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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 7
Publication Date: July 25, 2021
DOI:10.14738/assrj.87.10589. Eze, E. E., & Asogwa, E. U. (2021). Knowledge of Artificial Fruit Ripening Among Consumers in Rivers State. Advances in Social
Sciences Research Journal, 8(7). 436-454.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Knowledge of Artificial Fruit Ripening Among Consumers in
Rivers State
Eze, Elizabeth E. M.Sc
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education
Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt
Asogwa, Emmanuel. U. Ph.D
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education
Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt
ABSTRACT
The study investigated the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers
in Rivers State. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Four
research questions and three null hypotheses tested at .05 alpha level guided the
study. The population for the study was 2,617,600 respondents in fruit markets in
Rivers State. A sample size of 1,024 fruit consumers was drawn suing multistage
sampling procedure. Data were collected using a validated self-structured
questionnaire titled "Knowledge of Artificial Fruit Ripening (KAFR)”. Guttman Split- Half Coefficient of 0.881 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation
in conjunction with Spearman Brown correction statistics. Data were analyzed
using percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, z-test, and One way
Analysis of Variance. It was found that consumers had moderate knowledge of
artificial fruit ripening in Rivers State. Also, male consumers, those within 31-40
years and those with tertiary education had higher knowledge of artificial fruit
ripening. More so, the study revealed significant difference in knowledge among
consumers in Rivers State based on gender, age and level of education. Based on the
findings, the study recommended among others that; community health workers in
Rivers State should organize regular heath education campaigns concerning the
dangers of using chemicals for fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State.
Keywords: Knowledge, Artificial Fruit Ripening, Consumers.
INTRODUCTION
Fruit is any structure that develops from a fertilized ovary, at the base of the flower and contains
the seeds of the plant (Arya, Doke, Bhalerao, & Shinde, 2017). Fruits provide nourishment to
the body and are best enjoyed when they are ripened. Fruit ripening is a physiological and
natural process in which fruits go through various chemical changes and gradually become
sweet, coloured, soft and palatable (Bouzayen, Latche, Nath & Pech, 2010; Prasanna, Prabha &
Tharanathan, 2007). Though a natural process, fruit ripening can also be activated using
various artificial fruit ripening agents. Natural ripening can be very slow, and many consumers
are not ready to wait for the natural ripening process. Thus, over the years, various artificial
methods have been used to ripen fruits to quicken the process and meet consumers’ growing
demands caused by increasing consciousness of the nutritional and health benefits of fruits.
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Eze, E. E., & Asogwa, E. U. (2021). Knowledge of Artificial Fruit Ripening Among Consumers in Rivers State. Advances in Social Sciences Research
Journal, 8(7). 436-454.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.87.10589
The need for artificial ripening is often encountered when fruit vendors have to deal with
transportation and distribution issues. After maturation, fruits are harvested, transported, and
distributed. Transporting and distributing fruits from the farmers’ orchard to the consumers’
basket can take several days. During this time, naturally ripened fruits can become overripe
and inedible. Some fruits if already ripened naturally cannot withstand harsh transportation
conditions and can become damaged. The inedible and damaged fruits are discarded along the
supply chain to meet quality and aesthetic standards set by consumers. This is an economic loss
for the fruit-vendors and so to minimize the loss, fruits for commercial purposes are usually
harvested unripe, transported, and then, artificially ripened at their site of retail in order to
avoid spoilage (Akor & Mensa, 2018).
In recent times, fruits are artificially ripened using various chemicals to satisfy their extreme
demand and overcome transportation damage. In different Western countries, selected
ripening agents can be applied to ripen specific fruits under controlled conditions. Among the
widely used artificial ripening agents, ethylene and methyl jasmonate are reported non-toxic
for human consumption (Ur-Rahman, Chowdhury& Alam, 2008). It is interesting to note that
developed countries like USA and UK allow using ethylene for postharvest ripening of selected
fruits following specific dosing protocols not beyond tolerance limit. The commercial use of
ethylene for fruit ripening is at a low concentration and simply initiates the respiratory
climacteric.
