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Effect of Agricultural Advisory Services on Farmers’ Knowledge of Potato Storage Management

Abstract

Potato is an important food and cash crop that contributes to household food security, income generation, and agricultural development. However, inadequate storage management can result in significant post-harvest losses, deterioration in quality, sprouting, rotting, pest infestation, and reduction in market value. Agricultural advisory services can provide farmers with relevant knowledge and technical guidance on appropriate storage practices, thereby improving their ability to preserve harvested potatoes and reduce storage losses. This study will examine the effect of agricultural advisory services on farmers’ knowledge of potato storage management. It will assess farmers’ exposure to agricultural advisory services and determine the extent to which such services improve their knowledge of appropriate potato storage practices. The study will also examine the sources of storage information available to farmers and the challenges affecting their access to advisory support. The study will focus on farmers’ knowledge of potato harvesting, sorting, grading, curing, cleaning, handling, ventilation, temperature and moisture management, storage structures, stacking methods, pest and disease prevention, sprout control, regular inspection, and safe storage duration. It will also consider the frequency of advisory contact, participation in storage-related training, access to demonstrations, and farmers’ use of recommended potato storage management practices. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from potato farmers using structured questionnaires designed to measure their exposure to agricultural advisory services and their knowledge of potato storage management. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to determine the relationship between agricultural advisory services and farmers’ knowledge of potato storage management. The study is expected to reveal that farmers with greater exposure to agricultural advisory services may demonstrate higher levels of knowledge of recommended potato storage management practices. Advisory contact, training, demonstrations, and access to technical information may improve farmers’ understanding of appropriate storage conditions, handling methods, pest control, sprout prevention, and measures for reducing post-harvest losses. However, inadequate storage facilities, limited advisory contact, financial constraints, and insufficient technical information may remain important challenges. The study will be useful to potato farmers, agricultural extension agents, farmer organisations, agricultural development agencies, policymakers, non-governmental organisations, storage facility providers, and researchers. It may provide useful information for strengthening advisory programmes, improving farmers’ knowledge of potato storage management, reducing post-harvest losses, maintaining potato quality, and improving the income and food security of farming households. The study concludes that agricultural advisory services are important for improving farmers’ knowledge of potato storage management and supporting effective post-harvest handling. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension and advisory agencies strengthen farmer training, demonstrations, storage management education, and regular technical support on potato storage. Farmers should also be encouraged to adopt recommended storage practices and make greater use of available advisory services to improve potato preservation and reduce post-harvest losses.

Keywords: Agricultural advisory services, farmers’ knowledge, potato storage, storage management, potato farmers, post-harvest management, agricultural extension, potato preservation, storage facilities, post-harvest losses, curing, ventilation, moisture management, pest control, agricultural training.