AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
ISSN(Online): 2736-0040 ISSN(Print): 2695-1975
ISSN(Online): 2736-0040 ISSN(Print): 2695-1975
Abstract
The agricultural economy in Nigeria is still at its developing stage and its wealth creation potentials have
been hampered by the inability of cassava farmers to add value to their produce among others. The study
investigated value addition and its effect on the stages of cassava production in Uyo agricultural zone,
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Three ADP blocks namely Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan and Itu Local Government Area
were purposively selected due to greater concentration of cassava farmers in them. A well-structured
questionnaire was administered to one hundred and eight (108) respondents. Data were analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that majority (88%) of the farmers acquired land
through inheritance, 96.3% of the farmers do not have access to farm credits with 44% having their main
source of income from personal savings this situation posed a serious constraint to cassava farmers who
are unable to use modern processing equipment or pay for the processing. The major value-added products
in the study area were garri (51.9%), fufu (24.1%), tapioca (20.4%), and starch (3.7%). Factors such as
farming experience (P<0.01), marital status (P<0.01) and educational level (P<0.01) positively influenced
the number of stages of value addition to cassava processors in the study area. It is recommended that the
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.