THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION AND MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE ON FOOD LOSSES AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Food loss remains a critical challenge threatening food security and rural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria experiencing substantial post-harvest losses estimated at 30-50% annually. This study examined the impact of transportation and market infrastructure on food losses among rural farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 384 randomly selected farmers across three agricultural zones during January-June 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information on transportation challenges, market infrastructure conditions, and food loss experiences. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that 78.4% of farmers experienced significant food losses, with inadequate transportation (mean = 4.23, SD = 0.87) and poor market infrastructure (mean = 4.15, SD = 0.92) identified as primary contributors. Regression analysis demonstrated that transportation accessibility (β = -0.456, p < 0.001) and market infrastructure quality (β = -0.389, p < 0.001) significantly predicted food loss levels, collectively explaining 67.3% of the variance (R² = 0.673, F = 156.42, p < 0.001). Road conditions, distance to markets, and storage facilities emerged as critical determinants. The study concludes that improving transportation networks and market infrastructure could reduce food losses by approximately 40-45%. Recommendations include government investment in rural road rehabilitation, establishment of modern storage facilities, and development of integrated market systems to enhance agricultural value chains and farmer incomes.