IJBTT

Investigation on Local Rice Processing, Packaging and Storage among Farmers in Some South Eastern Nigeria

	International Journal of Recent Engineering Science (IJRES)
	© 2022 by IJRES Journal
	Volume-9 Issue-1
	Year of Publication : 2022
	Authors : Ugwu Kenneth Chikwado
	10.14445/23497157/IJRES-V9I1P102

How to Cite?

Ugwu Kenneth Chikwado, "Investigation on Local Rice Processing, Packaging and Storage among Farmers in Some South Eastern Nigeria," International Journal of Recent Engineering Science, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 8-15, 2022. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23497157/IJRES-V9I1P102

Abstract
Improvement of local rice processing, packaging and storage among farmers in some southeastern Nigeria was carried out, and a survey was made involving the use of questionnaires and personal interviews during the field trips. The major objective was to identify the strategies to be adopted for improving the processing, packaging and storage of rice production in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States of Nigeria. The author was able to issue 90 questionnaires to the owner and staff of the rice farm randomly, 90 questionnaires were recovered, and 10 rice farms were visited in each state. The investigation survey was carried out by rice processors and packagers, including the preservers that came to purchase from them. The survey results showed that 84.4%, 66.7 % and 50 % of respondents reported rice spoilage on the packaging, storage and variation in milling moisture content. The majority of the rice farmers knew nothing about moisture content and modern means of threshing, drying, parboiling, polishing, whitening and destoning of rice as adopted by farmers. The author also found out that most farmers do not store rice in a confined constructed structure. For that reason, stored rice get damaged by pest, rodent and microorganism easily. Therefore, to avoid spoilage and wastage in rice production and establish safe moisture content for harvesting, milling, and storage of rice should be adhered to. The modern machines used in the unit operation of rice production should subside to improve the working conditions, minimize waste, and increase the production and processing of rice for these individual farmers. The author recommended that the southeast should adopt modern methods of rice production, processing and storage to enhance the quality and quantity of rice and also requested government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private investors to assist rice farmers.

Keywords
Investigation, Local rice, Processing, Packaging, Storage.

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