Determinants of sweet potato value addition among smallholder farming households in Kwara state, Nigeria

A.G Adeyonu,B.O Ajiboye,A.O Ajala,G.T Adigun,O.O Gbotosho

doi:10.4314/as.v15i1.4

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important food security promoted crop in Nigeria. The recognition of its relative health benefits has resulted in fresh consumption as well as the utilization of processed products such as sweet potato chips, fries and pre-cut, flour, and pureed sweet potatoes. This study examined the determinants of sweet potato value addition among smallholder farmers in Kwara. A multi- stage sampling techniques was used to obtain information from 163 small holder farmers in Offa and Oyun local government areas of Kwara state. Descriptive statistics and Heckman two-stage model were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that 44% of the respondents were involved mainly in slicing and sun-drying; 39% took part in slicing, sun-drying and grinding into flour, while the main value adding activity of 15% of them was slicing and frying into chips. The results of the Heckman two-stage model showed that training and quantity of sweet potato harvested significantly increased farmers’ decision to add value by 0.494 units and 0.003 units respectively. Furthermore, membership of association extension visits and access to credit significantly increased farmers’ level of value addition to sweet potato by 1.301units, 0.821 units and 15.350 units respectively. Also, household size decreased the level of value addition by 2.174 units. For sweet potato farmers to be fully involved in value addition of their produce, loan packages, increase in extension outreaches, training and sensitization on birth control measures are necessary policy options.

Highlights

Sweet Potato (SWP) commonly referred to as yam in some parts of the United States of America is a large, starchy, sweet tasting, tuberous root, cash and food crop
One can conclude that SWP production was still at a small scale level and the production is dominated by males coupled with high rate of illiteracy, which may make adoption of SWP value addition by farmers very difficult
This study used cross-sectional data collected from smallholder SWP farmers in Kwara State to analyse the determinants of SWP value addition

Summary

Introduction

Sweet Potato (SWP) commonly referred to as yam in some parts of the United States of America is a large, starchy, sweet tasting, tuberous root, cash and food crop It is a versatile, drought resistant, high yielding crop with a short maturity period of three to five months adapting well to wide ecological conditions (Laurie et al 2012). Drought resistant, high yielding crop with a short maturity period of three to five months adapting well to wide ecological conditions (Laurie et al 2012) It is widely cultivated in a number of developing countries, where it serves as a principal source of food and income for many of the world’s poorest and most nutritionally insecure peoples. Nigeria’s harvest estimate stood at 3.5 million metric tons which was about 3.3% of total world production (FAO, 2015)

Methods

Results

Conclusion