INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Volume 17, No. 01, Month JANUARY, Year 2021, Pages 237 - 256

Strategies adopted by maize farmers to minimize post-harvest losses in delta state, nigeria

Ovharhe, O. J., Emaziye, P. O., Okpara, O., Agoda, S. and Benson, C. O.

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The study assessed the strategies which is adopted by maize farmers to minimize post-harvest losses in Delta State, Nigeria. The results showed that major causes of post-harvest losses were inadequate awareness of modern storage facilities ( ̅ = 3.74). Respondents experienced post-harvest losses on a maximum level at storage structure ( ̅ = 3.64). It was noticed that there were poor extension activities and visits ( ̅ = 0 .26) and zero beneficiaries of incentives for storage activities from the government ( ̅ = 0.00). One of the most effective strategies adopted to minimize post-harvest losses was the use of bags for storage ( ̅ = 3.06). A high degree of mean constraints was the limited capacity of institutional support to post-harvest activities ( ̅ = 3.78) and the use of less efficient processing technology ( ̅ = 3.73). Results revealed that significant relationship (p<0) exit among marital status, education and age of respondents and perceived strategies to minimize post-harvest losses among maize farmers. It was concluded among other factors that poor extension activities affected post-harvest management and the sorting of grains was a better strategy adopted to minimize post-harvest losses.

Keywords

Extension, Maize, Post-harvest, Storage

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