Browsing by Author "Elolu, Samuel"

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    Addition of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato and Iron-Rich Beans Improves Sensory, Nutritional and Physical Properties But Reduces Microbial Shelf Life of Cassava-Based Pancake (Kabalagala) Designed for Children 2-5 Years Old
    (Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 2021) Adoko, Melas Cayrol; Olum, Solomon; Elolu, Samuel; Ongeng, Duncan
    Innovative use of locally available food resources to develop products of enhanced nutritional quality is one of the strategies believed to alleviate deficiencies of essential micronutrients such as vitamin A and iron that are endemic among children 2–5 years in developing countries such as Uganda. New cassava-based pancake (kabalagala) formulae composed of orange-fleshed sweet potato, iron-rich beans, cassava and sweet banana were developed to target vitamin A and iron needs of children 2–5 years in Uganda. The new products had better sensory appeal and nutrient density, had better physical properties during storage, were stable to oxidative rancidity but had lower microbial shelf-life compared to the original pancake formula (composed of cassava and sweet banana). Notwithstanding bioavailability constraints, theoretical nutritional computation revealed that serving 100 g (approximately four pieces) of the new products would contribute approximately 99–102% of vitamin A and 110–119% of iron requirements of the targeted children.
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    Household Food Security, Child Dietary Diversity and Copping Strategies among Rural Households. The Case of Kole District in Northern Uganda
    (ResearchGate, 2022) Elolu, Samuel; Agako, Allod; Okello, Daniel Micheal
    Household food security, feeding practices, dietary diversity and copping strategies to household food insecurity are largely interconnected. Using a cross sectional study approach involving 162 mothers and care givers in Kole district of NorthernUganda, this study examined the scenarios of household food security status, child feeding practices, dietary diversity and copping strategies. The study revealed that majority of the households (55%) were food secure with an overall observation of low dietary diversity at the household level (72.8%), largely showing dominance of starch-based Cereals, roots and tubers (82%) and limited consumption of other food groups, notably fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy products (18% combined). In terms of feeding practices, majority of the children were fed breast milk for at least 24 months, with mandatory exclusive breastfeeding highly adhered to, but the introduction of complementary foods often delayed and not well planned. Results also showed that a wide range of coping strategies are employed however the major ones were, reliance on less preferred food (54.9%), limiting portions of meals (35.2%), reducing number of melas taken in a day (29%), and gathering wild fruits and harvesting immature crops (29.6%). Generally, it was observed that household food security is a strong determinant of dietary of child dietary diversity, may influence feeding practices and the range of coping strategies applicable to households when they experience food insecurity. It is apparent that nutritional education, household size and livelihood diversity also play a significant role in as far as household food security status, child feeding, diversity and food insecurity copping are concerned within rural households.
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    In Vitro Bioavailability-Based Assessment of the Contribution of Wild Fruits and Vegetables to Household Dietary Iron Requirements Among Rural Households in a Developing Country Setting: The Case of Acholi Subregion of Uganda
    (Food Science & Nutrition, 2021) Tuyizere, Jean Damascene; Okidi, Lawrence; Elolu, Samuel; Ongeng, Duncan
    Wild fruits and vegetables (WFV) are believed to contain substantial quantities of micronutrients and are commonly consumed in rural areas of developing countries endowed with natural vegetation. Previous studies that provided evidence on the contribution of WFV to household micronutrient intake in a developing country setting did not consider the effect of antinutritional factors. Therefore, applying the in vitro bioavailability assessment technique and using the Acholi subregion of Uganda a case area, this study examined the contribution of commonly consumed WFV to the pooled annual household dietary requirement for iron. Laboratory analysis showed that the concentration of antinutrients varied with plant species but the pool was dominated by phytate (10.5–150 mg/100 g) and phenolic substances (38.6–41.7 mg GAE/g). In vitro iron bioavailability varied with plant species was quantitatively higher from vegetables than fruits by 27% although total concentration of the micronutrient was higher in fruits than vegetables by 142%. Nutritional computation, taking into account, household composition, and physiological status revealed that consumption of WFV resulted in a median contribution of 1.8% (a minimum of 0.02 and a maximum of 34.7%) to the pooled annual household dietary iron requirements on the basis of bioavailable iron fraction. These results demonstrate that WFV contributes meagerly to household iron needs but may serve other dietary and non-nutrient health purposes.
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    Where is the market? Assessing the role of dryer performance and marketability of solar-dried products in acceptance of solar dryers amongst smallholder farmers
    (Heliyon, 2023) Korsuk Kumi, Peter G.; Elolu, Samuel; Odongo, Walter; Okello, Collins; Kalule, Stephen W.
    Agricultural technological development is a crucial strategy for agricultural commercialization and socio-economic transformation in Africa. However, a key challenge to technology use in agriculture remains the limited farmer acceptance of unfamiliar technologies. This paper uses a sample of 245 okra farmers drawn from northern Uganda to assess the drivers of the farmer acceptance of solar drying technology. On the basis of drying performance, farmers perceive the solar dryer to perform better than the open sun-drying method. Structural equation modelling results show that the drying rate and perceived product quality are the main determinants of farmer perceptions on product marketability. Further, product marketability drives acceptance of solar dryers among farmers. We conclude that acceptance of solar dryers is dependent on: i) the drying rate, ii) favorable perceptions towards product quality, and iii) perceived marketability of the solar-dried product. We call for policy action on intensification of efforts that promote solar drying technology, including supporting local artisans to fabricate dryers, to enable increased value addition and consumption of nutritious foods.