Availability of Agricultural Processing Industries for Sustainable Development in Benue State Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to determine the availability of agricultural processing industries for sustainable development. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. Three objectives and three research questions were answered for the study. The target population was five hundred and fifty six registered mixed farmers (556). To determine the sample size of each senatorial zone, the population was divided into the three senatorial zones using proportionate sampling techniques in the ratio of 1:2:3 which give 93 to Zone A, 185 to Zone B and 278 to Zone C respectively. Therefore, the sample size for the study was five hundred and fifty six (556). The questionnaire for data collection was validated by two experts in agricultural Education and one expert in measurement and evaluation. The reliability of the instruments was determined through trial testing conducted in Kogi State Using twenty (20) farmers. Therefore, the reliability was calculated using Cronbach Alpha procedure and the value were 0.78.  The result of the findings indicated that most of the fruits processing industries are not available except for oil palm processing industry. Also all the animal processing industries are not available. Finally, tuber crops processing industries are not available except for cassava processing industry. It was concluded that fruits processing, animal processing and yam and tubers processing industries are not available except for cassava and oil palm processing industry. It was therefore recommended that Looking at the quantity of fruits in Benue State, there is a need for private organizations to partner with the farmers as a means of establishing processing industries to prevent wastage and loss of income.