INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Nigerian agriculture is dominated by the subsistence and small scale farmers who produce the bulk of food requirements in the country. Despite their unique and pivotal position, the small holder farmers belong to the poorest   segment of the population and therefore, cannot invest much on their farms. The vicious circle of poverty among these farmers has led to the unimpressive performance of the agricultural sector (Ajibefun, 2002). According to Ajibefun and Daramola (2003), resources must be used much more efficiently, with more attention paid to eliminating waste. This will lead to an increase in productivity and incomes.     

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world like Asia, America and Africa. It grows to above 3.5m in height, it has broad canopy, shiny leaves of the shape of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The varieties of these species of plant are divided into two groups, namely; sweet and bitter cassavas, which are cultivated in the tropics for their starchy, tuberous roots (Hahn 1984).

Cassava can be grown on a wide range of soils and can yield satisfactory, even in acidic soils where most other crops fail (Hahn 1984), the crop has continually played a very vital role, which include; income for farmers, low cost food source for both the rural and urban dwellers as well as household food security (Nweke, 1996). In Nigeria, cassava is generally believed to be cultivated by small scaled farmers with low resources (Ezebuiro, et al 2008). It plays a major role in the effort to alleviate the food crisis in Africa. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation (F.A.O. 2004) estimated cassava production in Nigeria in 2002, to be 34 million metric tones.

 



Cassava can be a major source of income in Africa. The cash income from cassava is substantial compared to other major staples, because of cassava’s low cash input cost (Nweke, 2004). Compared with other major staples, Cassava performs well across a wide spectrum of ecological zones. It therefore benefits farmers across broader swathe of ecological zones. Cassava is likewise, less expensive to produce. It tolerates poor soil, adverse weather and pests and diseases more than other major staples (Nweke, 2004). The crop puts ready money and food in the very vulnerable segments of society.



Every nation attempts to address the prevalent issue of food security. In Nigeria, agriculture provides food for the teeming population and contributes about 33% to the Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P) of the nation (Bureau of Africa Affairs, 2010).



The sector employs about one-third of the total labour force and provide a livelihood for the bulk of the rural populace (FMARD, 2006). Total area devoted to agricultural cultivation is about 30.7 million hectares with farmer’s cultivating less than 2 hectares on average and operating with simple hand tools (Nestle, 1999).



The paucity of appropriate technology makes the small holders farmers to depend mainly on natural systems for sustenance.



Cassava (Manihot Escullenta) tubers are one of the staple food stuff for the people living in the tropical zone. The potential productivity of this crop is extremely high (Nestle, 1999). There is a notion that, more farmers are engaged in cassava cultivation  due to its cheap cost of production.  



The importance of cassava in Nigeria is based on its ability to provide about 15% of all the food energy and 10% of all the protein content of the daily diet of tropical Nigeria (F.A.O. 1990). Again cassava can be processed and used as an adhesive, for producing alcoholic drinks and also industrial alcohol, cassava can be processed into chips and pellets which are mainly used for livestock, poultry and fish feeds. It is also used as binders and fillers for tablet production, used as sweeteners that are starch derivatives such as; glucose and fructose, used to impart sweetness and texture to soft drinks, confectionaries, jaws and canned fruits (Jerry, 1995). Jerry 1995 added that, the production and trading of this crop offer-employment to about 60% of the rural dwellers. 

An Agricultural Development Programme (A.D.P) record in Ihiala shows that, 100% of the farmers grow more cassava than other crops. In a field where cassava is grown in combination with yam and other crops, yam is considered to be the main crop, where there is no yam, cassava becomes the main crop (Okorji, 2001). Currently cassava is playing a major role in the export structure of Nigerian economy. This view has been supported by survey on the extent of yam and cassava production and utilization, which maintained that cassava has displaced other root crops to some extent in the southern Nigeria, owing to its easy way of cultivation and its high yield per hectare (Philip, 1997).
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