Kirti Jalgaonkar

Entrepreneurial Skill Development through Aonla Processing in Punjab, India

Indian economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture and allied sectors as they are the important source of raw material and demand for many industrial products. As one among the allied sector, food processing sector is nowadays gaining attention amid entrepreneurs across the country. Famer’s interest as an entrepreneur is constantly increasing in terms of investment which creates a promising atmosphere for affluent growth of food processing industry. Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India is a wing which is actively engaged in promoting entrepreneurial activities in fruits and vegetables processing sector. However, there exists a definite demand to attract the small and marginal farmers to avail this entrepreneurship facility so that it can help in improving their livelihood and become a source of their family income. This particular case study is a representation of facilities availed by some entrepreneurs in ICAR-CIPHET Abohar for aonla processing. Such kind of information may become a source of encouragement for the farmers who are having a desire to promote themselves as farmer cum businessman.

Optimization of mixed aonla-guava fruit bar using response surface methodology

Purpose This paper aims to optimize the quantum of aonla pulp that could be mixed with guava pulp to make a nutritional rich fruit bar. The developed fruit bar will not only help in the improvement of processing value of both Guava and underused but highly nutritional Aonla but also serve the purpose of improvement in nutritional status of consumers. Design/methodology/approach Response surface methodology (RSM) using Box–Behnken design was used with the process variables as aonla and guava pulp ratio, PR (30:70, 40:60, 50:50); pectin concentration, PC (0, 0.15, 0.30%); and drying temperature, DT (50, 60, 70°C) for optimization of process conditions. The prepared mixed fruit leather was evaluated for physico-chemical, textural and sensory properties such as titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid content (AA), L value (lightness), cutting force (CF), taste and overall acceptability (OAA). Findings Second-order regression models fitted for TA, AA, L value (lightness), CF, taste and OAA were highly significant (P = 0.01) with the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.85). The TA and AA of mixed fruit bar increased whereas L value, CF, taste and OAA decreased with increasing level of aonla pulp in the blend formulation. The optimum process conditions for mixed aonla-guava bar with desirable characteristics were 40:60 (PR), 0.02% (PC) and 56°C (DT). The corresponding optimum values of TA, AA, L value, CF, taste and OAA were 1.00%, 164 mg/100 g, 50, 5066 g, 7.83 and 7.92, respectively. The design formulation and data analysis using RSM validated the optimum solution. Originality/value This paper demonstrates that optimum blending of aonla and guava pulp has improved the overall nutritional characteristics and acceptability of the final product. This will not only help in reducing the associated post-harvest losses but also encourage the cultivators/local processing industries by stabilizing the price during glut sea.

Moisture-Dependent Physical and Physiological Properties of Accelerated Aged Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) Seeds

The present study was carried out to determine the physical as well as physiological properties of three fresh pea seed lots (cv. Arkel) with moisture content and germination percentage varying from 14.94% to 28.04% dry basis and 80% to 60% respectively. This variation in moisture content and physiological parameters was obtained using accelerated aging (40C and 100% RH). The geometric (spatial dimensions, sphericity and surface area), gravimetric (terminal velocity, true density, test weight, bulk density and porosity), frictional (angle of repose, coefficient of static friction), mechanical (compressive strength) and physiological parameters (seedling dry weight, seedling length, vigour indices, electrical conductivity and root growth parameters) were determined for the selected seed lots. The effect of moisture content on seed lots was significant (R  0.947) on physical and physiological properties of seed lots. This study may help in designing seed priming prototype suitable for pea seeds.

Influence of particle size on rheological properties of mango peel powder

This study was envisaged to investigate the effect of particle size on the rheological characteristics ofmango cv. Bangalora peel powder under ambient conditions using a rotational rheometer. The consequencesof sample concentration, i.e., powder: water (1: 4, 1: 5, 1: 6) was also evaluated. Sieve analysis using screens(420, 355, 250, 125 microns) was done to achieve the desired variation in particle size. Shear stress-shear ratedata was adequately fitted to Herschel-Bulkey, Power law and Casson law and the rheological properties wererepresented graphically by rheograms for 0 to 100 s−1 shear rate. Relative parameters and regression analysisagainst each model determined the flow characteristics of the samples. Selected three models showed wellrepresentation of the rheological data, with high regression coefficients. Model parameters (consistencycoefficient, flow behaviour index and R2) validated the deviation in rheological characteristics with particle sizeand sample concentration. Shear stress (τ) increases steeply with sample concentration for equivalent particlesize, however, for the same sample concentration, negative correlation of particle size with shear stress wasreported. The identification of suitable particle size and sample concentration might be useful in understandingof rheological properties of the peel powder of selected cultivar.