The Arabian Gulf countries are also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. They consist of six countries that are located in the Arabian Peninsula or connected to it. The GCC was formed in 1981 and includes: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (Figure 1). Combined, all these countries have a population of nearly 50 million – the largest of which is Saudi Arabia (30 million) and the smallest is of Bahrain (1.6 million).

The aim of the study was to eliminate the potentially harmful sulfite salts normally added to wine – based products for preservation purposes with the introduction into the wine natural products, with pronounced antioxidant activity. Frieze – dried samples taken from the plants Hippophaes and Goji Berry were added to dry white and red wines after their fermentation phase. In all sample tests the sensory and oenological characteristics remained almost unchanged compared to original samples (without the addition of natural products), although their antioxidant activity was significantly increased when leaves of the plant Hippophaes were added. Goji berry fruits and fruit of Hippophaes plant increased antioxidant activity compared to original samples.

Propargite is an acaricide extensively used in India for controlling the populations of the red spider mite (RSM) infesting tea. Field experiments were conducted at two places in Tamil Nadu (India) during the dry season to determine the residues of propargite in black tea. Residues were quantified at different harvest intervals of ‘0’ (3 hr), 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 14th day after acaricide application. Persistence, issipation pattern, half-life value and safe harvest interval of the acaricide in tea were calculated. Residues of propargite dissipated exponentially after application at both the locations and reached below the CODEX MRL of 5 mg/kg on the 7th day. Regression lines drawn on propargite showed that like other acaricides it followed the first order dissipation kinetics. Half-life values varied from 1.63 to 1.92 days for propargite and a safety harvest interval of 7 days is suggested for the tea crop.

Background and Aim: Fish plays a crucial role in human nutrition and food supply across the globe, particularly among the poor segment of the society. Food fish currently represents the major source of animal protein needed for growth and development, especially among the children and women who are more vulnerable to malnutrition in developing countries. The importance of food to an individual and society cannot be over emphasized, as food is a basic necessity of life and sufficient intake of quality food is imperative for people to live a strong, vibrant and productive life. Considering the importance of fish food, this study therefore assessed the contribution of brackish water fish farming to stable fish supply and food security in coastal communities of Rivers State.

Muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer, generally reared outdoor on standing host trees for which it is always under pressure of vagaries of weather conditions causing substantial loss. Attempts were made to rear the silkworm under indoor conditions during different seasons. In first attempt, the worms were reared from brushing till spinning and in second, worms were first reared under indoor conditions up to 2nd in star and then transferred to outdoor condition. Rearing performance, larval and cocoon parameters were compared with complete indoor and outdoor conditions. Throughout all the seasons, survival per cent of worms, effective rate of rearing, mature larval weight, cocoon weight, pupal weight and shell weight was significantly higher when the worms were reared for first two instars under indoor conditions compared to either complete indoor or outdoor rearing. The study suggests that, it is beneficial to rear muga silkworms inside up to second instar and then rear outside for reducing mortality of worms during chawki instars and for production of higher and good quality cocoons.

Fenpyroximate is an effective acaricide on several food crops. In the present study, dissipation of residue of this acaricide in black tea, tea infusion and spent tea was studied. Analysis was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The rate of dissipation was found to vary with the nature of the substrate. In tea leaves the half-life of fenpyroximate ranged from 2.20 to 4.22 days. The residue of fenpyroximate was not detectable in the tea brew.