Assessment of Cassava Utilization Patterns, Postharvest Handling Practices, and Productivity Influencing Factors in South and Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is mainly produced to supplement food security by providing food for smallholder farmers year round. However, its production is constrained by various factors. Thus, the aim of this research was to assess cassava utilization patterns, postharvest handling practices, and the factors that influence productivity. Data were gathered from primary and secondary sources, and a multistage sampling procedure was used to select 200 HHs. A multiple regression model and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The regression model revealed that the education level, family size, land holding size, cropping system, crop rotation, earthing up rate, maturity, variety type, training, and plant population variables were significantly and positively correlated with cassava productivity. This implies that if any of these variables increases, cassava productivity will increase while the other variables remain constant. Topography and pest variables showed a significant negative correlation, indicating that an undulating topography or being attacked by pests could reduce cassava productivity by 60.00%. The descriptive statistics results for the utilization proportion showed that 51.87% of the farmers utilized for home consumption, 43.68% for the market, and 4.26% for animal feed. The consumption pattern indicated that 46.50% was boiled roots, 15.00% was flour cooked, and 38.50% was boiled roots and flour cooked. As postharvest handling practices showed, 10.00% of the farmers immediately processed to powder, 18.00% immediately processed to sliced (chips), 61.00% left them to root in the soil, and 11.00% did nothing. This indicates that the farmers’ consumption patterns and processing methods are very traditional. Therefore, the study suggested that the farmers’ different practices should be further supported by research through the generation of multiple food forms, postharvest handling practices, and production technology. Proper attention should also be given to address the identified productivity-influencing factors as well as postharvest handling practices. These could sustain the farming system of the crop and help to increase cassava productivity for smallholder farmers.