Socio-economic characteristics of cereal crop farmers uptake of improved storage system for improved livelihood in Niger State Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the uptake of improved storage systems of cereal crop farmers for enhanced livelihood in Niger State, Nigeria. A total number of 135 respondents were used for the study. The results of the study revealed that the respondents were still in their active and productive age, with mean age of 39 years and large proportion (75.6%) were married with a mean household size of 5 persons. Also, majority (78.5%) had one form of formal education or the other, with a mean farming experience of 21 years. The most adopted improved storage systems were warehouse storage systems (X 2.88), treated sacks (X = 2.88) and treated leathers (X 2.87). The result of the poisson regression model revealed that age (-1.41), education (3.53), farm size (1.92) access to credit (2.46), access to storage facilities (1.41) and extension contact (4.44) significantly and positively influence the uptake of improved storage systems of cereal crop farmers in exception of age which is negative and had inverse relation with uptake of storage systems. Uptake of improved cereal crops storage systems had positive effects on the cereal crop farmers livelihood because it has led to increase in their income (RII-0.81),food availability (RII-0.80) and ensure food security (RII-0.78). Constraints encountered were high cost of storage facilities (X =2.41) and serious problem of insects and pests (X =2.12). The study recommended that improved storage systems of cereal crops should be jointly provided through intervention by the government, NGOs and through community efforts.