Cassava Value Chain Research Articles

Constraints to Rural Women Involvement in Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria

Constraints to Rural Women Involvement in Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria

Economic analysis of cassava processing in egbeda local government area, oyo state, nigeria

Cassava is one of the most important crops that can be cultivated all year round yet there is inability to meet the quantity demanded by industries and other end user of the product. This study was carried out to analyse cassava value chain in Egbeda local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Primary data needed for the study were collected through the administration of questionnaires. A total of 85 questionnaires were administered. Descriptive (Table and Frequency) and budgetary analysis was used. Well-constructed questionnaires were administered to major actors in the chain (farmers/producers, marketers and processors.). The result revealed that there are three major cassava processed products in the study area; garri, cassava dough(fufu) and cassava chip (lafun).The result also revealed that females are more involved in the marketing(71.14% ) and processing(85.71% ) of cassava. Also most of the respondents were betweeen the age range of 31-50. The study also revealed that to every one tonne of fresh cassava 275000(garri), 34500 (wet fufu) and 45000(cassva chip) are produced respectively. While the average gross margin estimated for the producer/farmers was N706111. Also it was discovered that poor marketing information is a major challenge faced by the processors. It is therefore recommended that cassava processors should organize to form an association and a cooperative society to strengthen the marketing network.

Building an Inclusive Value Chain: Gender Participation in Cassava Marketing and Processing in Nigeria

The Nigerian cassava value chain shows different gender roles for men and women in marketing and processing activities. Women are typically found in the less profitable work and at the bottom of the value chain because of their position in the labor market. This study identifies farm and individual factors that shape gender participation in various phases of the cassava value chain and measures gender differences in the marketing and processing phases of the cassava value chain. The study draws from the survey of 4 geopolitical zones in Nigeria conducted by IITA in 2010 that surveyed 952 respondents consisting of 221 women. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics like frequencies, mean, range, and standard deviation and inferential tools like t-test, chi-square, correlation, and multiple linear regression to test the hypotheses. We draw from the sustainable livelihood approach for the theoretical framework. The analysis indicated that more women were involved in the marketing phase than men, while more men were in the processing node than women. Additionally, producing cassava now, land allocated to cassava farming, level of education, marital status, and household size registered correlation with the index of participation in marketing. However, only household size registered a weak correlation with the index of participation in processing.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO MECHANIZATION TO COMMERCIALIZE CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN IN KENYA

Cassava is produced in Kenya mainly as subsistence and is the second most important food crop after maize in the Country’s Western and Coastal regions. Its production and use as human food, animal feed and industrial starch is low due to poor agronomic practices postharvest handling and processing, bulkiness and low application of mechanised operations to scale production to commercial levels. An average yield of 15.3 MT/ha on 0.2 to 1 ha household units was realised against a potential of 90 MT/ha in 2014 producing 935,089 MT of cassava valued at $ 168 million. Kenya is a low mechanized country with a mechanical power usage indicated at 30%, hand power at 50%, and animal draught power at 20%. Mechanisation models that apply a systems approach by taking into account the value chain cycle is muted as feasible a pathway for ascertaining the technical and economic sustainability of the cassava enterprise in the country. Commercialization of the cassava value chain requires household production at scales beyond 4 ha. Such scales require mechanised production and primary processing for technical feasibility. A system that will provide mechanised tillage, planting, weeding, harvesting and processing through organised delivery and technical back up support is projected as the best entry to address this limitation. This would unleash the commercial viability of the cassava value chain and grow the livelihood system of producers and processors beyond subsistence thresholds.

