Effects of Marketing Extension Services on the Control of Postharvest Losses of Root and Tuber Crop Produce in Abia State Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study assessed the effect of agricultural marketing extension on control of post-harvest losses of root and tuber crop produce in Abia State. Study Design:  This study employed a public opinion survey. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Abia State, Nigeria between March 2017 and January 2018. Methodology: Using the multistage sampling technique and a structured questionnaire as an instrument, data were collected from a sample of three hundred and eighty (380) respondents in the study area. Percentages, mean scores, and regression analysis were used as statistical tools for data analysis. Results: The overall mean score of the farmers on the effects of marketing extension services on the control of postharvest losses of root and tuber crop produce was 2.858. Marketing extension services had significant effect on the volume of postharvest losses of root and tuber crop produce in the study area given that the F- statistics of 102.569 is significant at 1% level of significance and that computed F- value was higher than the F-tabulated value of (1.94) at 5% level of significance and (2.51) at 1% level of significance. Marketing of root and tuber crop produce/products are adversely affected by poor linkages within the marketing, processing and production chains, poor market-orientation and inadequate processing facilities leading to high levels of produce wastage. Conclusion: Therefore organizations and agencies providing marketing extension services (ADPs, Research Institutes, Universities, NGOs etc.) should do so in accordance with farmers' needs. Rendering marketing extension services requires sets of skills that extension workers may not have needed in the past and reduction of post-harvest losses through marketing of produce and also the transition to a greater market orientation cannot be achieved without developing those skills. Extension workers should be trained. The Government should develop, support and promote training in marketing skills and services for agricultural marketing extension workers.