TechnoServe Raw Cashew Nut Quality Training (‘out-turn test’) Shakti Pal
Definitions used for the course • Sample : Sample is a unit weight of nuts representing the characteristic of respective lot
• Lot : Lot is certain quantity of nuts in a stack. Eg. 20 bags, 50 bags, 500 bags etc.
• Good kernel : Kernels in good shape, size and colour • Spotted kernel : Kernels having a black or dark spot. • Premature kernel : Kernels that are not well developed, light weight and having wrinkles
• Humidified kernels : Kernels with high % of humidity that can be perceived by hand or eye
• Rotted kernels : Kernels which cannot be used for consumption because they are infected badly
• Raw nut bag : Jute bag of 80 kg filling capacity. • Pound weight unit : One pound = 454 Grams
How to take a sample to calculate Out turn • There are different ways to take samples from different lots • Small lot: we can take small quantities from different locations of the sample and mix them well and get a sample of 1kg • Big lot: small samples can be takes from different locations as shown in picture on the following slide
Sample Characteristics •
Sample Should be well dried
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Sample should represents the characteristics of the lot
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Sample should be random
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Minimum weight of the sample should be 1 kg
What is Out-turn •In general Out-turn means yields (of good kernels) •Outturn is the weight of good kernels (with peel) in Lbs weight units, when we cut a bag of cashew nuts (80 kg) •Outturn is always expressed in pounds weight units like 44 pound quality , 48 pound quality etc •Outturn is measured by cutting tests performed on samples of raw nuts which permit the farmer, factory manager or the exporter/importer to assess the final kernel obtainable from a given lot of raw nuts Different Countries have different Out-turn of raw nuts:
India Brazil Ivory Coast Benin Mozambique Kenya Indonesia
50-56 50-55 48-52 46-50 42-46 40-46 48-52
More out-turn means better quality
Vietnam Guinea Bissau Ghana Nigeria Tanzania Madagascar
50-56 48-56 44-48 40-46 45-52 40-46
Different Lots
Small Lot
Medium Lot
Different Lots
Big Lot
How to take a sample
Types of kernels (examples) Cashew nuts de-shelled
Bad Kernels
Humidified kernels
Premature kernels
Shell
Spotted kernels
Good kernels
How to calculate Out-Turn of a sample of Cashew Nuts • • • • • • • • • • •
Take a random sample of cashew nuts of 1kg weight. The sample should be well dried ( Humidity approx 8-8.5%) . Use a clean and flat surface to perform this test, a clean paper or plastic sheet can be used for this purpose Count the no. of nuts in the sample Clean the nuts and collect the dust or external material and register its weight Check the nut hoods if any apple part is attached to it, if yes seperate it and register its weight Cut the sample nuts through the line of intersection of the raw nut in shell (use castor seed oil or edible oil on hands before cutting cashew nuts is recommended to avoid the corrosive effect of the CNSL) Separate the kernels into different grades for out turn: Good kernels, Spotted kernels, Bad Kernels, Premature kernels, Humidified kernels Separate shell from kernels (kernels should contain peel also, peel is considered to be a part of the kernel while calculate the Out-Turn.) Weigh all grades separately with a electronic balance . Different grades have different % of useful kernels to calculate Out-turn.
How to calculate Out-Turn of a sample of Cashew Nuts Continues…… Like – Good kernels – 100% – Bad Kernels – 0 % – Dotted Kernels – % – Premature Kernels- % – Humidified kernels – % Dotted, Premature and humidified kernels % vary from sample to sample, person who is performing the test will decide this % depends on the actual appeariance as well characteristic • •
Calculate Total useful kernels weight for Out-turn calculations. Useful Kernel Weight = Good kernels (100%)+Dotted kernels (--%) + bad kernels (0%) +Premature Kernels ( --%)+ Humidified kernels (--%)
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Out-turn = Total Useful kernel weight ( In Grams)*80 /454
Note : Out- turn is always expressed in Lbs units. The % of useful kernels can be different on physical aspects of the sample
Example of Out-turn • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
After cutting a sample of 1 kg of raw nuts we find the following dataDust and external Material =23 grams Apple attached = 27 Grams Good kernels = 220 Grams Dotted kernels = 15 Grams Bad kernels = 10 grams Premature kernels = 16 grams Humidified kernels = 10 grams First calculate Total useful good kernels = Good kernels (100%)+Dotted kernels (50%) + bad kernels (0%) +Premature Kernels ( 50%)+ Humidified kernels (20%). Total useful Kernels = 220+7.5+0+8+2 = 237.5 Gm Outturn = Total Useful kernels weight * 80 / 454 = 237.5 * 80 / 454 = 41.85 Lbs quality Dust,external material, apple weigh dont affect the out-turn, it just give an idea of % of impurities and post harvest handlings.
“Garbage in Garbage out”
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