Socio-economic Characteristics of Processor Use of Melon Sheller in Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria
[1]
Eze E. I., Agro Industrial Development and Extension Department, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria.
[2]
Adamade C. A., Agro Industrial Development and Extension Department, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria.
[3]
Anyaeji F. O., Agro Industrial Development and Extension Department, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria.
[4]
Mohammed B. T., Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Department, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria.
[5]
Ozumba I. C., Agro Industrial Development and Extension Department, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Nigeria.
This study investigates the socio-economic characteristics of processor use of melon sheller in Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State in order to determine the level of the use of mechanized equipment for melon shelling. The data generated were basically primary and obtained through personal interview schedule with a well structured questionnaire. A random sampling technique was used in selecting the sampling for the study. A total of 60 Agro-processors engaged in melon processing across the four villages were selected. From the investigation, it was observed that the result of the socio-economic characteristics shows that most of the melon processors that are involved in shelling are in their mid-ages (73.33%), they are females (95%), married (93.33%) and experienced processors (70%). Farming and trading (48.33% and 46.66%) respectively are major occupation of the respondents while majority (70%) attended Quranic School and can marginally read and write. It was therefore concluded that majority of the women are in their active age, and have been in the shelling business for a long time which made adoption of innovations easy such as the use of melon sheller which maximize their production with less time and stress free.
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