ANALYSIS OF INDIGENOUS MAIZE PROCESSING INTO FLOUR AMONG WOMEN IN POST WAR ZONE OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out in the post war zone of Plateau State, Nigeria to analyse the determinants of indigenous maize processing into flour among women in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 135 respondents from different processing communities. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from the respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, net margin analysis and Tobit regression model. The study showed a mean age distribution of 36.9 years and a mean household size of 5 persons. Majority (73.2%) of the respondents were widows and had an average of 14.7 years of processing experience. It was further revealed that more than half (60%) of the respondents did not have any formal education and had a mean monthly income of about N5, 000. The net margins per 100kg and benefit–cost ratio were found to be N8, 290; N7,875 and 1.49, respectively. The results of the Tobit model showed that all the included explanatory variables had the expected signs and that processing experience, household size, labour and monthly income were the major determinants of indigenous maize processing in the study area. The results further showed that inadequate funds for expansion and insufficient modern processing machines were among the major constraints to indigenous maize processing in the study area. The study therefore recommended that adult and non-formal education should be embraced in order to improve their understanding of modern and improved maize processing technologies. The study further recommended that government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should come to the aid of these women through empowerment programs such as the Tradermoni and Npower.