Assessment of farmers awareness and practices of wet coffee processing method in Kogi State

Abstract

The determining factors for the price of coffee product in international market is the method of processing. This study examined farmers’ awareness and practices of coffee wet processing method in Kogi State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the personal characteristics of the respondents, ascertained the levels of awareness and practices of coffee wet processing method and identified the constraints encountered in coffee wet processing method. Multistage random sampling was used to select ninety (90) coffee farmers. Data was collected using comprehensive questionnaire and analysis was done using means, frequency percentages, chi square and pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). The result revealed that 73.3% of the respondents were above 50years, male 84.4%, married 64.4% mean household size 9.2person and mean farm size 4.1ha. There was relative high awareness (52.2%) of coffee wet processing method among respondents. Also, in the stages of coffee wet processing method, farmers highly practiced harvesting of ripe coffee berries, sorting, drying and storage. However, there was low practice of pulping, demulcilaging and washing which is the core process in wet method. Chi square analysis revealed that there was no significant relationship between sex(x=1.243), marital status (x=1.544), age(x=0.384) and educational status (x=1.853). PPMC analysis (r=0.200) revealed that there was no significant relationship between awareness and practices of wet processing method.