LECTURER:         D.V. Chiuswa
Office - Department of Soil Science & Agric. Eng. DG29
Office hours - to be arranged

LECTURE:          T.B.A

LABS/VISITS/
TUTORIALS :     T.B.A

ASSESSMENT:       2 continuous assessment tests    5%
Reports:  paper, factory visits
and laboratory reports          25%
Examination                     70%
Total                          100%

OBJECTIVES: The course will provide students with:

1. An appreciation of crop and crop product quality    measurement and maintenance techniques.

2.    An in-depth understanding of drying and storage methods, storage buildings and processing plants.

3.    Skills to assess post harvest crop losses.

4.    A working knowledge of pest management (IPM) techniques.

5.    A good understanding of crop processing technology and   related energy problems.

The course includes a large amount of work that students do on their own and in groups. It is expected that the students through working together will acquire a team spirit and also enjoy the benefits of more that one head at work.  After each factory visit the students are expected to submit a concise technical report of not more that three pages on the visit within a week. Assignments have due dates and late submissions will not be marked. Term papers have to be typed and must be of a level befitting a third year graduate-to-be in their intellectual quality and presentation.  Poor use of English and technical terms will affect the marks awarded. The students are expected to read around the subject extensively to achieve good grades. Each student is also expected to give a five-minute of their term paper.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

 l.       Introduction
          Course administration and objectives

 2.       Systems approach and its applications to Biological systems.
          Agricultural system; steps of a system study, conceptual models, system capacity.

 3.       The Post harvest system.

 4.       Properties of crop commodities
          Crop properties as they affect the design of machines.
          Composition of important crops.

 5.      Moisture and its Measurement
          Equilibrium moisture relationships, significanceof moisture content in crop drying and storage.
          (Ref. G.M.B. grading standards).  Behaviour of moisture in grain bulk/stacks.
          Moisturecontent determination.
          Moisture meter calibration.

 6.      Crop Drying
          Rate periods of drying.  Thin layer drying.
          Deep layer drying.  Energy required for drying.
          Natural drying, Artificial drying, Psychrometrics.

          TEST

 7.      Biology of Storage Pests:
          Insect i.e. life cycles, anatomy and physiology.
          Primary and Secondary insect pests and how theydamage stored commodities.
          Detection of pest infestation.
          Biology of fungi and how they cause damage.
          Rodent biology and behaviour.
          Storage losses including loss assessment methods.
 

 8.      Pest Infestation Control:
          Methods of control. Chemical, biological and physical.
          Chemical control. (Natural Practices).
          Insecticide - Chemical groups, formulation.
          Application methods and equipment. Insect resistance.  Fumigants.  Safe use of chemicals.
          Rodent control.

 9.      Design, Construction and Management of Storage Facilities.
          On farm storage structures.  Materials properties of a good store.
          Silos, sheds, warehouses and open stacks, bunkers.
          Management of Storage Facilities.

 10.    Handling and Storage of Horticultural Crops
          Causes of losses e.g. Physiological changes, mechanical damage, pests and diseases.
          Quality assessment. Conservation techniques for horticultural crops.

11.     Processing of Agricultural Crops
         Milling -- hammer, plate and roller milling.
         Extrusion.  Oil expression-hydraulic and solvent.
         Drying fruits and vegetables. Pulping and fruit juices. Canning. Packaging.

        TEST

FINAL EXAMINATION    1*3 hour paper

 REFERENCES

 1.   Storage of cereal grains and their products AACC edited by
      C.M. Christensten.

 2.   Grain drying, handling and storage handbook Midwest Plan
      Service.

 3.   Physical properties of Plant and Animal Products Nuri, N.
      Mohsenin

 4.   Handling and Storage of Food Grains.  F.A.O.

 5.   Prevention of post harvest food losses.  F.A.O.

 6.   Drying cereal grains. - Brooker AVI

 7.   Post harvest Biotechnology of oilseeds Salunke and Desai

 8.   Insect Management for Food Storage and Processing F.J. Baur
      ed.  AACC

 9.   Farm structures in Tropical Climates -- F.A.O.

 10.  Post harvest technology of horticultural crops.

 11.  Stored grain pests. -- by D.V. Chiuswa

AGEN303: LABORATORY EXERCISBS AND FACTORY VISITS

 1. Development of conceptual diagrams

 2.1 Grading of grains:  Grain Marketing Board
 2.2 Determination of angle of repose

 3. Oil extraction from sunflower

 4. Milling:  National Foods or Blue Ribbon Foods

 5. Snack Foods Manufacture:  Cairns Foods

 6.Solar drying

 7. Orange juice extraction

 8. Fumigation and other pest control methods: Grain Marketing
    Board

 Report writing
 Presentation of term paper