ABSTRACT

The study was conducted on the effect of cassava-value addition on the income of small-scale farmers in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara-State, Nigeria. A total number of 120 respondents were sampled through multi-stage random sampling technique. Primary data were collected from the respondents with structured questionnaire. Data generated were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as percentage, frequency counts and mean and also multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the respondents for the study comprised 96.7% male and 3.3% female and that the mean age was 52 years and 94.2% were married, while 71.1% were literates. The average annual income from cassava-value addition was #140,490.00. The results further show that garri was the most common and preferred cassava – root – by product with 100% as the percentage. It was followed by fufu 79.2% and cassava flour (lafun) was 63.3%. The study equally showed that cassava – value addition has positive effect on the income level of the small-scale farmers with R2 of 85% at 1% and 5% level of significance. The socio-economic characteristics including the Net-income and total cost has positive effect on the profitability level of the respondents with R2 of 96% at 1% and 5% level of significance. The study also revealed that the most important constraints faced by cassava processors are high perishability of cassava tubers, poor accessible road, electricity problems, high cost transportation, and inadequate capital among others. The study recommends capacity building of the small- scale farmers on value addition technologies and that all stakeholders in agricultural production should encourage value addition technology adoption since there is increases the income level of the farmers, mostly in the study area. It is recommended that processor should organize themselves into cooperatives or associations that will help them mobilize funds to take advantage of improved welfare that will result from increasing their scale of operation. Keywords: Cassava – root value addition, small – scale farmers, and income level.. Read more at: https://www.grossarchive.com/project/agric-economics-and-extension/23760-the-effect-of-cassava-value-addition-on-the-income-of-small-scale-farmers-in-oyun-local-government-area-of-kwara-state-nigeria