Adoption of improved processing technology among African locust bean processors in south-west, Nigeria

ISSN: 2224-0616 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 123-128, June 2020 Available online at https://ijarit.webs.com DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v10i1.48104 https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/IJARIT Adoption of improved processing technology among African locust bean processors in south-west, Nigeria A. Kolapo1*, O.E. Omopariola2, A.O. Adeoye3 and A.J. Kolapo4 Received 30 April 2020, Revised 17 May 2020, Accepted 20 June 2020, Published online 30 June 2020 ABSTRACT The paper investigated the effect of socio-economic and institutional factors on the adoption of improved locust bean processing technology in South-West, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the locust bean processors, examines the level of awareness and adoption of the improved locust bean processing technology in the study area and determines the effect of socio-economic and institutional factors on the adoption and intensity of use of improved locust bean processing technology in the study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 360 respondents used for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Cragg’s (double-hurdle) model. The result of the study showed that majority (84%) of the locust bean processors were female with an average age of 48 (±11.36) years. Majority (97%) of the respondents were married with an average household size of 8.25 (±4.32) persons. The result showed that 44.2% were aware while 55.8% were not aware of the technology in the study area. The results from the Cragg’s double hurdle model show that in the first hurdle, age, experience, access to credit and awareness positively influenced the decision to adopt the improved locust bean processing technology while in the second hurdle, education and income positively influenced the intensity of the use of the improved locust bean processing technology. It is therefore recommended that Relevant stakeholders, agencies and government should made available credit facilities which will enable the locust bean processors acquired the technology in no distant time. Keywords: African locust bean, Improved processing technology, Adoption, Processors, South-West. 1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. 3Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. 4 Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. 2 *Corresponding author’s email: (A. Kolapo) Cite this article as: Kolapo, A., Omopariola, O.E., Adeoye, A.O. and Kolapo, A.J. 2020. Adoption of improved processing technology among African locust bean processors in south-west, Nigeria. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 123-128. https://doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v10i1.48104 Introduction The African locust bean tree is a leguminous perennial tree, which are mainly grown in the savannah region of West Africa (Akande et al., 2010). The seed is the most important part of the tree and processed seed is being used as a condiment for soup. It is a source of natural nutritious condiment, which features frequently in the traditional diet of the people (Fagbemi, 1989). The processed African locust bean seed is being called by different local names in different localities; it is referred to as “Iru” in Yoruba, “Dawadawa” in Hausa and “Ogiri” in Igbo (Diawara et al., 2000; Odunfa and Adewuyi, 1985). Apart from the flavoring attribute of the processed locust bean, it also contributes significantly to the intake protein, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphate, iron content and essentials fatty acids, particularly vitamin B, riboflavin and vitamin A (Aju et al., 2008; Oduro et al., 2007; Popoola and Galaudu, 2000; Beaumont, 2002; Oladele et al., 1995; Musa, 1991; Odunfa and Adewuyi, 1985). It was estimated that about 200,000 tons of African locust beans seeds are gathered each year in Nigeria alone, as well as large quantities are produced in the savannah region of Oyo, Osun and Kwara States of Nigeria (Onnyi et al., 2004). In Nigeria, it serves as food buffer during lean period while reliable income accrued to the farmers involved in harvesting and marketing of the product (Campbell-Platt, 1980; Keay, 1989). International Journal of Agricultural Research Innovation & Technology An open access article under Kolapo et al. (2020) Adoption of processing technology among African locust bean processors in Nigeria However, the locust bean seed are still being extracted from the wild by the peasant farmers in Nigeria. In the past, processing of locust bean seed was largely in home (family yard) in a crude way and handled by local women. Although, the production has not increased substantially due to problems associated with the traditional production process. The traditional processing method of the locust bean seed were reported to be cumbersome and tiring as it entails a lot of rigorous process ranging from days to weeks and were also considered to be very labor intensive. The traditional processing method includes boiling in water for over 12 hrs. which were considered very exhaustive, followed by cooling and washing, boil cotyledons in water, drain through raffia sieve, spread while hot in wide calabash tray, stack strays together and wrap with jute bag, then ferment for 36 hours, add salt and mould into desire shape and finally sun dry (Farayola et al., 2012). The traditional method was very laborious in nature however. This led to concern about the design of a comprehensive improved technology that can perfectly process the African locust bean without aisle and without losing the flavoring attribute, it contains. The Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO) has designed the improved technology for processing locust bean over a decade ago. In studies conducted on modern method of processing locust bean, it was noted that the boring routine practice in cooking time was reduce by use of pressure cooker which reduced the rigor of 12 hours of boiling to just 2 hours. Dehuller and separator – dual purpose equipment has drastically reduced the traditional method of production of between 4 days – 6 days to 4 hours; having production capacity of 1500 kg (Audu et al., 2004). include: Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State. The region is bounded in the north by Kogi and Kwara States, in the South by Atlantic Ocean, in the west by Republic of Benin and in the East by Edo and Delta State. The South western region of Nigeria can boost of different varieties of tree crops as the climatic conditions support the production of various tree crops including African locust bean. A large proportion of the African locust bean consumed in Nigeria were being processed (...truncated)