Analysis of maize processing into popcorn as an income generating activity for livelihood sustenance among women in Niger state, Nigeria

The study analyzed maize processing into pop-corn as an income generating activities for livelihood sustenance among women in Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from sixty (60) pop-corn processors from the study area. Descriptive statistics, Gross Margin (GM) and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data collected. The result revealed that most of the processors are between the ages of 30–40 years, they were also married with household size of between 1–5 members. The study also showed that 71.67% of the pop-corn processors have Islamic/Arabic education. Majority of the processors used family labor for their processing activity, 100% of the pop-corn processors are not members of any association, likewise 100% of the pop-corn processors do not have contact with extension agent The study further revealed a GM of N 41.33 for the pop-corn processors per kg of maize processed. The regression result shows that all the variables included in the model tested positive at 1% level of significance with an adjusted R² value of 0.889, which implies that the variables included in the model explain 88.9% variation in the livelihood status of the processors; that is they adequately explain the livelihood status of the pop-corn processors. The challenges faced by the popcorn processors include it causes drudgery and it is time consuming. It was recommended that female extension agents should be trained, processors should participate in cooperative and improvement should be made on the way of processing so as to improve on their income and general standard of living.