Evaluation of the Source and Amount of Energy Use for Groundnut Processing in Nasarawa State of Nigeria

A study was carried out to analyze the sources and amount of energy consumed for groundnut processing in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government of Nasarawa State with the aim to determine the energy use pattern, the relationship between energy inputs and outputs and to determine the productivity of energy use in groundnut processing. A total of 100 Groundnut processors were identified and 50 processors were randomly sampled for the study. Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire on inputs and outputs in groundnut processing. Data was collected once a week from each processor for a period of six weeks. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, production function analysis and correlation analysis. The result revealed that the circle of groundnut production is completed in 4 days. Groundnut processing in the study area is mainly dependent on direct, indirect and renewable energy forms especially fuelwood which accounts for 75.04% of the daily total energy used and the total amount of energy used for processing groundnut on a daily basic is 1410.42MJ and all forms of energy had direct relationship with processed groundnut output. The result of daily energy inputs and outputs shows that the quantity of raw Groundnut processed daily range from 70kg to 280kg with an average of 165.2kg which is equal to 1372.8MJ of energy equivalent and that an average of 6 machine hours, 32 liters of water were used and 58.8 Kg of fuel wood were also used. It was therefore recommendations that more labour and fuel efficient Groundnut processing machines be introduced to enhance energy productivity in groundnut processing and save cost and that sustainable alternatives energy such as briquette be exploited instead of fuelwood.