Annals of Advanced Agricultural Sciences

Download PDF (316.5 KB) PP. 31 - 36 Pub. Date: August 1, 2018

DOI: 10.22606/as.2018.23001

• Oyediran, Wasiu Oyeleke^*
  Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
• Omoare, Ayodeji Motunrayo
  Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
• Oyekunle, Olanrewaju Opeyemi
  Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
• Abubakar, Abubakar Alhaji
  Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria

Melon (Citrillus colocynthis L.) is processed into diverse products for rural households’ consumption as food and to generate higher economic returns. However, the prevailing traditional processing techniques cannot substantially minimize drudgery, seed spoilage and economic losses. This study was carried out to examine implication of technology adoption on economic returns of melon processors in North Central, Nigeria. One hundred and ninety melon processors were randomly selected from ten villages as the sample size for this study. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used for the data analysis. About sixty-five percent of the respondents processed less than 2.52kg of melon in a day before the introduction of improved melon sheller while most (80.0%) of the respondents processed more than 190kg in a day with improved technology. Gross Margin (GM) estimated for hand shelled melon was ₦2,230.01/week compare to ₦47,530.00/week obtained from melon sheller. Result of t-test indicates a significant difference in the melon processed before and after technology adoption (t = -22.27, p = 0.02) at p < 0.05 level of significance. It can be concluded that adoption of improved melon processing technology led to increase in production output and higher economic returns. The study therefore recommends that rural women should continue to adopt improved melon processing technology for higher productivity and economic returns.

Keywords: implication, improved technology, adoption, melon, economic returns

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