Storage Losses Intensity of Paddy Rice in Benue State, Nigeria: Estimate, Determinants, and Policy Implications

The study investigated the intensity of storage losses of paddy rice in Benue State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 246 rice farmers selected from 12 communities and six Local Government Areas using multistage sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression model. The result on the intensity of storage losses of paddy rice showed that on average, 11.34% of paddy rice produced in the study area were lost during storage. The multiple regression analysis showed that age (β = -0.71), level of education (β=0.61), farming experience (β=0.63), annual income (β=0.51), and involvement in off-farm business (β=0.31) influenced intensity of post-harvest storage losses of paddy rice in the study area. The study recommended that policies and programmes aimed at minimizing storage losses of paddy rice should take into consideration the socio-economic characteristics of the rice farmers especially their age, educational level, farming experience, annual income, and off-farm activities involvement, in their design and implementation; and the State ministry of agriculture should annually organize workshops targeted at training of rice farmers on post-harvest handling and storage of paddy rice with the objectives of acquiring skills in timing of harvest, grain drying, moisture management, and safe storage.