Determinants of the Use of Maize Storage Techniques by Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to identify and describe the factors affecting the use of maize-storage techniques among farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to choose eight local government areas (LGAs) from four zones. Five villages were selected from each LGA. One hundred and eighty eight maize farmers were selected using probability proportionate to farmers' number in each village as contained in Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) household lists. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, which were analyzed using a descriptive, multinomial model. The three maize-storage techniques under examination were local storage (LS), semi modern storage (SMS) and modern storage (MS). The survey revealed that 38% of the farmers used local storage, 31% did not store their maize, 21% used semi-modern, and 11% used modern storage techniques. About 83% of the maize farmers were male and 30% of those used local storage, while 27% did not use any storage. Fifty-five% of the farmers were in the age range of 41–50 years; 39% had no formal education and 43% had an average of eight household members. Most of the maize farmers (61%) inherited their storage structures. With the multinomial analysis revealed that increase in transportation cost, labor cost and farmers' household size enhanced the probability of using no storage, the probability of using local storage was enhanced by farmer's age, semi-modern choice was likely influenced by quantity of maize stored, while the probability of using modern storage was increased by years of experience, educational level of the farmers and quantity of maize stored by the farmers. Modern storage technique is highly recommended and farmers are encouraged to store in groups to store large quantities.