ABSTRACT
This
research work examined the economics of processed cassava products and
marketing in Kogi East of Kogi State, Nigeria. Among other objectives the study
sorts to: identify and describe different processing/marketing channels of
selected the value added chain in cassava processing, and describe the
constraints’ seriousness in cassava processing/marketing in the study area. A
multistage purposive and random sampling technique was used to select 120
cassava processors/marketers who provided the relevant data for the study
through a set of structured questionnaire administered to them. Descriptive
statistics, multiple regression, profit function analysis and likert scale
rating techniques were employed to analyse the data collected. Results of the
study showed that, 66% of the respondents were of middle age between 31-50
years, predominantly females (73%). The majority (67%) of the respondents were
married, 37% of the respondents had 5-10 years experience in
processing/marketing, and 57% had large family size of about 5 -10 persons.
Also 55% of the respondents had between 4-6 persons of their family members
directly assisting them in the processing/marketing activities. The study noted
that about 50% of the respondents obtained capital from their personal savings
while 54% of the respondents source their fresh cassava roots from the market.
Additionally, 42% of the respondents had no formal education and 52% indicated
that the initial capital they invested was between N20,000 – N39,000. The
results also showed that majority (58%) of the respondents in garri processing
adopted processing channel which comprised peeling-washing-grating-
dehydration-fermentation and frying (referred to in the text as processing
channel ‘1’) while majority (70%) cassava flour processors adopted the
processing channel which comprised
peeling-washing-soaking-sifting-dewatering-molding and drying (referred to in
the text as processing channel ‘1’). For fufu processors, majority (88%)
adopted the processing channel which comprised peeling-washing-
soaking-fermentation- sifting-dewatering-boiling and molding (referred to in
the text as processing channel ‘1’) . On marketing channels, majority (60%) and
(53%) of garri and cassava flour marketers adopted marketing channels which
comprised packaging-transportation-wholesaling-retailing and final consumers
(referred to in the text as marketing channel ‘1 ’) while majority (57%) of the
fufu marketers adopted marketing channel which comprised packaging-retailing
and final consumers (referred to in the text as marketing channel ‘3’). The
socio-economic factors that influenced output of cassava products were sex,
level of education, amount of initial capital invested, family size, marital
status and age of the respondents. The study also found out that 79.9% of total
variability in the output of garri enterprise was explained by the stated
socio- economic factors which influenced output of the garri product.
Meanwhile, 62.7% and 81.1% of cassava flour and fufu enterprises profit were
explained by the same factors respectively. Thus, the null hypothesis which
stated that socio-economic factors of cassava processors/marketers do not have
significant effect on the output of cassava products processed and marketed was
rejected for the three enterprises at the 5% level of probability. In the garri
enterprises, the combined effects of all the variables and fixed inputs in the
profit function explained 78.9% of the variation in the maximum variable profit
while the combined effect of the variable and fixed cost in the profit function
in cassava flour and fufu processing/marketing enterprises, explained 80.1% and
84.4% respectively of the variation in the maximum variable profit. The null
hypothesis which stated that output and input prices do not significantly affect
profit of garri, cassava flour and fufu enterprises was rejected at 5% level of
probability. Lack of capital for expansion, irregular power and water supply,
fluctuation in prices of output and irregular shapes stood out as the most
challenging constraints to the respondents in the cassava processing/marketing
activities. The study among other things recommmended, provision of finance and
infrastructural facilities such as road and supply of water and electricity to
reduce cost of processing/marketing of the cassava products.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Cassava (Manihot spp) is believed to have originated from Brazil
and was introduced into West Africa countries by the Portuguese (Antonio,
2002). Benue and Kogi States in the north central zone of Nigeria are the
largest producers of cassava in the country (IITA, 2004). Cassava’s comparative
advantage compared with other food crops lies in its efficient production of
cheap food energy. In addition, cassava is available all year round as well as
tolerant to extreme conditions. These qualities contribute in alleviating African
food crises (Nweke, Dixon, Asiedu and Folayan, 1994). This accounts for why
Philip (2005) referred to cassava as the “famine security crop”.
Studies have shown that cassava contains substances known as cyanogenic
glucosides, which break down into hydrocyanic acid (HCN) after the crop must
have been harvested. This acid makes raw cassava very poisonous for human
consumption. Processing is therefore important as a means of removing this
poison by reducing its toxicity and increasing its palatability (Adegeye,
1999). After harvest, cassava roots are processed to stop physiological and
microbial spoilage, reduce the cyanogenic glucosides content and convert the
roots to other products that are more acceptable (Asiedu, 1989). Major products
derived from cassava are cassava flour (alibo), fufu, garri, starch, tapioca,
sliced cassava chips (abacha) and other cassava-based products.
Rural based cassava processing activities offer opportunities in terms of
employment. It is estimated that 60 percent of the labour force in Sub-Saharan
Africa are gainfully employed in small-scale food processing enterprises and
majority are women (ITDG, 2005). Cassava may in fact hold the key to fully land
use intensification in Africa (Enete, 1995). This is because population increase
is often accompanied by switch to crops previously thought to be inferior due
to protein, essential minerals and vitamins content but with higher
The value chain describes the full range of activities which are required
to bring products from conception, through different phases of processing
involving a combination of physical transformation and the input of various
producers, before delivery to the final consumers and final disposal after use
(Kaplinsky and Moris, 2000). Most of the processors prefer to offer the
commodity to the market without bearing the cost involved in value adding
because of the uncertainty in the market. The continuous fluctuation of prices
of final goods in the market poses a serious problem to processors who are
interested in adding value to their products. Figure 1.1 illustrates a simple
value chain.....
================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 118 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Price: N3,000 | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment