Evaluation of the Impact of Access to Training on Postharvest Loss Management Among Rice Farmers and Miller in Benue State

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of post-harvest loss (PHL) management training access among rice farmers and millers in the region. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was applied, with data collected from 200 randomly selected rice farmers and mill workers. The binary logit model was utilized to estimate the impacts of access to PHL training on agricultural productivity and food security. The study found that only 40.5% of respondents had received training in PHL management, leading to significantly higher yields, greater knowledge in PHL reduction, and improved household food security. Farm size, group membership, access to credit, and rice production were positively correlated with training access, while family size, non-formal education, and distance to training centers were negatively correlated. Trained farmers adopted improved post-harvest practices, including better drying, storage, and pest control. Conversely, untrained farmers experienced higher post-harvest losses and lower productivity.