SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the socioeconomic analysis of cassava value chain in Ekiti state, Nigeria using Primary data. The data were sourced with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) interviews. A multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select a total of 300 respondents in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics also known as functional analysis. Functional analysis indicates presence of 5 major actors (Input supplier, producers, processors, marketers and consumers) in the value chain. The results showed that two-third of the actors were male with mean age of respondents being 50 years. About 80% of them were married with average of about 5 persons per household, and over 80% of them had at least primary school education. On the basis of income level, marketers earn highest income (N314, 786) among the actors followed by the processors (N224, 500), input suppliers (N196, 666), producers (N151, 041) and consumers (N47, 000). These characteristics have some influence on the demand and supply of cassava products and actors in the cassava value chain. It is therefore recommended that government and non-governmental organization should enact policies and programmes aimed at equipping the actors of cassava value chain with needed skills and expertise as this will expose them the current trends and technologies for effective production.
 Keywords: Cassava, Value Chain, Focused Group Discussion (FGD), Ekiti State, Nigeria.