Adoption of nutrition and environment-related technologies by women: Case of IFAD’s interventions on cassava in south-east Nigeria

Margaret J Koyenikan,Stephen O Konkwo

doi:10.4314/jdcs.v4i2.3

Abstract

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) mainstreamed gender, nutrition and environment issues in her interventions on cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) value chain to achieve food nutrition and health securities. However, implementation strategies could have affected adoption of technologies along the line. This study assessed adoption of nutrition and environment-related technologies/information (NE p<0.05).and environment-related technologies (F=29.365; p<0.05). Serious constraints to adoption of technologies included inadequate infrastructural development ( X =3.99), inability to afford inputs ( X =3.98), poor access to capital and credit ( X =3.97), low level of education ( X =3.95) and low extension contact ( X =3.92). The findings underline the achievements of IFAD in targeting women. More interventions on household food, nutrition and environment are recommended to address the barriers to cassava technology adoption and encourage more women’s participation. Keywords : Women, nutrition, environment, cassava technology adoption, IFAD, Nigeria.

Highlights

Root and tuber crops constitute important and often major components in traditional diets of Africans
Cassava has been very prominent in Nigerian diets as it is consumed about 1-4 times per week by over 80% of the households [International Fund for Agricultural Development/Food and Agriculture organization (IFAD/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2004)]
Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP), RTEP/Women-In- Agriculture (WIA) categories had more extension contact as at survey period than non RTEP/WIA and WIA categories, while WIA category earned more income (N224,500/annum) which could probably be due to the fact that they were exposed to agricultural information and technologies much earlier than the other categories

Summary

Introduction

Root and tuber crops constitute important and often major components in traditional diets of Africans. Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) is one of the most important crops in Africa. It is very prominent in Nigerian diets and income generation. Cassava is one of the principal root and tuber crops of the tropics. Cassava has been very prominent in Nigerian diets as it is consumed about 1-4 times per week by over 80% of the households [International Fund for Agricultural Development/Food and Agriculture organization (IFAD/FAO (2004)]. It has been described as a food security crop, income earner and poverty reducer (Omueti, 2006; Ashaye, 2009). Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava with about 38 million metric tons per annum ahead of other world producers like Brazil and Thailand (Tijani and Thomas, 2011)

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Conclusion