Abstract

Egusi seed is obtained from several types of melons. It is protein-rich and commonly used in sauces, soups, and other dishes in Cameroon and many other West African countries. The traditional method of shelling consists of manually opening the outer pod, one seed at a time -- a time-consuming process. This project will design, construct, and test an efficient, simple egusi sheller prototype for use by small producers and traders in Cameroon. Initially, researchers will survey egusi marketing and processing to establish types of egusi used, production levels and shelling methods. Shellers for the egusi will be designed, lab-tested to establish their performance, and then field-tested to assess their acceptability and socioeconomic impact.

Post-Project Summary

A complete postproject abstract could not be written due to lack of documentation in the IDRC library.

Recipient Institution(s)