Determinants of Grain Postharvest Storage Technology Choices in Malawi

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine factors influencing farmers’ choice of grain postharvest storage technologies. The study utilises IHS-3 data conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in Malawi from March 2010 to March 2011. A stratified two-stage sample design was used for IHS-3.The multinomial logit model was used to analyse the factors. The results from the multinomial logit model revealed that farm size, education, production and marital status had an influence in choosing the grain storage technologies. The results further revealed that farm size and education were highly significant (p<0.001) in influencing the choice of grain storage technologies. The study, recommends that stakeholders should ensure that farmers have access to farm land to enhance production and access to education to change farmers’ perception on grain storage technologies to reduce grain loss thereby improving food security.

Keywords: Multinomial Logit, Postharvest Storage Technology, Malawi