Storage Practices among Arable Farmers in Delta state, Nigeria: Implication for Food Security

Abstract

This paper examines the storage practices of arable Farmers and the implication for food security in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 75 arable farmers with the aid of structured and validated questionnaire. Respondents were selected using a two stage random sampling technique. Data were analysis using descriptive statistics and probit regression model. The results show that the following storage facilities were available to arable farmers in the study area: basket (26.7%), floor/platform (13.3%), bag (13.3%), barn (44%), underground pit (1.35%), container/bin/pot (1.35%).. most of the respondents indicated that apart from barn , most of the storage facilities were grossly ineffective in storing their products. The respondents indicated various storage  constraints or problems which included lack of capital, poor storage facilities, climatic factors and pests and diseases attacks. From the probit regression results, three socio-economic variables, namely, gender, age and income were found to have significant effect on storage practices of arable farmers. From the findings of this paper, it was recommended that the government should provide farmers with modern storage facilities such as silos, refridgerators, educate farmers on adequate storage methods, and empower farmers by providing micro-finance and other assistance that will help to ameliorate storage problems. If this is done the current food insecurity in the area as a result of poor or inadequate storage will be highly reduced.

Key word: storage habit, storage facilities, arable farmers, probit analysis, assessment, food security.