Economic Analysis of Cowpea Preservation Technologies With Special Focus on the Hydrothermal Treatment Technology
Date
2002-12
Authors
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
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.
Description
Thesis(Mphil)- University of Ghana