Empirical Analysis of Cassava Production in Nigeria and its Implication on Food Security

Abstract

The results of the analysis showed that over the period growth rates of cassava production are 63.1, 5718 and 122.1 percent and the compound rates of growth of cassava area are 87.7, 610 and 6.69 percent for the pre-Structural Adjustment Programme, Structural Adjustment Programme and post-Structural Adjustment Programme periods respectively. Cassava productivity during post-SAP periods experienced relatively lower instabilitycompared to other two periods. However, stagnation was confirmed during the pre-SAP and SAP period. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the growth of cassava production in the post Structural Adjustment Programme period implies that the policy reforms in the period has favoured the effective increased in the growth of cassava production over that of other periods in Nigeria. Therefore, SAP programme despite growth in the production itdoes not significantly favors the productivity of cassava in Nigeria. The study, therefore, suggest consolidation of various initiatives and programmes by the Federal Government in the expansion and promotion of cassava toachieve higher yield in order to curb the widespread of food insecurity in the country.