This study investigated the economic impacts of intense oil and gas exploration activities on the fish value chain in the Atlantic Coast of Nigeria, using the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Results show decreasing returns to input supplies, fish output, fish processing and marketing, as only income from fish and the selling of canoe witnessed an increase. Regression analysis reveals that crew size had a statistically significant effect on fish output/fish. Explanatory variables accounted for 51% of the variations in the fish output. The number of fishing trips, fishing technology, and years of fishing experience were found to be fish output inelastic whereas the number of fishing crew was output elastic. Returns to scale were 1.66 implying that there is room for an increase in fish output using the included variables.
The Zarac smoked cheese from Majevica is a dairy product that is protected in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the protected label of origin (PDO). It received the label in 2024, which reveals a lot about the quality of this cheese. Therefore, the goal of this paper was to describe the technology, examine the chemical composition and physical properties, and evaluate the sensory properties of this cheese. It is produced from partially skimmed, raw milk, by spontaneous fermentation carried out by the natural microflora present in the milk. The production area of this cheese is North-eastern Bosnia. This cheese is characterised by a low pH value and high acidity, which have a preservative effect, while smoking, which is used in the technology of this cheese as one of the stages of the technological process, also has a preservative effect. The average chemical composition of this cheese is as follows (%): 31.41 of dry matter; 6.00 of fat, 19.10 of fat in dry matter, 73.00 moisture on a fat-free basis, 20.16 of proteins, and 1.30 of salt, which places it in the category of semi-fat soft cheeses. Specific physical characteristics, high water activity, low hardness, and adhesiveness are expected for this kind of cheese. Sensory evaluation showed the high quality of the Zarac smoked cheese, hence it can be ranked as first and extra class according to the average rating. This research and the results obtained have confirmed the reputation and place attributed to this cheese among different cheeses in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond.
Rakija is a strong alcoholic beverage, deeply rooted in Macedonian cultural heritage, where quality varies significantly between industrial, small-scale, and traditional home producers. This study evaluated sensory and chemical differences among three types of producers using 30 samples of rakija from grapes (10 per group). The chemical analysis included gas chromatography (GC) for volatile compounds and analytical methods for alcohol content, specific gravity, and extract. The sensory analysis was performed by a trained panel (6 assessors) following OIV 100-point scoring scale. Spearman's rank correlation was used for statistical data analysis. Sensory results revealed greater variability in odour and taste (CV 14-29%). Isobutanol showed a significant negative correlation with quality (ρ = -0.43 to -0.46, p < 0.017), while extreme variability in esters (CV >100%, ethyl acetate up to 5,654 mg/L) and furfural (CV 383%) was detected. In contrast, the extract content positively influenced the balance (ρ = 0.43-0.50, p < 0.017) in all of the samples. Between the producer's groups, the traditional samples had more unpleasant aromas due to improper distillation and fermentation, as confirmed by the chemical analysis results where ethyl acetate reached up to 5,654 mg/L. Routine sensory-chemical correlations can aid quality assessment, linking traditional heritage with modern distillation methods in Macedonian rakija production.
This study analyses agricultural producers' perceptions of climate-related hazards and their impacts on agricultural production across regions of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main objective is to identify dominant climatic stressors, examine regional differences in perceived impact intensity and damage experienced, and assess the role of selected farm characteristics in shaping these perceptions. Primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of agricultural producers operating under diverse agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions. Respondents assessed the intensity of major climate-related hazards and the damage experienced during the previous five years using ordinal scales. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and a Weighted Impact Index to enable a comparative regional assessment. The results indicated that drought and high temperatures were perceived as the most severe and damaging climate-related hazards across all regions, with particularly pronounced impacts reported in northern and North-western areas. Other hazards, including floods, hail, storms, frost, and snow, were generally perceived as having weaker and more localized effects, despite statistically significant regional differences. Although the awareness of climate change among agricultural producers was high, the adoption of adaptation and risk management measures remained limited. Perceptions of climate-related risks were primarily influenced by regional climatic conditions and economic exposure, with commercial farms reporting higher perceived impacts and damage. The findings highlighted substantial regional disparities in perceived climate risks and emphasized the importance of region-specific adaptation strategies in agricultural policy and practice.
The morphology and ultrastructure of the pollen exine were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in 14 hazelnut genotypes (Corylus avellana L.). Pollen measurements were performed in a dry stage at magnifications ranging from 500 × to 15,000 ×, during which the following parameters were analyzed: pollen grain height and width (µm), estimated pollen grain volume (µm³), type and ultrastructure of the exine, and the frequency of microexcrescences per 10 µm². Pollen samples were collected for analysis at two locations in the Banja Luka region (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the following cultivars were analyzed: Multiflorum, Tankoljuskasti, Tonda Gentile Romana, Merveille de Bollwiller, Avellino, Ludolph Zellernuss, Apolda, Hall's Giant, Romai I, Romai II, Istarski okrugli, Imperial de Trebizonde, Gustav Zellernuss, Jean's. The research results have indicated that the pollen grains were of the triporate type, subspheroidal in shape, with dimensions ranging from 19.91 µm in Imperial de Trebizonde to 32.29 µm in Tonda Gentile Romana. The lowest pollen volume was determined for the Tankoljuskasti cultivar (5417.40 µm3), and the highest for the Tonda Gentile Romana cultivar (12645.70 µm3). Measurements of exine ultrastructure have indicated the presence of certain differences among the observed cultivars. The available literature states that the pollen exine in cultivated hazelnut cultivars is uniform and characterized by a verrucate-type exine. In this study, differences were identified at the level of microexcrescences in the Gustav Zellernuss and Tonda Gentile Romana cultivars, in which clustering of microexcrescences positioned on shallow reticula was observed. The question of genotypic specificities of hazelnut exine ultrastructure remains open in this study, and future research should focus on the characteristics of interspecies hybrids resulting from the crossing of different species within the genus Corylus (Corylus avellana L., Corylus pontica Koch., and Corylus maxima Mill.).
