Identifying the constraining factors of production and yield gap is very important. Therefore; this research was performed to identify the production constraining factors of local rice cultivars. All management practices from nursery preparation to harvesting stages for 100 paddy fields of local rice cultivars were recorded through field studies, in Sari, from 2015-2016. In the CPA, the actual and calculated potential yield were 4495 and 5703 kg/ha, respectively and the gap was 1221 kg/ha. The yield gap caused by number of top-dressing variables was 324 kg/ha, equal to 27% of the total yield gap. The yield gap related to previous year of legumes cultivation was 218 kg ha-1, equal to 18% of the total yield variation. Among the 10 variables entered in the CPA model, the effects of top-dress fertilizer application and its application frequency and foliar application were remarkable, which could compensate a significant part of the yield gap (444 kg/ha, 37% of total) in the farmers’ fields by managing these variables. According to boundary line analysis (BLA) finding, actual yield mean on the basis of optimal limit related to 12 variables under study was 5369 kg/ha, with 881 kg/ha yield gap . Mean relative yield and relative yield gap for 12 variables (transplanting date, seedling age, number of seedlings per hill, planting density, nitrogen and phosphorous per hectare, nitrogen before transplanting, harvesting date, lodging problem, pest problem, diseases problem and weeds problem) were 83.64 and 16.35 kg/ha, respectively. Based on the finding, it can be stated that the model precision is appropriate and can be applied for both estimation of the quantity of yield gap and determining the portion of each restricting yield variables.

Purpose Composting has the potential to recycle wastes as a means of conserving natural resources. The study was aimed at examining feasibility of producing nutrient-enriched composts from pest infested cocoa pods with chemical amendments and using manure composts as a fertilizing material in cocoa seedling nursery.Methods Cocoa pod waste was composted in static vessels, aerobically, with chemical enrichments (triple super phosphate charged at 0.4% P or urea charged at 0.8% N or poultry manure charged at 22%) along with a control at the Cocoa and Coconut Institute, Papua New Guinea. The reaction (pH) of the composting mixtures (pH) and macronutrients dynamics was monitored at periodic intervals.Effect of soil incorporation of cocoa pod manure composts at 10 g kg-1 was assessed on the growth and foliar concentration of macro-nutrients in hybrid cocoa seedlings.Results In the finished manure composts, dry matter loss ranged from 30.6 to 63.3%; greatest in composting mixtures charged with super phosphate and poultry manure. Besides, super phosphate enriched mixture lost small fraction of initial N (6.6%) compared to un-enriched cocoa pod waste (30.2%). Composting mixtures with greater pH values during composting process showed higher losses of N. Super phosphate charged manure compost outperformed the control, in terms of C/N ratio and concentration of macro-nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg and S). Quality parameters for all the manure composts conformed to the Canadian Compost Guidelines indicating satisfactory standards. Waste cocoa pods enriched with superphosphate did not show any deleterious effects on cocoa seedlings’ growth, rather, improved plant height, dry matter production and foliar N concentration.Conclusion Waste cocoa pods, co-composted with triple super phosphate and poultry manure, produced composts of desirable quality and can be effectively used to fertilize the cocoa seedlings.

Cocoa powder and chocolate are one of the most popular ingredients used in food products. The flavor of these products plays an important role in the consumer's popularity and acceptance. Pyrazines are one of the main constituents of the heterocyclic group of volatiles and key components of odor in cocoa flavor. In order to evaluate the effect of the process of cocoa powder production on the composition of desirable fragrances, the stages of cocoa powder production line were sampled from Cameroon seeds and the samples were analyzed and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the alkalization stage is one of the important and effective steps on the flavor of cocoa powder. Therefore, the effect of three types of alkali (NaOH, K2CO3 and NH4HCO3) was investigated at different concentrations. The data indicated that the polyphenolac and alkylpyrazines amounts significantly changed. Non-alkaline powder had higher polyphenol and tetramethylpyrazine to trimethylpyrazine (TMP/TrMP) ratios than alkaline cocoa powder. In addition, in alkaline cocoa samples, the amounts of polyphenol and alkylpyrazine decreased with increasing alkali concentration. At the same concentration, alkalization with a NaOH solution produced a higher polyphenol content and TMP/TrMP ratio, but lower alkylpyrazine value than that with a K2CO3 solution. Light alkalization cocoa powder with K2CO3 solution (pH 6. 89) produced the highest amount of alkylpyrazine.

In West Africa, low adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers has been partly due to the complexity of the innovation structure or new knowledge beyond the farmers’ socio-economic adaptive capacities. Different attempts have been made to improve cocoa beans quality in Nigeria among which was the recommendation of ‘improved cultural practices’ or ‘best known practices’ (ICMP). This had recorded little success because of the complexity and enormity of the ICMP. The present study, therefore, made an attempt to resolve this, in the major cocoa growing states of Nigeria, through farmers-researcher participatory approach with the aid of interview guide. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Principal Component Analysis procedures in SPSS to identify the minimum essential practices out of the overall ICMP for sustainable cocoa production. The result showed that cocoa farmers practiced 47 activities recognized as ICMP which were grouped as nursery, on farm, harvesting or post-harvest activities. The highest overall percentage use of any of these activities was 3 %, while the least being smaller than 1 %. It was found that 13 out of 47 activities contributed 71.45 % to the overall ICMP, whereas the current cumulative percent use of these 13 activities was 28 %. The individual percent use of each of the 13 activities was about 3 %. The highest contributors among the 13 activities were coded ba1 and ba11 while the least was bb4. Efforts to intensify the use of these 13 activities rather than the 47 activities should be encouraged among farmers for sustainable and high quality cocoa production.

Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans -the fruit of the cacao tree or Theobroma cacao (the latin term: food of the gods). Recent published articles demonstrate that the quality and quantity of the antioxidants in cocoa and chocolate are very high and their flavonoids are believed to reduce the number of free radicals in the body that contribute to medical problems, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer and also to offer some anti-aging health benefits. Cocoa can lower the leukotriene / prostacyclin ratio and is shown to have beneficial effects on platelets and possibly inflammation and vessel dilation. They inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, raise the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level and reduce the thrombotic tendency. Their antioxidant catechin content is four times that of tea. They help the body process nitric oxide. Their flavanols and procyanidins have inhibitory effects on hemolysis, they can also attribute as a defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and can inhibit their carcinogenic processes. Also they are shown to inhibit growth and polyamine biosynthesis of human colonic cancer cells. They contain tryptophan and anandamide, which lessen anxiety, promote relaxation and trigger the production of endorphins. Cocoa can prevent dental caries and may play a regulating role in the function of the immune system and prevent infectious and autoimmune diseases. It stimulates lactase enzyme activity.Although caffeine may be harmful in large dose, chocolate contains it in small amount in comparison to coffee and tea. Negative effects of chocolate on childhood hyperactivity and migraine as well as tension headaches are controversial. Since the theobromine content of chocolate relaxes the esophageal sphincter, patients suffering from heartburn should avoid it. Cocoa can trigger some allergic reactions such as atopic dermatitis.This article reviews the potential health benefits and disadvantages of cocoa & chocolate and suggests that their flavonoid-rich types are health beneficial and when consumed in moderation, along with other plant foods, can be part of a healthy diet.