SUPPORTING POSTHARVEST TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT THROUGH FEEDBACK

Abstract

The study examined ways of strengthening postharvest technology development and improvement through feedback. Data were obtained through interview schedules supplemented with key informant interviews while a multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of respondents. Firstly, eighteen (18) States where NSPRI postharvest technologies have been disseminated and adopted were purposively selected.  Frequencies, percentages, means and weighted averages were employed in the analysis of data components. Results showed that 70% of respondents have never provided feedback on NSPRI technologies. Executives of various associations were used by 45% of NSK users, 59% of IFB users, and 48% of VPC users to provide feedback while 43% of PSSD users and 40% of HSD users shared opinions through NSPRI extension staff. In general, there exists a strong (NSK: 94% PSSD: 95.2% IFB®: 91% HSD: 88.6% VPC: 74.5%) willingness to recommend technologies among respondents even as they provided positive feedback on use parameters and components of the technologies. However, respondents opined that the roller and chimney (NSK), durability of polypropylene cover (PSSD), draining of thawed ice (IFB®), and bolted ring (HSD) require improvement. It is recommended that more durable material be used for the rollers (NSK) and polypropylene cover (PSSD) while outlet for draining of thawed ice (IFB®) and bolted ring (HSD) are positioned optimally.