TechnoServeRaw 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

• Sample should represents the characteristics of the lot

• Sample should be random

• 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 50-56 Vietnam 50-56Brazil 50-55 Guinea Bissau 48-56 Ivory Coast 48-52 Ghana 44-48Benin 46-50 Nigeria 40-46Mozambique 42-46 Tanzania 45-52Kenya 40-46 Madagascar 40-46Indonesia 48-52

More out-turn means better quality

Different Lots

Medium LotSmall Lot

Different Lots

Big Lot

How to take a sample

Cashew nuts de-shelled

Bad Kernels Spotted kernels

Good kernels

Premature kernels

Humidified kernels Shell

Types of kernels (examples)

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 mat erial and register its

weight• Check the nut hoods if any apple part is attached t o it, if yes seperate it

and register its weight• Cut the sample nuts through the line of intersectio n 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 CN SL)

• Separate the kernels into different grades for out turn:Good kernels, Spotted kernels, Bad Kernels, Prematu re kernels,Humidified kernels

• Separate shell from kernels (kernels should contain peel also, peel is considered to be a part of the kernel while calcula te the Out-Turn.)

• Weigh all grades separately with a electronic balan ce .• Different grades have different % of useful kernels to calculate Out-turn.

Like– Good kernels – 100%– Bad Kernels – 0 %– Dotted Kernels – %– Premature Kernels- %– Humidified kernels – %

Dotted, Premature and humidified kernels % vary fro m 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 (--%)

• Out-turn = Total Useful kernel weight ( In Grams)*8 0 /454

Note : Out- turn is always expressed in Lbs units.The % of useful kernels can be different on physica l aspects of the

sample

How to calculate Out-Turn of a sample of Cashew Nuts Continues……

Example of Out-turn

• After cutting a sample of 1 kg of raw nuts we find the following data-• Dust 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”

THANK YOU