Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences

Year: 2007
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
Page No. 442 - 450

Economics of Maize Storage Techniques by Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Authors : M.O. Adetunji

Abstract: Maize Storage Technologies (MST) are diverse among farmers and these variations have economic implications, this study, therefore, examines the benefit of using various Storage Techniques (MST) in Kwara State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to choose 8 local government areas from the four zones, five villages were selected from each LGA. One hundred and eighty eight maize farmers were selected using probability proportionate to number of farmers in each village as contained in the ADP household lists. Structured questionnaires covering socio economic characteristics, quantity of maize stored, types of storage, length of storage, cost and returns on the use of storage were administered to the maize farmers. Descriptive, budgetary, partial budget analysis and multinomial logit regression were used to analyse the data. Three maize storage techniques being used by the respondents were: Local Storage (LS), Semi Modern Storage (SMS) and Modern Storage(MS). Among maize farmers, 37.9, 20.7 and 10.6% used LS, SMS and MS, respectively, while 30.8% did not store their maize. The gross margin for using various storage technique were N8,345/t (LS), N11,135/t (SMS), N12,435/t (MS). The modern storage had the highest incremental gross margin (N8,135/t), compared with the control (i.e., no storage). The result from partial budgeting and marginal analysis shows that modern storage techniques is the best because it has the highest difference in gross margin and highest marginal rate of return. Multinomial logit model results reveal the odds of using different storage techniques by farmers. It could be seen that rise in transportation cost, labour cost and farmers� household size enhance the probability of using no storage. The probability of using local storage is enhanced by farmer�s age, semi modern is likely influenced by quantity of maize stored, while the probability of using modern storage is increased by years of experience, educational level of the farmers and quantity of maize stored by the farmer. Modern storage technology usage, improvement in literacy level and large quantity of maize stored would enhance farmers� income.

How to cite this article:

M.O. Adetunji , 2007. Economics of Maize Storage Techniques by Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria . Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 4: 442-450.

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