However, ethylene is relatively expensive, scarce and requires high precautionary measures
due to its explosive nature (Ur-Rahman, Chowdhury & Alam, 2008). Therefore, in developing
countries like Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, low-cost chemicals such as calcium
carbide, ethylene glycol and ethephon are reportedly used to trigger the ripening process
(Siddiqui & Dhua, 2010; Ogundipe, 2018). Industrial grade calcium carbide (CaC2) is the most
common and widely used chemical for ripening of fruits, due to its low price and ready
availability in local market. Upon application on fruits, calcium carbide meets moisture and
releases acetylene gas, which has fruit ripening characteristics like ethylene (Ur-Rahman,
Chowdhury & Alam, 2008). Industrial grade calcium carbide generally contains impurities of
arsenic and phosphorus which pose several health problems (Igbinaduwa, Omotoso, Aikpitanyi
& Uwaezuoke, 2018). Research has found that fruits that have been artificially ripened with
calcium carbide contain high levels of heavy metals and other chemicals which get diffused into
fruits, even those having hard peels, exposing public health to serious hazards such as cancer
(Hossain, 2018; Igbinaduwa, Omotoso, Aikpitanyi & Uwaezuoke, 2018; Ogundipe, 2018). This
is the reason its use is banned in most countries; but because of its cheap price and easy
availability, it is still in use (Sinha, 2010; Hossain, 2018; Igbinaduwa, Omotoso, Aikpitanyi &
Uwaezuoke, 2018; Ogundipe, 2018).
Recently, there is an upsurge in reported cases of carbide-ripened fruits in some countries
including Nigeria (Oche, 2014; Opare, 2016). Although regulatory bodies exist to deal with food
safety, there is still lack of specific regulations and technical support to control artificial fruit
ripening in a good number of African countries (Stemming Dangers,’ 2018; Islam, Mursalat, &
Khan, 2016). In Nigeria, some of the fruits most affected by this practice include bananas,
mangoes and plantains. The nutritional value of these fruits cannot be over-emphasized. It is
noteworthy that high levels of arsenic and phosphorus, impurities found in calcium carbide
have also been detected in fruits marketed in Benin City, Edo State (Igbinaduwa, Omotoso,
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 7, July-2021
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Aikpitanyi & Uwaezuoke, 2018). Inasmuch as fruits usually have short life spans, which
requires action if we are to safeguard food and avoid financial loss, human health should be
paramount in any decision that allows or disallows the use of these chemicals in food
production.
Due to the prevalence of artificial fruit ripening in the country, consumers are expected to have
adequate knowledge of artificial fruit ripening. Vendors indulge in artificial fruit ripening to
meet the aesthetic standards of consumers as fruits that have been artificially ripened are very
attractive (Akor & Mensa, 2018). This simply shows that consumers do not have adequate
knowledge about the health implications of consuming such fruits and are only concerned
about their attractiveness. Limited studies exist on knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among
consumers in a populous country like Nigeria. It became appropriate therefore, to embark on
the present study to ascertain the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers in
Rivers State.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nowadays, fruits are artificially ripened using various hazardous chemicals. This is fast
becoming a norm in Nigeria despite its harmful implications for health. Research has proven
that calcium carbide, the most prevalent artificial ripening agent in developing countries is
extremely detrimental to human health. With the growing rise of chemical contamination of
fruits, it is little wonder that these days non-communicable diseases such as cancer and internal
organs failure have become common in Nigeria and this could be partly attributed to increase
in the consumption of fruits that have been contaminated with chemicals through processes
such as artificial fruit ripening.
Presently, there are several fruit and vegetable markets in Rivers State. Considering the
reported cases of enforced ripening of fruits with calcium carbide across Nigeria, it is
undoubtedly that most of the fruits in these markets and other selling locations would be
artificially ripened with calcium carbide to meet the increasing demands and maximize profits.
It is based on these observations that the researchers decided to find out the knowledge of
artificial fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State, the most populated state in the Niger
Delta Region of Nigeria, due to her capital-status and being home for gas and oil exploration in
the region.
Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study.
1. What is the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State?
2. What is the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State based
on gender?
3. What is the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State based
on age?
4. What is the knowledge of artificial fruit ripening among consumers in Rivers State based
on level of education?