International Journal of Advanced Research in Food Science and Agriculture Technology

Herbs in Malay Traditional Medicine: Analysis of Perception, Knowledge and Practice among Generation Z

Arina Johari, Nurul Jamilah Rosly — Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Malay community considers herbs to be essential components of their daily life, using them as food ingredients and much more so for medicinal purposes. But it was discovered that only the elderly continued to utilise and believe in the benefits of this herb, while generation Z was the opposite. Allowing this condition to persist will undoubtedly affect the image and identity of Malays. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the types and meanings of herbal plants used in Malay traditional medicine as well as to analyse the perceptions, knowledge, and practices of the herb among Generation Z. This study is conducted through library research method to obtain information about the types and meanings of herbal plants; semi-structured interview with 40 respondents, comprising 10 traditional medicine practitioners and 30 generation Z. Findings have found that Malay people use herbal plants as medicines in three situations: as food ingredients, as external medicinal substances, and as juice or drinking medicine. Generation Z, on the other hand, was found to be the majority not only have no belief that herbal plants may cure illness, but also found to lack awareness and knowledge about their meanings, types and uses. Findings also show that generation Z lacks interest and motivation to learn about herbal plants in addition to experiencing popular culture syndrome in their chosen dietary practices. It is hoped that this study will be able to provide value to herbal plants which are increasingly being overlooked by the younger generation thus broaden the knowledge and awareness of the community so that they continue to appreciate and preserve herbal plants as an element of Malay traditional medicine across the ages.

Policy Constructivity and Food Security Strategies: Vulnerability Issues of Rice in Kota Belud, Sabah

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The recent escalation in imported rice prices, coupled with a domestic shortfall in rice production, has significantly impacted Malaysian residents, particularly affecting the economically vulnerable B40 group which constitutes a substantial portion of the population. This scenario has contributed to a consistent increase in the cost of food items. Concurrently, the domestic scarcity of white rice is attributed to heightened demand triggered by the inflated prices of imported rice. Despite Malaysia’s 130,282 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation contributing to 40% of its total rice production, with Kota Belud, Sabah being one of the most prolific rice-producing regions spanning 7,092 hectares, the country still faces a critical vulnerability in rice and paddy supply. Notable, the area under rice cultivation in Kota Belud expanded by 1000 hectares to 9392 hectares in under three years, as of 2019. This paradox raises questions about the sufficiency of national rice supply amidst such expansion. This study aims to dissect the multifaceted factors contributing to rice supply shortages, focusing on stakeholder engagement, selection processes, and their leverage in policy-making. These elements critically affect policy space choices, alongside the feasibility and effectiveness of policy interventions. Employing qualitative methodologies, the research integrates structured interviews with key informants and the analysis of secondary data for empirical backing. Furthermore, to enrich the study's findings, questionnaires are distributed to 100 villagers in a qualitative exploration aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Preliminary findings underscore the necessity of prioritizing food security at the national level. To enhance food security concerns in Sabah and across Malaysia, the study suggests engaging the youth, enhancing road networks, developing adequate drainage and irrigation systems, and promoting a balanced cultivation of commercial and paddy crops, among other strategic interventions. These approaches are pivotal in navigating the complexities of food security and establishing a resilient rice supply chain.

Agrotechnology Students’ Acceptance on Agriculture Drones Spraying as Practical Tool in Class using the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Model

Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agriculture drones are currently becoming a major mechanization for the agricultural industry. Drones have been specifically utilized to improve agricultural activities and hence require a specific skill set to operate effectively and efficiently in the field. Therefore, the future workforce in the agriculture industry is required to learn and accept this new technology. Nonetheless, integrating drone technology into the classroom presents obstacles for students and lecturers as well. Therefore, gaining a deeper comprehension of the numerous facets of drone technology integration in higher education, especially courses related to agrotechnology programs is critical. This quantitative survey used the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) paradigm to investigate agrotechnology students' acceptance of agriculture drones while reducing ambiguity using statistical analysis SPSS 26.0 and employed both descriptive and inferential analysis techniques. The KAP model was employed in a recent survey to ascertain the student's perspective regarding drones within their practical class. In order to gain a deeper understanding of students' knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions regarding agriculture drone applications, a closed-ended structured survey was designed. The survey was disseminated to selected University Malaysia Kelantan students specifically further study in agrotechnology and intensive training on handling and practical skill-set of agriculture drone spraying was provided to them. The response from the survey obtained showed that students had a good level of knowledge about the application of agriculture drones (mean score of 4.43), attitude toward the drone application (mean score of 4.56) and practice level of the students showed a mean score of 4.57. The findings from the study revealed that the practical lesson involving agriculture drone spraying had a positive benefit on the agrotechnology student’s skills for their future career endeavor.

Application of Chitosan as a Coagulant- A Preliminary Review

Wan Nur Syazwani Wan Azhal, Siti Amira Othman — Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

One of the best water treatment methods is to use coagulant. Coagulation with metal salts like aluminium or iron salt are commercially use in the treatment of turbid sea water today. However, this type of coagulant might leave toxic residue in the treated water since it is made up from metal or inorganic material. Thus it might affect the health if the water is use for drinking and such else. Several studies on synthetic and organic polymer has been carried out in order to identify which polymer can works as a coagulant to replace the use of metal salts. Chitosan is natural polymer that can be used as a coagulant in the treatment of turbid sea water. Chitosan has been used at water purification system for detoxifying water. This might be due to its ability to form bond or coagulate with other particles. It is able to absorbs greases, oil, and other potential toxins and also have relatively lowest toxicity or risk for human since it is an organic. The contamination of water can affect both physical and chemical properties of water. Thus it is essential for the sea water to be treated to remove the turbidity so that the water can be used safely. There are many methods that can be used in the water treatment but may produce different properties of treated water. Some treated water may have poor microbiological quality which is unsafe to be use or consumed by human.

Physicochemical Characteristics of Encapsulated Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Extract: Comparison of Maltodextrin and Gum Arabic Concentrations as Coating Materials

Bambang Nurhadi, Amanda Gavrila, Souvia Rahimah, Mahani, Rudy Adi Saputra — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) contains piperine, its main alkaloid compound. However, piperine has low bioavailability due to its poor solubility in water. To address this issue, encapsulation is used. The objective of this study is to produce a water-soluble and stable black pepper extract encapsulated powder. The study encapsulated piperine using three concentrations of maltodextrin and gum arabic ratio as coating materials, namely MG1 (75:25), MG2 (25:75) and MG3 (0:100). The mixture was then combined with 30 % piperine extract using an ultrasonic processor and dried for 6 hours at 60°C in a vacuum dryer. The study results indicate that the concentration of maltodextrin and gum arabic MG1 positively affected the physicochemical characteristics of black pepper extract encapsulation. The MG1 exhibited a solubility level of 86.26 % in water, an encapsulation efficiency value of 78 % and a piperine content was stable at value of 7.08 - 7.49 % during storage.