Effect of modified starch on the shelf life of frozen fish Kamaboko with prepared spinach

Fish kamaboko with spinach was prepared by mixing fish kamaboko with spinach prepared with different combinations of ordinary starch (OS) and modified starch (MS), viz., 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 100%) MS and 100% OS. The products were frozen at -40°C and stored at -20°C, and subjected to biochemical (peroxide value, total titratable acidity, pH and moisture) organoleptic (appearance, taste and colour), microbiological (total plate count) and physical (folding and expressible water) tests at monthly intervals. Among the different combinations tried, it was observed that fish kamaboko with spinach prepared with 50:50 and 60:40 combinations of OS and MS could be stored for six months at-20°C.

A record production from an integrated farming system utilising sewage enriched water

The results of experiments conducted on a pond dyke (655m²) in the Wastewater Aquaculture Division of the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Rahara, during 1992-93 for maximising production through optimum utilisation of resources are communicated. Round the year intensive cultivation of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), amaranth (Amaranthus gangeticus and A. viridus), water-bind weed (Ipomea aquatica), Indian spinach (Basella rubra), radish (Raphanus sativum), amaranth (Amaranthus viridis), cauliflower (Brassica oleracia var. votrytis), cabbage (Brassica oleracia var. capitota) and papaya (Carica papaya) was undertaken using the treated sewage water from fish ponds for irrigation. The pond dyke yielded 5,626.5 kg vegetable which worked out to 85.9 tons per ha per year. Multiple cropping with these vegetables excluding papaya on a 460 m² dyke recorded a production of 4,926.5 kg at the rate of 107.1t per ha/yr. An improved yearly net return of about 35% over investment could be achieved through the selection of highly productive and pest resistant vegetable crops of longer duration for integration into the system. Introduction of this type of integrated farming would enhance the overall productivity and returns from farming.