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Zinc (Zn) is a fundamental micronutrient required by all living organisms. Zn deficiency among children under 5 years, pregnant, and child-bearing women has been identified in developing countries such as Pakistan. Biofortified crops can increase micronutrient levels and decrease deficiencies. Meanwhile, consumer acceptance is essential, given that genetic alterations can occur during biofortification, resulting in changes in sensory traits and the quality of grains. Therefore, the present study focuses on the determining factors for consumer acceptance of Zn-biofortified wheat., an experimental survey was conducted to achieve the study's objectives. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed from 203 respondents in the Punjab province. The results regarding sensory perceptions revealed that people attached great importance to the appearance of the chapati prepared with Zn-biofortified wheat. Therefore, they were willing to purchase Zn-biofortified wheat when asked to choose between the conventional wheat and the Zn-biofortified wheat. Moreover, the probit model illustrates that the level of education in the family and having young children aged under 5 years in the household positively impacted the acceptance of Zn-biofortified wheat among the participants. The findings suggest that there is significant scope for promoting Zn-biofortified wheat in the country. It is also imperative to ensure its availability across various regions so that households with weak purchasing power can buy and address their Zn deficiency. Furthermore, policymakers could introduce reforms targeting business communities for food management, keeping Zn-biofortified wheat in the priority stream.
Muhammad Rizwan; Yueji Zhu; Ping Qing; Debin Zhang; Umar I. Ahmed; Hui Xu; Muhammad A. Iqbal; Abdul Saboor; Arshad M. Malik; Adnan Nazir; Xuelian Wu; Puming He; Azam Tariq. Factors Determining Consumer Acceptance of Biofortified Food: Case of Zinc-Fortified Wheat in Pakistan's Punjab Province. Frontiers in Nutrition 2021, 8, 1 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Rizwan, Yueji Zhu, Ping Qing, Debin Zhang, Umar I. Ahmed, Hui Xu, Muhammad A. Iqbal, Abdul Saboor, Arshad M. Malik, Adnan Nazir, Xuelian Wu, Puming He, Azam Tariq. Factors Determining Consumer Acceptance of Biofortified Food: Case of Zinc-Fortified Wheat in Pakistan's Punjab Province. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021; 8 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Rizwan; Yueji Zhu; Ping Qing; Debin Zhang; Umar I. Ahmed; Hui Xu; Muhammad A. Iqbal; Abdul Saboor; Arshad M. Malik; Adnan Nazir; Xuelian Wu; Puming He; Azam Tariq. 2021. "Factors Determining Consumer Acceptance of Biofortified Food: Case of Zinc-Fortified Wheat in Pakistan's Punjab Province." Frontiers in Nutrition 8, no. : 1.
Pakistan is an agrarian economy confronting both risk and uncertainty. Rural migration to urban and off-farm work is increasing in the country. Off-farm work assists in decreasing risk and uncertainty while technical efficiency is linked with off-farm employment. This research effort aims at investigating the underpinnings of production characteristics, risk, and efficiency across categories of rice farmers, i.e., with and without off-farm work, by developing two stochastic frontier models. Empirical results reveal that both groups of farmers are using inputs in different ways, subsequently production varies across these groups. Farmers in both the categories have common characteristics in terms of production function. Coefficient of family size is positively significant to the group of farmers having off-farm work while negatively associated to their counterparts. High temperature and prevalence of disease found risk increasing factors. Though one group is more efficient, in general both groups are technically inefficient. The short-term policy focus should be diverted to ensuring availability and timely application of inputs to enhance efficiency. In the long run, policy initiatives need to be taken towards rural development by providing employment facilitating social and economic infrastructure, along with focus on Research and Development (R&D) particularly keeping the rice belt in view.
Muhammad Rizwan; Ping Qing; Abdul Saboor; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Adnan Nazir. Production Risk and Competency among Categorized Rice Peasants: Cross-Sectional Evidence from an Emerging Country. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3770 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Rizwan, Ping Qing, Abdul Saboor, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Adnan Nazir. Production Risk and Competency among Categorized Rice Peasants: Cross-Sectional Evidence from an Emerging Country. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3770.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Rizwan; Ping Qing; Abdul Saboor; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Adnan Nazir. 2020. "Production Risk and Competency among Categorized Rice Peasants: Cross-Sectional Evidence from an Emerging Country." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3770.