Sustainable Development of Cassava Value Chain through the Promotion of Locally Sourced Chips

The benefits of using homegrown inputs in the production of processed agricultural products have been recognized, for example, in protecting the environment and generating local income. In Thailand, local fresh cassava can replace imported potatoes in the production of chips. However, chips made from local cassava are not widely available on the market. This market access difficulty could be because of insufficient information about consumers’ preferences. This study thus aims to address the factors determining people’s consumption decisions on locally sourced snacks in the case of chips made from Thai cassava. These factors include, for example, price, gender, generation, education, occupation, purchasing frequency, product attributes, nutrition, food safety, and an understanding of cassava chips. The questionnaire used was developed to elicit data related to these factors. The statistical analysis is undertaken by the probit model and marginal effect. The results of three estimated models with 19 independent variables show that the effects of generation and occupation significantly indicate the probability of preferring cassava chips. Having a higher level of education and coming from the northeastern part of the country seem to determine consumers’ preference for local cassava content. Moreover, a better understanding of the related issues implies a higher chance of favoring chips from the local cassava. Those findings would provide useful information for entrepreneurs and government agencies in promoting locally sourced chips, and further develop the higher value of the cassava supply chain.

Women’s Involvement in Cassava Value Chain Activities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

The main purpose of this study was to investigate women’s involvement in cassava value chain activities in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the major value chain activities in the study area; investigate the value chain activities participated by women in the area; identify the constraints affecting effective involvement of women in cassava value chain in the area; and evaluate possible suggestions to improve effective involvement of women in cassava value chain activities in the area. Multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select 216 respondents for the study. The result revealed that the major cassava value chain activities in the area were processing ( =3.07), marketing ( =2.92), production ( =2.87) and packaging ( =1.86). The findings of this research also indicated that women participate more in cassava processing ( =1.94), rank=1st), followed by production ( =1.85). The respondents indicated that lack of adequate production and processing tools ( =3.81), poor access to land ( =3.78) and lack of financial support ( =3.72), as the three most critical constraints affecting effective involvement of women in cassava value chain activities in the study area. The respondents’ suggestion to improve their involvement in cassava value chain activities revealed that financial support, ease of transportation and access to improved cassava cuttings, with means of 3.79, 3,78 and 3.63, respective, were the most rated factors. The study concluded that women in Akpabuyo local government area are significant actors in the country’s agricultural sector, particularly the cassava sub-sector, and as a result, food security. Thus, it was recommended that value chain actors and promoters should make credit facilities available to women in order to encourage their effective involvement in cassava value chain activities in the area, among others.

Income inequality and distribution patterns in the cassava value chain in the Oyo State, Nigeria: a gender perspective

PurposeThis study analyses income inequality and distribution patterns among key actors in the cassava value chain. The study also identifies factors that influence profit of key actors in the cassava value chain.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in Oyo State, Nigeria, using primary data from 620 actors, consisting of 400 farmers, 120 processors and 100 traders in the cassava value chain. The Gini coefficient was used to estimate income inequalities within and between actors. Multiple linear regression was applied to identify factors that influence the profit of the actors in the cassava value chain.FindingsThe result shows a gender pattern in the participation in the cassava value chain: men dominate in the production, whereas women mostly engage in processing and marketing of processed cassava products. We also find that incomes are unequally distributed among actors, favouring traders and processors more than farmers in the value chain. Women are better off in processing and trading of value-added products than in the raw cassava production. Spatial differences also contribute to income inequality among farmers in the cassava value chain. An increase in farmers and processors’ incomes reduces inequality in the value chain while an increase in traders’ income widens inequality. Age is significantly negatively correlated with actors’ profit at 1%, while educational level significantly increases their profit at 5%. Processors and traders with large households have a higher profit. We also find that farm size, experience and labour input have significant positive effects on farmers’ profit only at 5%. Membership in an association increases farmers and processors’ profit at 1 and 10%, respectively.Practical implicationsThe study recommends that agricultural policies that promote agrifood value chains should aim at minimizing income inequality by targeting vulnerable groups, particularly female farmers to achieve sustainable development in rural communities.Originality/valueExisting studies recognise income inequality in agricultural value chains in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there are few rigorous quantitative studies that address this pressing issue. Our paper fills this knowledge gap and suggests ways to minimise income inequality in the agri-food value chain, using the example of the cassava value chain in Nigeria.

