Food safety knowledge among farming households in Irepodun local government area, Kwara State, Nigeria
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Date
2019-04-22
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Publisher
International Journal Published by faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Abstract
The study assessed the food safety knowledge and practices among farming households in Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA)
of Kwara State, Nigeria. Irepodun LGA was purposively selected due to the large population of farmers in the area. Two-stage sampling technique
was used to randomly select one hundred and four (104) respondents from five villages, namely: Elerinjare, Batanyin, Igbo-owu, Omode
and Idofian. Primary data were used for the study and the data were collected by means of an interview schedule. Descriptive statistical tools
such as precision counts, frequencies and percentages were used in analyzing the data while Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC)
analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The findings revealed that the mean income was 156375.50 NGN (441.74 USD) per annum, majority
of the farming households have low knowledge towards food safety practices. Constraints to food safety practices include: lack of knowledge,
inadequate training and awareness and inadequate finance. PPMC analysis showed that income and educational level was significantly related
to the food safety practices among farmers across the selected farming households P<0.05. Based on the findings, training and effective
monitoring by relevant stakeholders, adequate provision of modern technology, sensitization and enlightenment campaigns will further boost
farming household’s knowledge and attitudinal changes towards food safety and ultimately safe food for the people.
Description
Keywords
farming households, food safety, knowledge, hygiene