Barriers to Impact: Examining the Effects of Postharvest Technologies and Constraints to Their Utilization in Cassava Farming in Otukpo, Nigeria (Published)
Cassava postharvest losses remain a major challenge for smallholder farmers in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. Despite the introduction of various postharvest technologies, many farmers continue to suffer spoilage, quality deterioration, and income loss. This study investigates the relationship between technology adoption, access to information, and cassava postharvest loss reduction. Data were collected from 384 cassava farmers through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Findings revealed moderate adoption of mechanized pulverizers (32.6%) and vibrating sieves (29.5%), while solar dryers (7.2%) and other advanced options remain underutilized. Awareness was highest for simple storage solutions like scaled polythene bags (61.5%), but much lower for mechanized equipment. Major constraints include high equipment costs (27.7%), inadequate storage infrastructure (18.3%), and limited access to information (7.6%). Statistical analysis showed strong positive correlations between farmers’ education (r = 0.916) and income levels (r = 0.907) and their capacity to manage postharvest losses. The study concludes that reducing cassava losses requires not only technology availability but also improved access to information, financial support, and infrastructure development.
Keywords: Food Security, Rural Development, cassava postharvest losses, information access, technology adoption