Benue State University, Makurdi

Indigenous Preservation Practices and Weight Loss of Stored Yams in Benue State, Nigeria

Emmanuel V. Orjime, Benjamin G. Ahule, Godwin A. Akpehe Celestina Akpoghul, Solomon Gbaka, Joseph Fefa, Member Ahemen Tor Akuhwa, Samuel Ogo Ominyi and Kafayat O. Zaka

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of existing indigenous preservation practices utilized by rural farming families in reducing the weight loss of stored yam tubers in Benue State, Nigeria. The study is anchored on the hypothesis that the application of existing indigenous preservation practices is not effective in reducing the weight loss of stored yam tubers in the study area. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design, utilizing cluster and random sampling techniques in the selection of respondents. The study proportionately selected 255 respondents randomly from six (6) local government areas for the study to include Katsina Ala, Ukum, Buruku, Gboko, Otukpo and Okpokwu local government areas. The result of the chi-square test shows P value =0.000 < 0.05; hence, the study rejected the null hypothesis. A symmetric Phi value of 1.000 was obtained, showing a positively high association between the variables. The study recommended that existing indigenous preservation practices be combined with good practices of routine removal of sprout development in stores and change of attitude of yam farming families; of keeping unsound yam sets for planting. This attitude often leads to harvesting unsound yam tubers that are vulnerable to pathogenic attacks and weight loss, which negatively limits the effectiveness of existing indigenous preservation practices even when applied consistently to reduce the weight loss of stored yam tubers.

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