ASSESSMENT OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES OF YAM IN KWALI AREA COUNCIL, FCT, ABUJA

Abstract

Post-harvest loss of yam has affected food security, economic growth, and the sustenance of millions of farmers particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study investigates post-harvest losses (PHL) of yam (Dioscorea SPP) in Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A survey research design was adopted, targeting yam farmers in the area, with a sample size of 400 participants selected through sampling proportional to size. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the socioeconomic characteristics of the yam farmers The farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics shows that majority of the respondents ((80%) had formal education, 90% of them were more than 20 years of age, 60% of the farmers were male, 90% of the farmers were more than 4 members in a family. Ordinal regression was used to determine the factors which contributed to post-harvest losses of yam. Initially, many factors were examined as potential determinants of post-harvest losses of yam in the study area. However, the result from the ordinal regression and perception of yam farmers showed that factors such as storage infrastructure, pest control, transportation, market conditions, preservation methods and farmers’ education and training contributed to post-harvest losses of yam in the study area while factors such as, household size, farm size and farmers’ experience were not significant and do not contribute to post-harvest losses in the study area. Policymakers and agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to implement targeted interventions to mitigate post-harvest loss.