ABSTRACT:

The study was carried out to analyze the post-harvest handling practices among home-grown rice
farmers in Abuja, Nigeria. The objectives of the study include description of socio-economic
characteristics of rice-farmers in the study area, identify major causes of post-harvest losses among
the home-grown rice farmers, examine the relationship between the socio-economic characteristics
of rice-farmers and the post-harvest handling practices adopted by them, identify the constraints to
post-harvest handling practices in rice production in the study area. Multi-stage sampling
technique was used for sample selection. Primary data was used for the study which was collected
using a well-structured questionnaire from 300 respondents out of the three area councils
purposively selected from six area councils. The study revealed that pest infestation was the most
prevalent cause of rice postharvest losses as indicated by 95% of the respondents. The chi-square
result of the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and adoption of rice post-harvest
handling practices in the study area revealed that farming experience and membership in
cooperative society were significant at 1% probability level, marital status was significant at 5%
while the level of education was significant at 10% probability. The study, however, revealed that the
effect of climate change is the biggest constraint or challenge rice farmers in the study area faced
while engaging in rice post-harvest activities. The study recommended that training programs and
workshops be organized to educate farmers on best practices in post-harvest handling, including
training on proper drying, proper milling, and storage processes.