USES OF INDIGENOUS METHOD IN HANDLING CASHEW PRODUCT IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the indigenous method in handling cashew production Kogi State, Nigera.Simple random selection was used to select 240 respondents.Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of the study shows that about35%of the respondents in the study area were within the age bracket of 41 – 50 years, majority (75%)of the respondents were male with household size of 1-5 people (57.1%) and 33.8% of the respondents possessed considerable experience of 6-10years and above in cashew farming. Study also reveals that 26.7% of the respondents’ cultivated1ha while 42.5% of the respondents cultivated between 2-4 ha. Similarly, 30.8% cultivated above 4 ha. More than half(54.2%) of the respondents used both hired and family labour in cashew farming, while 23.3% and 16.7% used hired labour and family labour respectively in carrying out their farming activities. The study shows the Majority(77%)of the respondents used to bag the cashew nut for sale, it also revealed that majority(81.3%) of farmers do not use hand shelling for cashew nut and more than half(55.4%) of the respondents do not sundry cashew before sale and majority(70.8%) of respondents used to weigh cashew. Cashew farmers were of the view that cashew nut shell liquid is a by – product of cashew processing industry as this occupied the first position on the ranking with Mean ratio of 2.22, while cashew apple is said to have many medicinal values ranked 4th with mean ratio 2.10. It can be concluded that cashew has a great economic value which has increased their income. It was recommended among others that adequate training must be carried out to sensitize the farmers about the benefits of using indigenous method in handling cashew product and the extension services provided should be extended to the farmers in the study area in other to increase their awareness about surplus supply of cashew nuts to address their paucity.