ABSTRACT

The study was designed to examine the economics of Bambara groundnut processing into okpa in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. Primary and secondary data were used for this study and the data were obtained from sixty (60) respondents who were randomly selected from the six (6) agricultural zones of Nsukka Local Government Area. Well — structured questionnaire wcrc ccJ for ci coJlcctjon from the respondents, data analysis were carried out with the use' of such statistical and econometric tools like frequency, percentages and regression analysis. The rcsult of data analysis showed that the mean age of the processors were 45 years. Indicating that they arc middle aged. The study showed that Okpa processing business is for women only — majority of the respondents had more than 22 years experience, in okpa processing ,are married, literate had about 7 household sizes, had Okpa processing as major occupation and process both for household and commercial purposes respectively. The processes in the traditional method of converting bambaragroundnut into Okpa are: bambaragroundnut seed milling, sieving, mixing, packaging, cooking, finished processed Okpa, displaying for sale and consumers. Experience, education and processing costs were significant and positive variables influencing the income from okpa processing while age and levies were significant and negative variables influencing the income from the processing of Okpa. The study showed that okpa processing in the area is proItahle with N4,450.00 per responden per day and total cost ofN6,940.00 for each respondent per day. It is recommended that Government should invest more in Okpa processing research so as to generate data that could be used by intended investors and other researchers.