Impact of Technology on Improving Cassava Yield and Value
Abstract
Many cassava farmers suffer from low production and low profit because of little or no support in terms of improved technology to improve yield and add value to their produce. In this paper we examined the available improved production and processing technologies among cassava farmers and how they are propagated and used in Momo Division. Descriptive survey research design was used, and primary data was collected using the purposive and random sampling techniques from a sample size of 350 respondents. Data were extracted through excels and computed using the SPSS.20 software. The results of this study revealed that most producers (35%) were in Mbengwi Sub Division, the majority (76%) were women, most of them (71.2%) were married; have had primary education (51.8%); fell within the active age range of 31-50 years. Households with children were majority (93.64%) and relied on family labor. Hypothesis testing results attested that some techniques like the use of improved varieties and planting distances were well propagated, while the use of mechanized equipment, fertilizers and pesticides were very minimal. All categories of the variables studied, occurred with equal probabilities with one sample Chi – Square test at 0.05% level of significance. Suggestions were made to all actors, to ameliorate the situation by improving on the social amenities, road infrastructure; farm cultivation and processing equipment, seed material, and capacity building of farmers to make them more self-sustaining.
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Introduction
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) a perennial food crop, grown throughout the lowland tropics is a useful major source of carbohydrate, starch, vitamins and iron. It is not traded internationally in its fresh state because the tubers deteriorate very rapidly (FAO STAT, 2017). According to Mvondo and Liang (2012), cassava serves as raw material for more than 80 industrial products worldwide and is used for human consumption, animal feed and industries. It is also said to be more productive per unit of land and labor than even the high yielding cereals, (Nweke, 2004). The increased demand for cassava and its products necessitates increased production and yields. Cassava processing as one of the off-farm activities of rural women in this area of study is carried out using local methods with the hand grater, while the use of improved technologies seems to be insufficient. According to IITA (2013), it is necessary to device and propagates improved techniques capable of increasing the income generating capability of cassava producers while promoting the marketability of cassava products. These studies had been conducted in some countries (Sewando et al., 2011; Donkor et al., 2018). Published works on such studies in Cameroon and particularly Momo Division are scanty in literature. We hope that this study shall bring more insight to the cassava value chain. The main objective of this research activity is to evaluate the factors that influence the propagation and usage of improved technologies by cassava farmers, and specifically to characterize cassava farmers in the study area, examine the availability, level of propagation and usage of these technologies and suggest solutions that can better explain the relationship between the variables studied to better explain the results. The results would help to suggest what can be done to fasten farmers‟ use of these technologies.
Conclusion
The availability, level of propagation and usage of improved technologies among cassava farmers were examined in this work. More women were involved in cassava production, processing and marketing than men. Most of them were married, and have had primary school education. Households with 4-7 persons were highest and mostly households with children. Most of the farmers fell within an active age range of 31 to 50 years and relied on their families for labor, while hired labor was minimal. Findings indicated that the majority of members in each of the households were involved in the cassava value chain activities, attesting that the majority of farmers actually propagated and used improved technologies though some were at minimal levels. The presence of social amenities like local markets, hospitals, portable water, electricity and regular schools were significant, but the insufficiency of good roads, research stations, and mechanized tools need to be addressed. Improved cassava varieties, improved weeding technique using herbicides and fighting of cassava diseases using fungicides, nematicides and insecticides were propagated at minimal levels and needed to be improved. Better preservation and storage methods were limited in the cassava value chain. Quality standards and proper packaging of cassava products also need enhancement, so that cassava products could be upgraded for both local and international markets. Significant increases in yields with the use of improved technologies were achieved by many farmers. Garri being the highest processed cassava product witnessed a drop in quantity produced and price, in three successive years from 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18. This mostly due to the heavy presence of competitive food crops like maize, beans, solanum potatoes, that brought downmarket prices of local food stuffs. Suggestions made to all actors are to ameliorate the situation by improving on the social amenities, road infrastructure; farm cultivation and processing equipment, seed material, and capacity building of farmers so as to make farmers more self-sustaining.
