Rice Husk Generation and Utilization among Households in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study focused on rice husk generation and utilization among households in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of households in Ebonyi State; evaluate the perception of respondents on the effects of rice husk generation and utilization on the environment; estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for the removal of rice husk from the environment; determine the socio-economic factors influencing the respondents WTP for the removal of rice husk from the environment; determine the extent of rice husk generation and utilization in the study area; and identify the constraints to rice husk utilization among households in Ebonyi State. Hypothesis: Socio-economic characteristics of households do not significantly determine their willingness to pay for the removal of rice husk from the farmland. Purposive sampling technique was used to select rice production and rice milling areas while random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Data were collected by the use of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using mean score, contingency valuation method (CVM) - (tobit regression) and F-test. The result of the analysis showed that rice husk is generated in large quantities in the study area while rice husk utilization is still at rudimentary stage. Annual income, years of education, farm size, age and farming experience were positively related to households willingness to pay for the removal of rice husk from the farmland at 5% probability level while household size and distances of homes/farms from rice milling centers (RMCs) were inversely related to WTP with the pseudo R2 value of 77%. The mean WTP for the removal of rice husk from the environment was N960. The result from mean score used to identify the constraints to rice husk utilization indicated four major constraints to include: lack of awareness; cost of transportation; lack of environmental concern and insufficient information about proper use. Recommendation: Government should commercialize rice husk utilization since the findings showed that it was generated in high quantity in the study area to offer employment to people and at the same time solve the environmental problems created by uncoordinated disposal of rice husk that causes land air and water pollution and conserve the nation’s finite reserve of petroleum.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content page

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables vii

List of figures viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of Problem 5

1.3 Objectives of the Study 7

1.4 Hypotheses of the Study 8

1.5 Justification of the Study 8

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATUREoi989

2.1 Meaning and Description of Rice Husk 10

2.2 Composition of Rice Husk 11

2.3 Characteristics of Rice Husk Compared to other Agricultural Residue 11

2.4 Effects of Socio-Economic Variables of Households on Rice Husk Utilization 12

2.5 Rice Processing and Husk Generation Strategies 13

2.6 Factors that Influence Rice Husk Generation 14

2.7 Rice Husk Generation and Households Health 14

2.8 Rice Husk Generation and the Environment 15

2.9 Minimizing Environmental Pollution during Husk Generation 16

2.10 Rice Husk Utilization Practices 17

2.11 Extent of Rice Husk Utilization 20

2.12 Rice Husk Utilization and the Environment 21

2.13 Effects of Socio-economic Variable of the households on Rice Husk Utilization 21

2.14 Determinants of Willingness To Pay (WTP) for Environmental Resources 22

2.15 Rice Husk Utilization and the Economy 22

2.16 Problems Militating Against Rice Husk Utilization 26

2.16.1 Possible solutions to problems militating against rice husk utilization 28

2.17 Theoretical Framework 29

2.17.1 Theory of sustainable development 29

2.17.2 Theory of externality and public goods 30

2.18 Analytical Framework 32

2.18.1 Contingent valuation method 32

2.18.2 Mean score (Likert type scale rating technique) 35

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study Area 37

3.2 Sampling Procedure 39

3.3 Method of Data Collection 40

3.3.1 Validity and reliability of instrument 41

3.4 Method of Data Analysis 41

3.4.1 Mean score 41

3.4.2 Contingent valuation method 42

3.5 Test of Hypothesis 44

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio-Economic Characteristics of Households. 45

4.2: Perception of the Respondents on Effects of Rice Husk Generation and Utilization on the farmland. 51

4.2.1 Perception of the households on effects of rice husk generation on the farmland 51

4.2.2 Perception of the households on effects of rice husk utilization on the farmland 52

4.3 Estimation of WTP for the Removal of Rice Husk from the farmland 53

4.4 The Socio-economic Factors Influencing the Respondents’ WTP for Removal of Rice Husk from the farmland. 54

4.5 Extent of Rice Husk Generation in the Study Area 56

4.5.2: Extent of Rice Husk Utilization in the Study Area 57

4.6 Constraints to Rice Husk Utilization 58

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary 60

5.2 Conclusion 62

5.3 Recommendations 62

5.4 Suggestions for further studies 64

REFERENCES 65

APPENDICES