Gendered Access and Adoption of Post-Harvest Loss Reduction Technologies among Smallholder Farmers in Rural Communities of Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Post-harvest losses remain a major challenge affecting food security, income stability, and agricultural productivity in Nigeria, particularly among smallholder farmers who rely on traditional storage and handling practices. This study examines gendered access to and adoption of post-harvest loss reduction technologies among smallholder farmers in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design guided by the Gender and Development (GAD) framework was adopted. Using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table, 384 respondents were selected from 400 registered smallholder farmers through multi-stage sampling. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, supported by key informant interviews with agricultural extension officers and cooperative leaders. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential tools such as chi-square tests and logistic regression to determine gender-based variations in adoption. The study found that male farmers demonstrate higher access to improved storage technologies such as hermetic bags, metal silos, drying platforms, and agro-processing machines owing to better financial capacity, land ownership, and extension service contact, while women face limitations arising from restricted access to credit, cultural norms, and domestic workload burdens. The study recommends gender-responsive agricultural interventions, inclusive financing mechanisms, and improved extension outreach targeted at women to enhance technology uptake and reduce post-harvest losses in rural Katsina State.