Analysis of cassava value chain in Nigeria: pro-poor approach and gender perspective

Abstract

In Nigeria, cassava has moved from a little yielding deprivation standby crop to a great bouncy money yielding products with its many other usages for livestock feeds, food and agro-industry raw materials. This study examines chain processes of cassava processes and identifies value along the chain with gendered perspective. The study was conducted in Southwest, Nigeria and choice was done systematically to select 250 cassava growers. Data were analysed by means of factor analysis and Poisson model. Results showed that most cassava male growers traded cassava in garden-fresh form exclusive of value, while female growers transformed cassava from its garden-fresh form and thus adding value along the chain for income increase. Female cassava farmers recognise that there are markets when cassava is transformed from its garden-fresh form. Consequently, it is essential to encourage suitable processing technologies for cassava products and effective contact to marketing information. Women need to be motivated to effectively use these resources. The study discovered that the advantages of women's partaking in agricultural value chains are defined by their power over valuable resources and their strength in household level rulings. This strategy could be a means to pro-poor gendered route out of poverty in many Nigerian homes.