Serving “the Uses of Life”: Gender, History, and Food Security in a Cassava Value Chain Scheme

AbstractGengenbach, Comé, and Nhabinde historicize women’s responses to an agricultural “value chain” in Zavala, Mozambique. Inspired by the Green Revolution for Africa (GR4A), the initiative aims to reduce hunger by converting cassava to industrial use for SABMiller’s Impala beer. Women chafed at the proposed remaking of an agrarian foodway long anchored by this edible commodity. Cassava’s inseparable dietary and market value in precolonial times intensified under Portuguese rule even as colonizers disdained it as a feminine “subsistence” crop and then claimed its commercial potential. Weaponizing this gendered binary yet needing women’s support, the Impala scheme has struggled to achieve GR4A food security goals.

SOCIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

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.

From traits to typologies: Piloting new approaches to profiling trait preferences along the cassava value chain in Nigeria

AbstractBreeding programs are increasing efforts towards demand‐led breeding approaches to ensure that cultivars released meet the needs of end users including processors, traders, and consumers, and that they are adopted by farmers. To effectively deploy these approaches, new tools are required to better understand and quantify the degree of preference differences among alternative trait changes competing for measurement and selection effort. The purpose of this study was to present a method of quantifying preferences and developing typologies according to breeding priorities by applying an online trait preference survey approach to cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). This paper presents a conjoint analysis based on Potentially All Pairwise RanKings of all possible Alternatives (PAPRIKA) to help guide breeding programs in understanding trait preferences across value chain roles and social contexts and set breeding priorities that represent diverse interests. Trait preferences were assessed using a comprehensive survey and analysis package incorporating a core adaptive conjoint method (1000minds, 2020). Trait selection was based on a trade‐off of 11 cassava traits carried out with 792 cassava value chain actors in four geopolitical regions in Nigeria. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed three clusters (typologies) of respondents according to their trait preferences. The results demonstrate the usefulness of this methodology that innovates on previous trait preference approaches to address the expanding needs of plant breeding programs within smallholder contexts.

Farmers' Sources and Varieties of Cassava Planting Materials in Coastal Kenya

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) grows in diverse agro-ecological zones. In Kenya, it is widely cultivated in Western and Coastal regions. It is mainly grown for food and nutrition security and excess roots are sold to generate income for the farm households. Its productivity per unit of the land area is high compared to maize and wheat which are staple crops in the country. However, scarcity of cassava planting materials and pests and diseases limit production in these regions. This study aimed at revealing the sources and varieties of cassava planting materials used by farmers and other farmers' practices in coastal Kenya. Four focus group discussions (FGD) and a survey were conducted in 2018, using a semi-structured questionnaire targeting 250 farmers. The data collected on the sources of planting materials, preferred varieties and the practices employed by the farmers in cassava production, was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Majority of farmers (83%) interviewed indicated that they recycled planting materials from the previous crop while some 67% respondents obtained the planting material from their neighbors. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization's (KALRO) and the local markets were reported as sources of planting materials by 11 and 5% farmer respondents, respectively. The only formal seed source reported was KALRO. The rest, own seed, neighbors, and the local markets, were informal seed sources. Piecemeal harvesting practiced by 98% of the farmers favored planting material recycling. Farmers dedicated a small proportion of their land (mean 0.2 ha) to cassava production as reported by 60 and 72.8% of farmers from Taita Taveta and Kilifi, respectively. Slightly above half (56%) of the farmers in Kilifi dedicated slightly more land to cassava, planting between 100 and 4,000 cuttings (2.5% of an acre up to a full acre) compared to 87% farmers from Taita Taveta who planted 100 cuttings or less (which is about 2.5% of an acre or less). A majority (81.1%) of farmers in Taita Taveta planted local cassava varieties compared to Kilifi's 57.8%. Slightly above half of the farmer respondents reported Kibandameno as the preferred variety followed by Tajirika as the second preferred variety as reported by 18% farmers. Kibandameno was preferred for its sweet taste by 75.6% farmers while Tajirika was preferred by 52.4% farmers because of the high yielding capacity. Nearly all farmer respondents, in Taita Taveta County obtained the planting material from informal seed sources, except a negligible number, who reported buying their planting material from KALRO, a formal seed source, far from their locality. Farmers sourcing cuttings from a formal seed source such as those from Kilifi County were more likely to use a tractor for land preparation compared to those who sourced planting materials informally who more likely had scarce knowledge on cassava production and the value of cassava. Therefore, interventions to establish a sustainable healthy cassava planting materials seed system are needed to address the systemic constraint and help develop a viable cassava value chain.