In this study, the changes in enzyme activities, total polyphenols, phenolic profile, and physicochemical properties from thermally (25–75 °C) and high-pressure carbon dioxide (HP-CO2) (25–65 °C/20 MPa)-treated apple juice were investigated. The HP-CO2 exhibited complete inactivation of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) at 65 °C, whereas PPO was still active at 75 °C under thermal processing (TP). Similarly, the relative activity of peroxidase (POD) significantly decreased by 71% at 65 °C under HP-CO2 processing, whereas TP was less effective. HP-CO2 and TP treatments at 65 °C reduced the browning degree (BD) value to 0.47 and 0.89, respectively. Thus, HP-CO2 inhibits the browning reactions caused by PPO and POD enzymes at each operating temperature. The concentration of epicatechin and catechin increased significantly with increasing temperature above 45 °C in TP-treated juices. HP-CO2 treatment increased the same phenolic compounds at 35 °C and 9 MPa, whereas high-temperature and -pressure conditions caused insignificant changes in concentration of epicatechin and catechin. Changes in others phenolic compounds were insignificant under TP and HP-CO2 treatment. Overall, HP-CO2 is a promising technology to get high-quality juices with lower enzyme activity.
Ayesha Murtaza; Aamir Iqbal; Krystian Marszałek; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Shinawar Waseem Ali; Xiaoyun Xu; Siyi Pan; Wanfeng Hu. Enzymatic, Phyto-, and Physicochemical Evaluation of Apple Juice under High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide and Thermal Processing. Foods 2020, 9, 243 .
AMA StyleAyesha Murtaza, Aamir Iqbal, Krystian Marszałek, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Shinawar Waseem Ali, Xiaoyun Xu, Siyi Pan, Wanfeng Hu. Enzymatic, Phyto-, and Physicochemical Evaluation of Apple Juice under High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide and Thermal Processing. Foods. 2020; 9 (2):243.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAyesha Murtaza; Aamir Iqbal; Krystian Marszałek; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Shinawar Waseem Ali; Xiaoyun Xu; Siyi Pan; Wanfeng Hu. 2020. "Enzymatic, Phyto-, and Physicochemical Evaluation of Apple Juice under High-Pressure Carbon Dioxide and Thermal Processing." Foods 9, no. 2: 243.
Far-reaching changes in the domestic and global markets are crafting big avenues for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. This study examines the agriculture entrepreneurship and farmers’ performance in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A survey was conducted to collect primary data from three agricultural zones adjacent to the under-construction CPEC in Pakistan. According to the results, market orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, innovation orientation, and opportunity recognition positively influence agriculture entrepreneurship thereby facilitating timely distribution of food commodities in ensuring food security. Our findings also indicate that uptake of entrepreneurship complements farmers’ marketing, operational and economic performance. These findings do imply that improving farmers’ entrepreneurial skills is the essential element for their improved performance in terms of locating potential markets and timely delivery of primary commodities, such as food items. It suggests that farmers might seek enormous economic opportunities arising from improved infrastructure, output linkages, connectivity and access to global markets through the CPEC. Based on the findings, the study provides implications for policymakers to channelize the potential endeavors for facilitating the farmers’ access to new markets and getting the foremost advantage of Belt and Road Initiative. The study also extends the existing literature on agriculture entrepreneurship-opportunity recognition and access to new markets in a befitting manner.
Ali Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Xiangmei Li. Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1838 .
AMA StyleAli Sher, Saman Mazhar, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Xiangmei Li. Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (7):1838.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAli Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Xiangmei Li. 2019. "Linking Entrepreneurial Skills and Opportunity Recognition with Improved Food Distribution in the Context of the CPEC: A Case of Pakistan." Sustainability 11, no. 7: 1838.
