Manual or motorized postharvest operations of pearl millet in Maradi, Niger: effects on time and energy use, profitability, and farmers' perceptions

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.contributor.affiliationNorwegian University of Life Sciences
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.donorNorwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
cg.coverage.countryNiger
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2NE
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionWestern Africa
cg.creator.identifierGarba Maman: 0000-0002-3377-3064
cg.creator.identifierJens B. Aune: 0000-0001-5270-1798
cg.howPublishedFormally Published
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.70054
cg.identifier.projectIITA - Western Africa Hub
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.issn2048-3694
cg.issue1
cg.journalFood and Energy Security
cg.numbere70054
cg.reviewStatusPeer Review
cg.subject.actionAreaResilient Agrifood Systems
cg.subject.iitaGRAIN LEGUMES
cg.subject.iitaFOOD SECURITY
cg.subject.iitaCROP SYSTEMS
cg.subject.iitaFARM MANAGEMENT
cg.subject.iitaHANDLING, TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND PROTECTION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
cg.subject.sdgSDG 2 - Zero hunger
cg.volume14
dc.contributor.authorNourou, A.I.M.
dc.contributor.authorGarba, M.
dc.contributor.authorGrimsby, L.K.
dc.contributor.authorAune, J.B.
dc.date.accessioned2025-12-11T22:12:43Z
dc.date.available2025-12-11T22:12:43Z
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/178771
dc.titleManual or motorized postharvest operations of pearl millet in Maradi, Niger: effects on time and energy use, profitability, and farmers' perceptionsen
dcterms.abstractThe pearl millet value chain in Niger, from sowing to the production of millet flour, is mainly done using manual labor. The objective of this study was to compare manual and motorized postharvest operations in pearl millet based on several criteria: output per hour, labor and energy demand, product quality, drudgery (measured by heart rate), profitability, farmers' perceptions of quality and cost of operations, and adoption rates. The study also assessed the conditions under which motorized operations could be adopted. The research methods included a survey of 200 households, interviews with entrepreneurs, and field measurements of both manual and motorized postharvest operations using the above criteria. An economic assessment was undertaken based on investment costs, time use, and the cost and income of each operation. The results showed that 72.5% of the households surveyed used motorized milling, whereas only 4% used motorized threshing. The time‐saving effect of motorization was the highest for milling (211 h/Mg), whereas it was lowest for threshing (21 h/Mg). Motorized processing of 1 Mg of millet grain adequate for a household's yearly needs saves 49 man‐days/year compared to manual methods. Quality measurements showed that only 38% of millet flour met quality standards after manual milling compared to 87% for motorized milling. By considering factors like fuel use and losses in the manual and motorized operations, it was found that motorized operations used 429 kWh/Mg less than the manual operation. Threshing is the most challenging postharvest operation to motorize, with investment costs four times higher than milling and dehulling, and lower profitability than other operations. Moreover, threshing and straw chopping are only done in the months following harvesting, whereas milling and dehulling services are in demand throughout the year. The study found that motorization of postharvest operations is an interesting option for farmers based on the criteria of time saving, quality of products, energy efficiency, reduction in women's workload, and profitability.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceScientists
dcterms.available2025-01-23
dcterms.bibliographicCitationNourou, A.I.M., Garba, M., Grimsby, L.K. & Aune, J.B. (2025). Manual or motorized postharvest operations of pearl millet in Maradi, Niger: effects on time and energy use, profitability, and farmers' perceptions. Food and Energy Security, 14(1): e70054, 1-13.
dcterms.descriptionOpen Access Journal
dcterms.extent1-13
dcterms.issued2025
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.subjectcereals
dcterms.subjectdehulling
dcterms.subjectinvestment
dcterms.subjectmilling
dcterms.subjectthreshing
dcterms.subjectworkload
dcterms.subjectmillets
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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