INFLUENCE OF STORAGE TECHNIQUES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF MAIZE FARMERS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT 

The study examined the significant effect of storage technique on post harvest loss. The research measured the factor that influenced post-harvest lost and effect of different storage technique on post-harvest losses. Structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents upon which 300 were returned giving a re-price rate of 75%. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The result showed that indigenous storage technique is mostly adopted which account for 7% of the post-harvest losses. The research will help farmers improve in their storage technique and at the same time reduce post-harvest losses. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Acknowledgments ﾿ iv

Table of contents ﾿ v

List of tables ﾿ ix

Abstract ﾿ x 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION ﾿ 1

1.1 ﾿ Background of the Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Statement of Problem ﾿ 4

1.3 ﾿ Objective of the study ﾿ 6

1.4 ﾿ Research Questions ﾿ 6

1.5 ﾿ Research Hypothesis ﾿ 6

1.6 ﾿ Significance of the Study ﾿ 7

1.7 ﾿ Scope of the Study ﾿ 7

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 ﾿ LITERATURE REVIEW ﾿ 8

2.1 ﾿ Conceptual Framework ﾿ 8

2.1.1 ﾿    Maize Losses ﾿ 15

2.1.2 ﾿    Factors that Causes grain Loss ﾿ 16

2.2 ﾿ Major Factors that Influence Post-Harvest Losses in Abia State ﾿ 18

2.3 ﾿ Storage Management Techniques ﾿ 20

2.4 ﾿ Maize Harvest and Storage  ﾿ 22

2.5 ﾿ Maize Storage in the Tropics ﾿ 24

2.6 ﾿ Types of Hermetic Storage ﾿ 26

2.7 ﾿ Factors Influencing Hermetic Storage ﾿ 29

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ﾿ 31

3.1 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 31

3.2 ﾿ Research Design ﾿ 31

3.3 ﾿ Area of Study ﾿ 32

3.4 ﾿ Population of the Study ﾿ 32

3.5 ﾿ Sources of Data Collection ﾿ 33

3.5.1 ﾿ Primary Sources of Data ﾿ 33

3.5.2 ﾿ Secondary Sources of Data ﾿ 33

3.6 ﾿ Sample Size Determination ﾿ 34

 3.7       Sample Technique ﾿ 34

3.8   Instruments for Data Collection and Method of Investigation ﾿ 34

3.9 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis ﾿ 35

3.10  Model Specification ﾿ 35

CHAPER FOUR

RESULT AND DISCUSSION ﾿ 37

Return Rate of Questionnaire ﾿ 37

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 ﾿ Summary, Recommendation And Conclusion ﾿ 44

5.1 ﾿ Summary ﾿ 44

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 45

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 45

REFERENCES