This study aims to assess food security status of rural, peri-urban and urban households and role of socio-economic factors in ensuring food security. A survey was conducted to collect primary (quantitative) data from 630 respondents using proportionate sampling technique from Punjab, Pakistan. Cronbach’s Alpha reveals stability (>0.75) of data scale items. Using Dietary Intake Assessment (DIA), findings reveal urban households as highly food-secure whereas rural household as most vulnerable to food security at 2450kcal/day per person. Study indicates food price increase as the leading factor in preventing food security among households. Contrary, study identifies risk factors associated to food quality under the abundant availability and access as the new dimension to household food insecurity. Further, results of binary logit model show that socio-economic factors such as monthly income, total number of earners, education of household head and access to market are positively related with food security status whereas, social isolation, volatility in food prices and risk factors in food quality are negatively related with household food security. Therefore, study proposes educational orientation and entrepreneurial development as sustainable solution to ensure food security among masses. Besides, further country level researches are advised to deep delve the mounting menace of food security.
Ali Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Li Xiangmei. Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province. 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleAli Sher, Saman Mazhar, Azhar Abbas, Muhammad Amjed Iqbal, Li Xiangmei. Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province. . 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAli Sher; Saman Mazhar; Azhar Abbas; Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Li Xiangmei. 2018. "Who is more Food Secure among Rural, Peri-urban and Urban Households in Pakistan? Results from a field survey in Punjab province." , no. : 1.
| Non-farm income is a major source of income along with farming for agricultural households. The present study is aimed at investigating the significance of non-farm income in farm household’s poverty and income inequality. Data were collected from 480 cotton growing respondents from six districts of Punjab province of Pakistan and Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index along with Gini coefficient were estimated to assess the impacts of non-farm income on household’s poverty and income inequality. The results indicated that non-farm income supports towards poverty reduction of households in the study area. However, it was observed that rise in non-farm income has slightly increased the income inequality among the selected households of Punjab Province.
Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Azhar Abbas; Raza Ullah; Umar Ijaz Ahmed; Ali Sher; Shoaib Akhtar. Effect of Non-Farm Income on Poverty and Income Inequality: Farm Households Evidence from Punjab Province Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 2018, 34, 1 .
AMA StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal, Azhar Abbas, Raza Ullah, Umar Ijaz Ahmed, Ali Sher, Shoaib Akhtar. Effect of Non-Farm Income on Poverty and Income Inequality: Farm Households Evidence from Punjab Province Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture. 2018; 34 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal; Azhar Abbas; Raza Ullah; Umar Ijaz Ahmed; Ali Sher; Shoaib Akhtar. 2018. "Effect of Non-Farm Income on Poverty and Income Inequality: Farm Households Evidence from Punjab Province Pakistan." Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 34, no. 2: 1.
Cotton farmers have to deal with various kind of environmental and production risks. Risk attitude and perceptions play an important role in shaping farmers' decision regarding farm operations and management of exposed risks. Research on various aspects of managing risks in developing countries is few. Hence, keeping in view the research gap, this study aims to investigate the farmers' attitude and perceptions of various kinds of risks to which cotton crop is exposed in Pakistan. This study is based on a farm household survey of 480 farmers in six cotton belt districts of Punjab province, Pakistan. Equally Likely Certainty Equivalent (ELCE) and risk matrix methods are used to determine risk attitude and risk perceptions respectively. In addition, factor affecting farmers' attitude and perceptions are also analyzed by using probit model. The findings of the study revealed that that majority of farmers are risk averse in nature and reported flood, excessive rainfall, increased incidents of crop diseases and higher input prices as major risks exposed to their cotton crop. Furthermore, study found that age, education, location, off-farm income and access to market information are the factors which significantly (either positively or negatively) affect the farmers' risk perceptions and attitude. Study provides useful firsthand information to researchers and policy makers about the local understanding of risks to cotton crop in a developing country which could be used for research on farmers’ adaptation to exposed risks.
Muhammad Amjed Iqbal; Qing Ping; Muhammad Abid; Syed Muhammad Muslim Kazmi; Muhammad Rizwan. Assessing risk perceptions and attitude among cotton farmers: A case of Punjab province, Pakistan. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 2016, 16, 68 -74.
AMA StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal, Qing Ping, Muhammad Abid, Syed Muhammad Muslim Kazmi, Muhammad Rizwan. Assessing risk perceptions and attitude among cotton farmers: A case of Punjab province, Pakistan. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 2016; 16 ():68-74.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMuhammad Amjed Iqbal; Qing Ping; Muhammad Abid; Syed Muhammad Muslim Kazmi; Muhammad Rizwan. 2016. "Assessing risk perceptions and attitude among cotton farmers: A case of Punjab province, Pakistan." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 16, no. : 68-74.