ANALYSIS OF PREFERENCE ON STORAGE METHODS AMONG COWPEA FARMERS IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the preference of storage methods among cowpea farmers in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select 202 farmers for the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The results revealed that a substantial proportion (47.0%) of farmers preferred phostoxin tablet, 32.7% preferred plastic jerrican, 7.9% preferred PICS bags, 5.0% preferred mental drum, 3.9% preferred actellic 25EC, 2.5% preferred rhumbus and 1.0% preferred actelllic 2% dust. The result of the logistic regression showed pseudo R² which was 0.847. The results identified among others that quantity stored (P<0.01), effectiveness (P<0.01), durability (P<0.05), availability (P<0.05) and simplicity (P<0.10) significantly affect the choice decision for PICS bags method of cowpea storage. Also, farming experience and simplicity significantly affect the choice decision of jerrican method of storage at (P<0.05) each, educational level, availability, simplicity and effectiveness significantly affect the choice decision of actellic 25EC at (P<0.10) each while educational level (P<0.05) is the only variable that affect the choice decision of actellic 2% dust. Capital intensiveness, time consuming, poison nature and odour were the major constraints to cowpea storage methods. The study recommended that farmers should be encouraged by extension agents to attend trainings and workshops on cowpea storage method as this will go a long way in improving their knowledge and experience on the use of cowpea storage methods.