Determinants of value addition to cassava in Kwara State, Nigeria.
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius.
Abstract
This study focuses on factors influencing value addition to cassava by farming households in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study emanated from the need to harness the benefits of value addition to cassava in Nigeria, being the world’s largest producer of the crop. Data were collected from 160 cassava farming households through a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and two-stage Heckman model. Results showed that the farmers were still in their active age, married with an average household size of seven persons. Those who engaged in value addition among the farmers were 37.5%. The products of the value-adders were cassava flakes, flour, cassava paste, cassava chips and starch. Decision to add value to cassava by the farmers was significantly influenced by availability of processing equipment, cassava output, farm size, age and access to extension services. The study further revealed that the extent to which value addition is carried out is influenced by availability of processing equipment, being a female, age and hours spent on non-farm activities. The study therefore recommends encouraging the youths to engage in cassava farming, providing farmers with processing equipment, overhauling extension services and putting measures that will improve farmers’ output in place.
Description
Keywords
Value addition, cassava, factors, Nigeria
Citation
45. Falola, A., Oyinbo, O., Adebayo, S. A., Jonathan, A. & Jimoh, J. O. (2016): Determinants of value addition to cassava in Kwara State, Nigeria. University of Mauritius Research Journal, 22:245-259. Published by the University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius. Available online at http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/pvcacd/uploads/uomjournals/40/FinalpaperRJ254acceptedon04April2016pdf.pdf.