for
subsistence and for sale. However, 89% of households owned fruit trees in
homesteads and agricultural fields, said to be more protected than in communal lands
with open access. Preferred wild fruit trees were rarely cut by the communities. Local
fruit processing, mainly by women, included porridge and juice making and fruit
drying while careful storage enabled baobab fruit to be stored for up to a year.
Wild fruit plays an important role in the lives of rural communities mainly the poor.
Communities attach value to the preferred fruit species but it is difficult to convince
most of them to sell wild fruit unless value is added and price incentives are initiated.
Regular marketing information could be provided to rural communities and policy
makers should set fruit pricing guidelines to create price incentives. Domestication of
the preferred fruit trees should be encouraged for continuous fruit supply. Simple fruit
processing technologies for commercial purpose could be initiated for women mostly.
Research is needed to determine sustainable harvesting levels of wild fruit and ways
for participatory monitoring of the levels and harvesting methods used. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontbossing in Malawi beloop 2.3% per jaar, wat beteken dat landbouproduksie, die
ruggraat van die land se ekonomie, negatief geaffekteer word. Wat grootliks bydra tot
hierdie ontbossing is dat die plattelandse gemeenskappe as gevolg van armoede hoogs
afhanklik is van inheemse hout wat as brandhout of as houtskool verkoop word.
Vroue en kinders ly die meeste omdat hulle meer tyd as mans spandeer om
vuurmaakhout bymekaar te maak. Dit affekteer ander aktiwiteite soos kindersorg en
opvoeding.
Hierdie studie het ten doelom maniere te ondersoek waarvolgens ontbossing verlig
kan word deur mense op die platteland se ekonomiese voordele uit die benutting van
inheemse vrugte te vermeerder sonder dat daar enige omgewingskade aangebring
word. Die studie is uitgevoer in die Mwanza Distrik vanaf Februarie 2001 tot Junie
2001. Die distrik se inheemse bosse wat 'n wye verskeidenheid wilde vrugtespesies
bevat, word tans ontbos - hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die produksie van houtskool. Vyf
uit die 16 dorpies wat ontbossing in die gesig staar, is op 'n lukrake wyse met die
loterymetode gekies. In die onderhoude met groepe, individue, en sleutelinformante is
gefokus op die benutting van vrugtespesies wat deur die gemeenskappe verkies word.
Hulpbronevaluering is gebruik om die beskikbaarheid en verspreiding van
vrugtebome te bepaal. Die gemeenskap is by hierdie evaluering betrek.
Marknavorsing om vrugtehandel in die land te evalueer, is vroeg in Junie 2001 in die
Balaka, Blantyre, Mangochi, Mwanza en Zomba distrikte gedoen.
In die studie is bevind dat die inwoners van die area wat bestudeer is 26 wilde
vrugtespesies benut. Adansonia digitata (Baobab/Kremetartboom) is egter die meeste
naby die dorpies aangetref, en is deur 90% van die respondente as hulle gunsteling
vrug aangedui. Ander gewilde spesies is Tamarindus indica
(Tamarinde/Suurdadelboom), Diospyros kirkii, Flacourtia indica en Vangueria
infausta. Die meeste vrugtebome, behalwe die baobab, val in die laer klasse wat
grootte betref, omdat dit die jong lote is wat regenereer, terwyl ander struike is. Die
arm mense is grootliks afhanklik van vrugte as 'n maaltyd en as verkoopsartikels.
Hoofsaaklik kinders en vroue verkoop baobab- en tamarindevrugte in die dorpies,
terwyl vrugte by verafgeleë markte slegs deur mans vir 'n groter inkomste verkoop
word. Die middelman trek grootliks voordeel uit vrugteverkope, in vergelyking met
die inwoners van die dorpies wat vrugte teen lae pryse verkoop as gevolg van 'n
tekort aan bemarkingsinligting. Kleinhandelaars buite die studie-area is deur
vrugteverrotting geaffekteer. Dit is hoofsaaklik seuns wat die bome klim om vrugte te
oes, en destruktiewe oesmetodes is met kommersiële gebruik geassosieer. Plattelandse
gemeenskappe verkies hoofsaaklik groot, soet vrugte vir bestaansgebruik. Dit wil
voorkom of grondopruiming, die vrugvorming van byvoorbeeld akkers (mast
fruiting), die bederfbaarheid en seisoensgebondenheid van vrugte, die oes affekteer
vir bestaansgebruik sowel as vir verkope. Vrugtebome word egter deur 89% van die
huishoudings besit en die bome by hierdie huise en in landbouvelde word beter
beskerm as dié in gemeenskaplike lande met vrye toegang. Die gemeenskappe kap
selde hulle gunsteling wilde vrugtebome uit. Plaaslike vrugteverwerking, hoofsaaklik
deur vroue, sluit in die maak van pap en sap, asook die droog van vrugte, terwyl
sorgvuldige bewaring daartoe kan lei dat baobabvrugte vir tot 'n jaar lank gebêre kan
word. Wilde vrugte speel 'n belangrike rol in die lewens van plattelandse gemeenskappe,
veral vir die armes. Die gemeenskappe heg waarde aan hulle gunstelingvrugtespesies,
maar dit is moeilik om die meeste te oortuig om wilde vrugte te verkoop - behalwe as
waarde bygevoeg word en prysaansporings ingestel word. Gereelde
bemarkingsinligting kan aan plattelandse gemeenskappe voorsien word, en
beleidbepalers behoort riglyne vir vrugtepryse daar te stelom prysaansporings te
skep. Die mense behoort aangemoedig te word om hulle gunstelingvrugtebome by
hulle huise te plant om 'n voortdurende vrugtevoorraad te verseker. Eenvoudige
vrugteverwerkingtegnologie kan vir kommersiële doeleindes vir hoofsaaklik vroue
ingestel word. Navorsing is nodig om volhoubare oesvlakke van wilde vrugte te
bepaal, sowel as maniere vir die deelnemende monitering van hierdie vlakke en die
oesmetodes wat gebruik word.
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