ABSTRACT
The study examined the significant effect of storage technique on post harvest loss. The research measured the factor that influenced post-harvest lost and effect of different storage technique on post-harvest losses. Structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents upon which 300 were returned giving a re-price rate of 75%. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The result showed that indigenous storage technique is mostly adopted which account for 7% of the post-harvest losses. The research will help farmers improve in their storage technique and at the same time reduce post-harvest losses.TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Acknowledgments iv
Table of contents v
List of tables ix
Abstract x
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of Problem 4
1.3 Objective of the study 6
1.4 Research Questions 6
1.5 Research Hypothesis 6
1.6 Significance of the Study 7
1.7 Scope of the Study 7
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 8
2.1 Conceptual Framework 8
2.1.1 Maize Losses 15
2.1.2 Factors that Causes grain Loss 16
2.2 Major Factors that Influence Post-Harvest Losses in Abia State 18
2.3 Storage Management Techniques 20
2.4 Maize Harvest and Storage 22
2.5 Maize Storage in the Tropics 24
2.6 Types of Hermetic Storage 26
2.7 Factors Influencing Hermetic Storage 29
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 31
3.1 Introduction 31
3.2 Research Design 31
3.3 Area of Study 32
3.4 Population of the Study 32
3.5 Sources of Data Collection 33
3.5.1 Primary Sources of Data 33
3.5.2 Secondary Sources of Data 33
3.6 Sample Size Determination 34
3.7 Sample Technique 34
3.8 Instruments for Data Collection and Method of Investigation 34
3.9 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis 35
3.10 Model Specification 35
CHAPER FOUR
RESULT AND DISCUSSION 37
Return Rate of Questionnaire 37
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Recommendation And Conclusion 44
5.1 Summary 44
5.2 Conclusion 45
5.3 Recommendation 45
REFERENCES
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1 shows the return rate of questionnaire.
Distribution of respondent based on sex
Distribution of respondents based on Age
Distribution of Respondent based on Marital Status
Distribution of Respondent Based on level of Education
Table 4.6: Analysis of post-harvest stages
Table 4.7: Analysis of factors influencing post-harvest losses
Table 4.8: Analysis of storage technique adoption
Table 4.9: Analysis of consumption, storage and sale of maize in the study are
Table 4.9.1: Regression (Tobet estimates dependent variable is proportion of harvest loss factors in the harvesting period that contribute to post-harvest loss during the year.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Nigeria is reaching its target to raise food production, lifting output by 8 million ton in (2012), in efforts to diversify Africa’s second-largest economy away from a reliance on oil export” (Reuters, Thursday 24 Jan, 3013). It holds great potentials for the future economic development of the nation as it had done in the past. Notwithstanding the enviable position of the sector is arguably the most important sector of the economy. Agriculture’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has remained stable between 30 and 42 percent, and employs 65 percent, of the labour force in Nigeria (Okolo 2004, Emeka, 2007).
Maize farmers perceived post-harvest losses as the losses recorded within and outside the farm as a result of inadequate storage facilities. Generally, the agriculture sector contributes to the development of an economy in four ways; product contribution, factor contribution, market contribution and foreign exchange contribution (Abdullahi 2002; World Development Report, 2007). Its share of the GDP increased from an annual average of 38% between 1992 and 1996 to 40% between 1999 and 2001. In contrast, crude oil GDP declined from an annual average of 13% between 1992 and 1996 to 12% between 1999 and 2001.
Research efforts in the world over and indeed in Nigeria have expanded in the search for increased yields for major food crops. However, it is of little use when crop production is increased by a big addressed. These risks are mostly experienced by smallholder farmers in developing countries who employ relatively inappropriate crop handling processing and storage technologies.
Maize, Zea mays (L), a cereal crop native to tropical zones of Nigeria, is one of the most widely cultivated gramineous plants in East Nigeria (Acland, 2002). It is a staple food crop grown almost in all villages in Abia State and hence its post-harvest management systems are of great concern to farmers and policy-makers (FAO, 2002, Rugumanu et al., 2003). At national level, the National strategy for growth and reduction of poverty (NSGRP, 2005) and the current “kilimo Kwanza” (2009) underscore the need to address post-harvest loss reduction. In essence, this study is in line with FAO (2002) and the millennium.
