Economic Analysis of Cowpea Preservation Technologies With Special Focus on the Hydrothermal Treatment Technology

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2002-12

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University of Ghana

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The need to increase and sustain the production of cowpea in Ghana has been recognised. It is a cheaper source o f protein and thus has the potential to alleviate protein malnutrition. Specifically, the study determines the various storage and preservation technologies that are known and/or used by cowpea farmers, the profitability of cowpea preservation by means of the newly introduced technology called the hydrothermal treatment technology and also identifies the characteristics that determine the purchase decision o f cowpea consumers. The socio-economic factors that influence the adoption o f preservation and storage technologies o f cowpea grain by farmers was also determined. The results show that the four storage and preservation technologies most widely practised by cowpea farmers are: preservation with ash, chemical preservation, sealed bag storage and pod storage. The hydrothermal treatment technology simply involves steaming of dry cowpea grains for about 10 minutes after which the grain is properly dried and stored. The profitability o f cowpea preservation using the hydrothermal treatment technology was determined by the use o f Net Present Value and Internal Rate o f Return criteria. The estimates o f the profitability indicators at the 38% discount rate suggest that the hydrothermal treatment technology is profitable. The estimated values of NPV and IRR were 0345,262.42 and 90% respectively. Benefits envisaged with the adoption of this technology include the reduction of cowpea storage losses induced by insect pests thereby leading to an increase in productivity and subsequent increase in the income earning capacities of the farmers. The three most important characteristics o f cowpea grains that are considered by consumers in making their purchase decisions are: absence o f impurities, lack of insect emergence holes in the grain, and cooking time in that order. It is recommended that similar profitability studies should be carried out on other technologies used in the preservation and storage of cowpea grain. The results o f such studies will form the basis for farmers to compare and make informed choices.

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Thesis(Mphil)- University of Ghana

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