Determinants of use of recommended food grains storage technologies or sustainable food security programme in urban southwest Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyse determinants of use of modern food grains storage technologies and identify grain storage related problems in urban Southwest Nigeria so as to sustain food security programme. A pre-data survey was carried out to enumerate recommended grain storage technologies in the study area. Descriptive units of data were normalized to standard Z-scores, and data analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Modern and improved grain storage technologies in use were: improved cribs (7.22%), stores and warehouses (16.66%) drum and hermetic containers (15.55%) polythene-lined bags (10.55%) silos (1.11%). Indigenous technologies were local crib (6.66), ceiling top under roof (0.55%), sacks (37.77%) bowls (3.88%). Progressive Z-scores from 0-3 for favourable statements showed that technology attributes and communication factors were favourable determinants of use of modern grain storage technologies. While situational factors and perceived disincentives had few favourable determinants, perceived incentives had none. At p<0.05, gender (X²=7.04) was significantly related to use of modern food grains storage technologies while educational status (X²=5.5) was not. Correlation analyses showed significant relationships between age (r = 0.91), quantity of grains stored (r = 0.98) and use of modern grain storage technologies. There is significant difference among farmers’, traders’ and housewives’ levels of use of recommended technologies (W = 2213.4, X² = 19920.6). Use of various communication channels in parallel, linking research and recipients and commercial warehousing are recommended.