AN APPRAISAL OF GARI PACKAGING IN OGBOMOSO, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

* Adejumo, B. A.  and A. O. Raji **

*Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

** Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Email: funmibitan@yahoo.com;bolanleadejumo@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

An appraisal of gari packaging and sale in ogbomoso, Nigeria is reported. The objectives of this work is to appraise the various packaging materials used for gari and to suggest safe, appropriate and affordable packaging materials for gari packaging and storage. This is with the aim of reducing losses during storage and for proper planning of marketing strategies in terms of product packaging. The study was carried out by administering structured questionnaire combined with personal interviews with producers and marketers. A total of 50 respondents consisting of 35 marketers and 15 producers were interviewed. The results showed that the packaging materials used for gari packaging are all improvised material not specifically made for gari packaging. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the respondents uses hessian bags, 1% polyethylene bags while 2% combine hessian and polyethylene bags for the packaging of gari. Ninety percent (90%) of the respondent stored gari for between 1-6 months, 8% for 6-12 months while 2% stored for above 12 months in hessian bags. The percentage loss of gari during storage ranges between 3-10% for the packaging methods assessed which is a function of the type of storage materials used, storage conditions, storage duration and the quality of the gari before storage. The losses were in terms of change in colour, odour and taste. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the respondent retail gari from open containers, 4% from mats and 1% in 50kg bags usually wholesalers. It was observed that the problem of poor keeping quality of many dehydrated foods such as gari in the tropics is related to their moisture uptake during merchandising. This is perhaps due to poor packaging materials and the levels of moisture at which they are prepared and exposed. The use of plastic packaging bags cannot be overemphasized. There is therefore the need for further studies into the appropriate storage and packaging materials for gari as regards its physicochemical qualities as well as its protection against contaminants and increased shelf life.     

Keywords: Gari, hessian bags, jute bags, packaging, losses, storage.