Impact of socio-economic characteristics on post-harvest management technologies of selected horticultural crops among farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assesses impact of socio-economic characteristics on postharvest management technologies of selected horticultural crops (fruits and vegetables) among rural farmers in Kogi state, Nigeria. A sample size of 205 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The Result of socio-economic characteristics of the farmers showed that majority (76.5%) of the respondents were between the age ranges of 41-60 years. Most (57.5%) of the respondents were male and 67.5 % were married. Majority (62.5%) of the horticultural farmers has no formal education. The result also showed that about half (57%) of the respondents cultivated three (3) hectares of land. Most of the farmers (58%) had at least 26 years of horticulture farming experience. The result equally revealed that most (61%) of the respondents had annual income between N100000 and N150000. Six (6) traditional method of postharvest management technologies were mostly practiced (use of hot water for washing and cleaning ( ????=3.14), use of hand for sorting and grading ( ???? =2.99), use of head and truck for transportation of produce ( ???? = 2.83), use of woven basket for packaging ( ????= 2.76) and hand picking for harvesting ( ???? = 2.72). Evidence from the study also shows that the use of modern postharvest management technologies by horticultural farmers was generally low. There were three major challenges faced by horticultural farmers in reducing post-harvest losses of their produce namely: socio-economic challenges: environmental challenges, and infrastructural challenges. Results showed Ordered Logistic Regression Estimates Showing Relationship between Socio-economic Characteristics of Farmers and their Level of Use of Modern Postharvest Management Technologies in the Study Area. The model fitting χ2 value of 253.683 was significant (p < 0.01). This implies that the socio-economic factors included in the model are significantly related to the level of use of modern postharvest management technologies It was therefore recommended that Gender disparities should be avoided to enable both male and female farmers have access to farm inputs