Current status, Potentials and challenges of Cassava production, processing, marketing and utilization: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The paper provides primary information on the status, potentials and challenges of cassava production, utilization and marketing major cassava growing areas of southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted in five purposively selected sample Woredas / districts of SNNPR, Amaro, Kindokoyesha, Gofa, Arbamench Zuria and Konso based on cassava production potential and accessibility in consultation with Zonal and Woreda bureau of agriculture. A total of 200 sample respondents, 40 from each district were selected and interviewed using structured questionnaire. The study also considered information from secondary sources The data collected from the sample respondents and secondary sources were analyzed using descriptive statistic and use of statistical software package SPSS, 2011. The result indicated that cassava stands first in both production and productivity followed by sweet potato and maize in belge (short rainy season) while during Meher (long rainy season) the reverse was observed. The mean land holding (ha) of a household in the study areas were 0.93, 0.46, 1.22, 0.56 and 0.73 for Amaro, Kindo Koyisha, Demba Gofa, Konso and Arbamench respectively. The overall mean of land holding in the study area was 0.78 ha. The mean land holding of sample household allocated for cassava production in the study area was 0.20 ha. Area allocated for improved and local cultivar cassava average for the study area is 0.19 and 0.30 ha respectively. Land preparation for all crops under cassava farming system was carried out by using outdated and labor intensive tools such as hoe (66%) and ox plough (33%) of sample farmer’s average for the five districts. Income generated from cassava was by selling fresh cassava root from the farm and/or the nearby local market. In the same way, processed cassava products especially cassava chips and flours were consumed and sold in the study area. The quality of the planting material that the farmers were using had average quality as to 52% of sampled farmers and 36% using high quality planting materials. Most of the farmers obtain planting materials from their own savings but few had gotten from relatives, friends and other sources. The two improved varieties introduced to the farmers were kello (44/72 red) and Qulle (104/72 Nigerian red). The adoption rate for the improved varieties by the sampled farmers in the study area in average was only 30%. There were some constraints in cassava production areas. Among which insect pest invasion, lack of early maturing variety, shortage of land, low moisture stress and low market demand and/or price were among the most important ones. Therefore, labor saving farm implements, management of cassava scale insects and existing post harvest processing equipments needs to be improved. Development and demonstration of early maturing cassava varieties is also a pertinent area to contribute to solve the existing problems of cassava producing areas.