ASSESSMENT OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED POST-HARVEST TECHNOLOGIES FOR RICE (IPT4RP) PROCESSING ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RICE PROCESSORS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the adoption of improved post-harvest technologies for rice processing on the livelihoods of rice processors in Niger State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used in selecting 120 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result reveals that processor under Zone-1 were more aware of the improved post-harvest technologies for rice processing (IPhT4RP) than their counterpart under Zone-2 and Zone-3. The level of awareness varies across gender as female represent 63.64% and male represent 65.38%. However, the result under zone-3 shows that membership of an association (70%), access to credit (50%), access to market (50%), membership of a cooperative (58%), age (67%), level of education (64%), marital status (80%) and household size (50%) were the socio-economic factors influence adoption of improved post-harvest technologies for rice processing (IPhT4RP). The results also reveal that, constraints militating adoption of IPhT4RP in the study areas includes, lack of money lenders (1^st) lack of quality paddy (2^nd) and poor market for rice processed (3^rd). The study concluded that more than 60% of processors in Zone-1 and Zone-2 were aware of the improved post-harvest technologies except for female (15.38%) in zone-3. Socio-economic factors such as marital status, membership to association, level of education and access to credit influence adoption of improved post-harvest technologies for rice processing (IPhT4RP). Thus, the study recommends for a continuous awareness, sensitization on the use and possession of improved rice processing technologies and create more linkages to credit facilities.