The determinants of post-harvest management practice adoption in Anambra and Ebonyi State, Nigeria

This study examined the factors influencing the adoption of post-harvest management practices among rice farmers in Anambra and Ebonyi States, Nigeria. Employing a mixed-method approach, data was collected from a random sampling of 320 rice farmers (160 per State). The study utilized the Logit model and Principal Component Factor Analysis techniques from Open Directory R-software and SPSS version 25 to achieve the specific objectives. The study identified key post-harvest management practices, evaluated their level of adoption, and determined the socioeconomic variables impacting their implementation. The findings indicate that post-harvest management practices are significantly adopted in both states, with a grand mean score above 3.0 (Anambra: 3.18, SD = 1.322; Ebonyi: 3.22, SD = 1.24). Ebonyi farmers demonstrated a marginally higher adoption rate and consistency in these practices compared to their counterparts in Anambra. Notably, proper harvesting techniques were more significantly adopted in Ebonyi (Mean = 3.10) than in Anambra (Mean = 2.88), implying a reduction in post-harvest losses and improved grain quality in Ebonyi. Quick drying, the use of drying facilities, pest management, proper threshing, and quality seed utilization emerged as critical factors enhancing post-harvest efficiency and economic gains for rice farmers in both states. Socioeconomic determinants such as gender, marital status, education, and household size significantly influenced the adoption of post-harvest management practices. In Anambra, male farmers (Exp(B) = 2.611) and married individuals (Exp(B) = 1.560) were more likely to adopt post-harvest practices, whereas in Ebonyi, education negatively correlated with adoption (Exp(B) = 0.916). The study revealed the role of agricultural extension services in promoting best practices, thereby reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing farmers' economic outcomes. Targeted interventions focusing on education, training, and market access can further optimize adoption rates and improve the livelihoods of rice farmers.