Effects of Improved Cassava Varieties on Farmers’ Income in Northern Agro-ecological Zone, Uganda

This paper examines the extent to which improved cassava varieties contribute to improvement in income of smallholder farmers in the Northern agro-ecological zone of Uganda. In order to achieve the objective, data was collected from PRELNOR supported farmers’ fields, other farmers’ fields and baseline cassava fields. Consequently, descriptive statistics, gross margin and stochastic frontier analysis were adopted during analysis. Results from the analysis revealed that higher yields per hectare were registered within PRELNOR supported farmers’ fields and yield from NAROCAS1 surpassed all the varieties (37.3 tons per hectare). Location specific results revealed that Gulu had better yields (34.5 tons per hectare) while Kitgum registered the lowest average (24.1 tons per hectare). Gross margin indicated that every Shilling invested in improved variety earned profit 1.3 to 1.8 times above the local variety and each shillings invested in PRELNOR supported fields generated 5.6 times above the baseline fields. The parameter estimate for profit function revealed that planting material, other production related costs, NAROCAS1, NASE14 and NASE19 were positively correlated with profit but labour and baseline field had negative correlations. Conversely, profit efficiency grew by 40% under improved varieties against local varieties. This study suggests that the difference in yields and profit between locations was caused by biophysical characteristic; disease tolerant varieties can tremendously improve profitability and income; meanwhile the profit gaps were partly attributed to inefficiency. This study recommends fast tracking adoption of pest and disease tolerant varieties and integrated research and development approach throughout the cassava value chain.

Cassava value chain and food security issues in Nigeria: A Case Study of IFAD-VCDP Intervention in Taraba State

Nigeria is the largest cassava producing country in the world. Taraba state is one of the top 5 leading producers of cassava in Nigeria. Despite its large scale production of the crop, most existing literatures covers cassava production in the southern forest belt of the country, with little or not much on cassava production in Taraba State. It is against this background that the study examines cassava value chain and food security issues in Nigeria using the case of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) value chain development programme (VCDP) intervention in Taraba State Nigeria. Cassava is generally produced as food crop and industrial raw material for starch, high quality cassava floor, ethanol, cassava chips and pellets. A number of constraints in the cassava value chain emerged which were not initially foreseen. An innovation fund was approved in 2012 to allow the programme to respond to these challenges. Value addition to local cassava is essential, to reduce the bulkiness of fresh tuber, minimize post-harvest loses, increase shelf life, stabilize product prices and facilitate easy transportation from farm to local or urban markets. The data for this study were generated through secondary (desk) research and archival materials. The findings of the study reveals that IFAD-VCDP intervention only covers 5 LGAs in Taraba State (Takum, Gassol, Wukari, Ardo-kola and Karim-Lamido LGAs). Towards the end of the year 2020, 3 additional LGAs were added which include Bali, Jalingo and Donga LGA. The programme was able to carry out sensitization of stakeholders and training of about 30 leaders of farmer organizations (FOs) in each of the selected LGAs. The programme trained farmers on how to develop appropriate and usable business plan, financial management and record keeping systems. About 25 participating farmer groups were able to access credit from financial institutions, 24 groups received inputs in cassava production. Some of the challenges include inadequate funding, lack of adequate support to the marketing component, inadequate clean water and lack of improved mechanized cassava processing equipment. Based on the findings, the study recommended increase support for cassava marketers, financial linkages and establishment of more cassava processing centres.

