Computer Aided Design for Cocoa Beans Processing Yield Prediction
Akinnuli B. O., Ayodeji S.P, Omeiza A. J

Abstract
Ability of Cocoa Beans Processing Industries to predict the yield of Cocoa Beans before processing will be a great advantage. This knowledge will aid: proper planning as per resources allocation, predicting profit margin and decision making on acceptability of contract (by considering cost of production and profit margin). The approach taken in this research was to identify the parameters needed for processing Cocoa Beans yield such as: actual mass of Cocoa Beans to process; mass of foreign material; mass of shell removed; quantity of Cocoa nibs to be processed; mass of butter and mass of Cake from Cocoa Liquor obtained from ground nibs; consideration was also given to material wastes at each processing stage. These identified parameters were used to develop mathematical models, from which computer algorithm and software were also developed. The developed software was tested and validated for performance evaluation using Visual Basic programming language because of its friendliness and versatility. The software, when used in OLAM Cocoa Processing Industry in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, 21.5 tonnnes mass of Cocoa Beans was processed. The model predicted yield for Butter to be 6873.359 kg and that of Cake to be 8569.649 kg. In actual sense from the factory floor when the same mass of Cocoa Beans (21.5 tonnes) was processed a yield of 7005.25 kg and 9130.261 kg of Butter and Cake were realized respectively. This result proved this model to be 95.71 % efficient. Hence, this can now serve as a useful tool for both prospecting and existing Cocoa Processing Industries in their visibility study and production planning respectively.

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