Analysis of Maize Value Addition among Entrepreneurs in Taraba State, Nigeria

This study analyzed maize value addition among maize entrepreneurs in Taraba State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to collect primary data from two hundred and twelve respondents (212), using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Value addition model, ANOVA, multinomial logistic regression, log likelihood test ratio and factor analysis. The result of the study revealed that most (62.3%) respondents were males. 61.3% were within the productive age of 21-40 years. Majority (71.1%) were married with household sizes of 6-10. The total of (32.8%) respondents of them had secondary school education, (46.6%) had processing experience of between 6-10 years in processing as their major occupation. proportionate (49.2%) of total respondents had non-farm income of N150,001 per annum. Results of the value addition analysis showed that maize processed as boiled maize is more profitable with a mean of N130, 900 per annum. The result from the multinomial logistic regression on choice of maize processing enterprises revealed that sex had negative coefficient, which implied that male respondents preferred grain production enterprise rather than processing into akamu, corn flour, massa and boiled maize. Also age had negative coefficient, implying that age increase tends to favour grain production than processing. In relation to processing constraints, the maize processing value chain was hampered by the following: inadequate processing facilities, inadequate credit/funds, high cost of transport and inadequate access to inputs. The study concluded that maize value addition is a profitable enterprise and entrepreneurs should be encouraged to venture into it. Also the Agricultural Development Project Programme should send extension agents to processors to encourage processing diversification especially into poultry feeds.