Cassava value chain and food security issues in Nigeria: A Case Study of IFAD-VCDP Intervention in Taraba State

Cassava value chain and food security issues in Nigeria: A Case Study of IFAD-VCDP Intervention in Taraba State

Exploring beyond the conjunctural rhetoric: sociocultural drivers for the \u201ccassava crisis\u201d in C\xf4te d\u2019Ivoire

Despite considerable improvement of food security in low- and middle-income countries over the last decades, food shortages remain persistent in sub-Saharan Africa. The driving forces are often related not only to climate change and other environmental hazards but also to socioeconomic and political factors. In Africa, food security has also assumed a strong urban dimension, raising new issues of physical and financial access to food. However, beyond the conjunctural rhetoric around unregulated food policies, social unrest, socio-economic difficulties, and environmental stresses, an emphasis should be put on socio-cultural aspects of food security. This would be possible through an analysis of “connectivities” between various stages and actors, i.e., food exchange practices between various socio-ecological spaces, and governance coordination in food security strategies. Based on a study on cassava shortage in Cote d’Ivoire in 2015-2016, this paper explores socio-cultural factors associated with food shortage in urban settings. Findings from a qualitative research approach comprising key-informant interviews and focus group discussion with various stakeholders in the cassava value chain revealed that food shortage cannot always be explained by supply/demand narratives. The study shows that cassava supply mechanisms in the Abidjan area are not sustainable as the main producers of cassava for sale are migrant workers employed in rubber plantations and whose stability in the region depends on prices of this cash crop on the international market. Regions at the vicinity of Abidjan are supplying the city with cassava but the offer does not meet the requirements of cassava-based food processors who need specific types of the product. Moreover, strategies from the municipal and government authorities to circumvent the shortage often face resistance of populations if local norms and values are not considered. In food strategies, sociocultural dynamics should be considered alongside the complex socioeconomic and environmental factors shaping the social geography of food supply in African cities.

Financial performance and constraints in gari production in Kumasi, Ghana

Gari is a crisp and crunchy West African food made from grated cassava with the excess liquid dried out. It is a major food security product consumed by most households and students in second cycle institutions in West African. Gari production is an important source of livelihood for many women in the informal sector in Ghana. It serves as a vital avenue for value addition to cassava, thus helping to address the problem of post-harvest losses and generating income for producers. This study assessed the financial performance and constraints in gari production in Kumasi, Ghana. Primary data from a cross-sectional survey of 46 gari producers who were identified using snowball sampling technique was used. Descriptive statistics, profitability indicators, and a 5-point Likert scale were used to analyse the primary data. Results showed that gari production ispredominantly done by women 30-75 years old with a mean age of 50 years. Majority of producers had no formal education (57%) and had been in production for an average of 24 years. It was found that gari production in Kumasi is financially profitable, with all the profitability indicators employed showing positive returns on inputs employed in production, although the values were less competitive relative to other producers’ valueselsewhere. The profit margin was favourable at 22%, return on capital employed (ROCE) at 29% and operating expense ratio at 76%. The relatively low ROCE of 29% compared with the opportunity cost of capital (31%) by commercial banks in the study area indicates the underutilization of producers’ capital in gari production. Key constraints identified in the gari production business were seasonality and high cost of cassava. Adoption of cost-effective management strategies and release of all year round cassava varieties could help improve gari production and livelihoods of producers and other actors along the cassava value chain. Key words: Cassava, Gari, Production, Profitability, Constraints, Women, Livelihood, Kumasi-Ghana

Analysis of Consumer Preference for Cassava Products in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

The study analysed consumer preference for cassava products in Akoko South local Government area of Ondo state, Nigeria. Data were collected from one hundred and ten (110) respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions together with correlation Test were used to analyse the study data. The result revealed that the mean age of the household head was found to be 49.5 years and have a mean income of ₦26,800. The result revealed that garri is the major cassava product consumed. The result of the regression revealed that household size and income are the major factor that enhance the consumption of cassava products in the study area. The results of the Pearson Correlation showed that there is no significant relationship between income and the cassava products consumed. The major constraints faced were price of the products, taste, and household size. This research recommends that the Government, Ministries of Agriculture should provide improved technologies for production, processing and adding value to the cassava products. Scientists and bioengineers are encouraged to develop cassava varieties with less cyanide content and healthier for consumption by the old. Extension personnel should provide extensive services for actors of cassava value chain.

