Geospatial Mapping, Modelling and Optimization of Modular Rice Aggregation Centers in Anambra Zone

Abstract

Rice aggregation centers are tasked with checkmating substandard agricultural produce that are often encountered by the integrated millers during the course of buying from farm to farm and ensuring an already made market for their produce. Thus, it must be well placed to occupy strategic positions such that all different rice cultivating zones of the state get access to the facility. Given that these facilities will provide salient services and a set of demand points tasked with the provision storage, processing capability and a constant market for various rice farmers within the state, it is pertinent that these facilities are located properly considering all unique factors on ground. This study therefore aimed at geospatial mapping, modelling and optimization of modular rice aggregation centers in Anambra zone. Geographical Information System (GIS) technology was used to model and optimized the modular rice aggregation location centers in Anambra zone. It revealed the optimal locations for siting a modular aggregation rice centerat Aguleri, Nando, Ifite-Ogwari, Onoia and Nzam all in Anambra zone. The goal throughout this study was to provide a reliable and complete analysis of siting of modular rice aggregation centers in the Anambra zone. Therefore the approach and results obtained in this study are recommended as a spatial decision making tool for site selection of modular rice aggregation rice centers in Nigeria and other countries.