Impact assessment of utilisation of an improved maize sheller in three major maize-producing provinces in the philippines

摘要

This study was conducted to assess the consequences or effects of grain postharvest technology utilisation at the end-user level in three major maize-producing provinces in the Philippines. Specifically, a number of variables--personal, social, physico-economic, attributes of the improved maize sheller (IMS), and technology transfer--were related to the use of this technology, It likewise determined the effects of utilisation on the technological, socioeconomic and institutional milieus of IMS users. Respondents to this study were composed of 169 IMS users from Bukidnon, Cotabato and Lanao del Sur. Data were gathered through the use of an interview schedule. Correlation analysis showed that both training through an agricultural program and membership of an organisation were significantly and highly significantly related to levels of IMS utilisation, respectively. Infrastructure, especially accessibility of roads, was also found to be significantly correlated with utilisation, as were technical, social, ecological and educational attributes. Multiple regression analysis showed that the following are determinants or predictors of IMS utilisation: accessibility of roads; mobility of the sheller; and the availability of the IMS and its spare parts in the market. These factors can therefore predict utilisation of the IMS at the farm-level. Z-tests and t-tests revealed that IMS utilisation had impacted positively on the technological (quality of shelled maize, efficiency and shelling time), socioeconomic (income, shelling costs) and institutional (harvesting payment, shelling payment and shelling location) milieus of the end users. Also, cultural management in maize production, such as land preparation, drying practice, storage practice and harvesting practice were also modified and changed significantly by the use of the IMS.