Development Goals (UN, 2000) on the initiatives for promotion of food security and poverty reduction.
Post-harvest period is between physiological maturity of a crop and the time for its final consumption (GASGA, 2001, FAO 2002, Nelleman et al., 2009). In this regard, a rural post-harvest management system of a crop is typified by a set of systematic handling activities in a complex sequence of interconnected field and homestead operations undertaken by smallholder farmers. Each operation is unique in itself with regard to crop type; gender relations; the type of technology and attendant loss. It is worthy noting that while post-harvest activities in rural areas are labour demanding manual is the most important factor for increased production (FAO, 1988, 1995).
Crop loss is referred to as only change that reduces its value to humans either quantitatively or qualitatively (FAO 1984, GASGA 1978, and Savary et al., 2006). The former includes loss of dry matter indicated by reduction in weight or volume while the latter covers loss of important qualifies like germinating ability and nutritional contents. Maize losses may be caused by pest infestations, infections by pathogens and poor or inappropriate handling technologies (FAO, 1996).
In the agricultural crop management, gender relations refer to a socially constructed involvement of men and women which are fundamental to the organization of farm work and to farm decision-making (Riley, 2009). As reported by Meena (1992), Rugumamu et al., (1997), FAO (2003), Kingamkono (2006) for example, women are mostly responsible for ensuring household food sovereignty and security albeit their inadequate traditional technologies. Technology as a broad concept deals with human usage and knowledge of tools and crafts and how it affects human capacity to control and adapt to the environment (Wikipedia). FAO (2003, 2004). Creghton and Omari (2000) argued that in smallholder crop production, women are especially more likely to be socially and economically involved in post-harvest activities than men.
There is, however, scanty knowledge on gender mainstreaming in the division of labour and gender sensitive technologies for post-harvest operations.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Evidence have shown that the farmers managed agribusiness faced problems of fluctuation in storage techniques, inaccurate forecasts and low utilization of storage techniques collected due to inadequate coordination of maize farming operations (Kagera, et al., 2012). The maize farmers suffered from the variability of term input prices.
Further Christian Partner Development Agency (2008) revealed that the information flow between the farmers and micro credit enterprises was inefficient thus significant contributing to slow response to customer demand and high operational costs. Bai and Zhang (2008) argues that storage techniques and its storage systems for a business make up a big percentage of the total budget studies indicated that storage techniques was one of the most neglected important areas in the agribusiness enterprises on maize farmers operations. Further Mathuda (2013) expressed that the direction of the relationship between control system and performance had produced mixed results, (Gill et al., 2010) in this view, the study proposed to assess the influence of storage techniques on the management of post-harvest losses on maize with particular focus on Abia State farmers.
1.3 Objective of the study
i. measure the relationship between storage technique and post-harvest loss.
ii. examine the factors that influence post-harvest loss in maize.
iii. analyse the consumption ,storage and sale rate of maize among respondents
1.4 Research Questions
i. Is there any significant relationship between storage technique and post-harvest loss?
ii. What are the factors that influences post-harvest losses
iii. What are the consumption, storage and sales rate of maize production in the study area.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
Ho1: Different storage technique s does not have any significant effect on post-harvest loss.
Ho2: There is no significant factors that influence post-harvest losses.
Ho3: Consumption storage and sales rate do not affect post-harvest loss.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This research is meant to help several calibers of individuals. The study is aimed at providing information that will be of great value to the society. It will help in analyzing the demand and utilization and facilities provision and maize farmers. Firstly, student under maize production at various levels can obtain information that will assist them improved on storage techniques and management. It can also serve as a guide to productive researchers with the intention of establishing maize farm. Actually this study will help policy makers in the information and implementation of relevant policies that will upgrade storage techniques.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focused on the evaluation of storage of stocks on the post-harvest period of maize farmers in Abia State. The study is limited to the maize farmers in Abia State so as to make easier for data collection during the study.
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