Upscaling cassava processing machines and products in Liberia

Cassava is produced by more than 80% of farming households and is an important contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) in Liberia. It is therefore important to assess the status of cassava processing into food and other products. A total of one hundred and sixty (160) well-structured questionnaires were used for the collection of information from eight counties, with twenty respondents from each county. It was found out that all the counties lack adequate modern cassava processing machines, with almost all cassava processing operations being done with rudimentary equipment. Gari and wet fufu are common products in Liberian markets, with no high-quality cassava flour (HQCF) or derivatives. Consequently, user and gender friendly processing machines were installed in six established modern cassava processing centres, and new cassava products, such as fufu powder, tapioca, and HQCF with its value-added products (10% bread and pastries), were introduced. This upscaling will enhance the cassava value chain in Liberia with improvement in livelihoods, especially for vulnerable women and unemployed youth.

Analysis of cassava value chain in Ghana: implications for upgrading smallholder supply systems

PurposeCommercialization of cassava is increasing because of increased urban demand for processed products and increased recognition of the industrial potential of the crop. This study aims to examine the cassava value chain in Ghana and its implications for upgrading.Design/methodology/approachA combination of purposive, simple random and snowball sampling methods was adopted to select key actors in the cassava value chain. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Analysis of the data was largely descriptive, except for profitability of cassava production in selected regions, which was examined by employing gross and net marketing margin analysis. A comprehensive value chain map was generated to show the different product pathways for cassava from the farm gate to the final consumer, and roles of key value chain actors and their relationships were summarized through simple narrations.FindingsEvidence has shown chains of more than four different channels through which fresh cassava roots move from the farm gate to final consumers. Production of cassava in Ghana is profitable, generating positive net marketing margins across major producing centres. Processing of cassava has both dry and wet/fresh value chains depending on the derived products for the final consumer. There is weak governance system in the cassava value chain in Ghana as majority of actors use spot market transactions in dealing with trading partners. The use of standardized grading and weighing system is very limited in the chain, and limited access to credit is a critical constraint to value chain upgrading.Research limitations/implicationsWith the exception of results from the profitability analysis of producers, the findings on marketing margins of other value chain actors may not be generalizable. Future studies could determine the profitability associated with cassava value-adding activities like processing into various forms and explore the possibility of converting waste from processing into energy.Practical implicationsThe study includes implications that focus on product and process upgrading efforts by smallholders in the cassava value chain. This paper recommends innovative financing models for smallholders to improve access to microcredit via internal and external funding sources.Originality/valueThis paper reveals specific intervention areas in which smallholders can direct efforts in an attempt to improve the cassava value chain through product, process and functional upgrading.

Extent and financial cost of cassava postharvest loss along the cassava value chain in Kwara State, Nigeria

Cassava has been identified as Africa’s second most important staple food after maize, in terms of calories consumed, with Nigeria as the World leading producer. This study estimated postharvest loss of cassava along the cassava value chain in Kwara State. It estimated the size of postharvest loss of cassava; analysed the factors responsible and the financial implications of loss; and identified the strategies employed in the mitigation of loss in the study area. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select 117 cassava farmers whom were administered structured questionnaire to elicit data analysed by the study. Descriptive statistics, Shannon’s diversity index and Tobit regression model were the analytical techniques utilised. The results show that 68 % of the loss occurred at the harvesting. The loss was estimated to be about 3.8 t ha-1. The financial implication was valued at $ 300 ha-1. Analysis of the factors responsible for cassava postharvest loss showed that the quantity expected at harvesting, household size and age of the farmer were significant factors affecting cassava postharvest loss. The result also revealed that farmers mitigate these losses by processing the roots and reburying unused roots into the soil. Steps needed to reduce loss have to take these factors into consideration to improve the economic status of cassava farmers-processors.