DRIVERS OF FOOD LOSSES AND WASTES AMONG FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN SOME SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the drivers of food losses and wastes among farm households in some selected local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the farm households, identified the causes of food losses and wastes among the farm households, determined the factors affecting farm households food losses and wastes and also identified the management strategies used by farm households to minimize food losses and wastes in the study area. Two stage sampling technique was used to select   86 farming households from two local government areas from who data were collected. The data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Square regression model. Results obtained shows that farmers in the study area were mostly in their productive age with mean of 47 years, 80.2% were married with average household size of 5 persons and about 90.3% had formal education. The result also revealed that over/excessive purchase, unfavorable weather condition, pest and diseases attack and inadequate storage facility were the causes of food losses and wastes respectively. The OLS result showed that gender, household size, frequency of power supply, awareness on environmental effect of food losses and wastes and total income were the factors significantly affecting food losses and wastes among the farm households. However, the farm households employed storing food in a sealed container, appropriate meal planning and checking of food expiration date before purchase as strategies to minimized food losses and wastes in the study area. The study therefore recommended that Farm households should avoid over/excessive purchase of food stuff so as to reduce food losses, Also, Government should assist in providing stable power supply to safe food stored and prevent wastage.