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Promoting value addition among farmers in the cassava food value chain in Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of the determinants of farmer participation in value addition through cassava processing in Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employs the probit model to analyse the determinants of farmer participation in value addition whereas the Tobit model is used to investigate the determinants of the extent of producer’s involvement in value addition using a data set of 400 cassava farmers drawn from the Oyo State of Nigeria.
Findings
The findings further indicate that among other factors, human capital factors including farmer age and location variable tend to reduce farmer participation in value addition through processing whereas experience and record keeping promote farmer participation in cassava processing. Institutional variables, notably membership of farmer association, extension access and credit access, enhance farmer participation in value addition. Finally, ownership of a radio set, a television set and access to electricity strengthen the value-adding capacity of farmers.
Research limitations/implications
This study only considers the determinants of producers’ participation in cassava processing but does not explicitly analyse the impact of value addition on their profit margin. This issue would form a basis for future research to enhance knowledge in the extant literature.
Practical implications
The study suggests that if the value-adding capacity of farmers is strengthened, rural economy is likely to be improved upon through the proliferation of rural food processing enterprises.
Originality/value
Despite the relevance of developing food value chains in Africa and integrating farmers in them, there are limited studies on promoting value addition among farmers. This study contributes to narrowing this knowledge gap.
... However, the lack of credit required for investments in these practices has been found to be a major disincentive for smallholder farmers to participate in value addition activities in Sub-Saharan Africa [44]. Studies have shown that access to credit has both negative and positive influence on farmers' decision to participate in value addition practices [28,30]. ...
... Access to extension services is intended to improve farmers' decision-making processes. [23,28], for example, reported that access to extension services has positive influence on the decision to participate in cassava value addition by farmers. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Crop Research Institute and Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, have provided and continue to provide significant extension services to Ghana's cassava value chain [10]. ...
... This is because sometimes, farmer association membership engage in collective activities such as transportation and marketing to reduce transaction costs, enhance bargaining power and reduce cheating by middlemen. As a result, farmer associations have been found to have positive influence on the decisions of their members to participate in value addition practices [34,28,30]. However, farmer associations are also influenced by public and private extension institutions in their formation. ...
Cassava is a major staple food often promoted in Ghana. Cassava farmers in Ghana face several challenges, including high post-harvest losses and low prices due to low-value addition. Available literature on cassava value-addition practices (CVAPs) focuses more on processing due to the perishability of the crop. Moreover, the awareness of farmers and the extent of their participation in CVAPs are not known. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence cassava farmers' awareness, participation, and the extent of their involvement in processing and other CVAPs. Smallholder cassava farmers (n = 217) were sampled in the Awutu Senya West District in the Central Region of Ghana, using proportionate stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analysed using Multinomial regression and Cragg Double Hurdle Model. Results showed that farmers were aware of the CVAPs and viewed them as very relevant activities they could engage in to improve the marketability of their produce. About 65% were involved in at least 2 of the CVAPs. The major CVAPs that farmers engaged in were strategic sale of tubers to processors, retailers, or consumers; storage of tubers; and collective transportation of cassava products. Farmers' age, sex, household size, off-farm income, total yield, access to credit, market information, and perceived relevance of CVAPs significantly influenced their participation in CVAPs. The extent of participation was, however, influenced by sex, household size, access to processing equipment, and market information. To boost CVAPs among cassava farmers in Ghana, policies should be directed by agricultural extension services and financial institutions towards enhancing farmers’ access to market information and processing equipment. They should also provide financial literacy training to encourage increased investment by farmers in cassava production, processing, and marketing. Addressing gender dynamics within cassava value chain activities should also be a focal point in these initiatives.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101120
... The influence of extension on the number of value-added shea products can be attributed to the fact that during extension services shea collectors are usually exposed to several other shea products from which they can choose. A study by Donkor et al. (2018) reported that access to extension was important in enhancing the decision to participate in cassava value addition, as well as the level of participation, in Nigeria. Similar findings were reported by Gashaw, Habteyesus, and Nedjo (2018) in coffee value addition in Ethiopia. ...
... Where group membership supports collective marketing in addition to sharing of skills on value addition, collectors prefer to add value to only a small portion of their collected shea, while marketing the rest collectively since they are able to bargain for better prices. Several studies (Adekambi, Ingenbleek, and Van Trijp 2018;Donkor et al. 2018;Hans, Taruvinga, and Mushunje 2018) have shown the importance of membership of a farmer's group in enhancing value-addition activities. In a study on wild non-timber forest products in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, Hans, Taruvinga, and Mushunje (2018) reported that bee farmers who were members of a farmer's group were more likely to bottle their honey, but were less likely to process bee wax. ...
... In this study, whereas there was no significant difference in proportion of value added across the districts, collectors in Lira were more likely to engage in no value-added products compared with collectors in Otuke and Pader. Similar findings were reported by Donkor et al. (2018), who reported that a location was significantly associated with a farmer's decision to participate in cassava value addition, but not with the level of value addition. This could be attributed to proximity to urban centres with large-scale shea processors that usually buy raw shea for their processing plants. ...
This study assessed the factors associated with value addition and product upgrading of shea nut in northern Uganda. We adopted a cross-sectional research design using a multi-stage sampling approach and a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data from 252 respondents. The results show that 84% of shea nut collectors practise some level of value addition with 11.5% adding value to all of the shea nuts collected. Over 50% of the shea nut collectors had at least one value-added product with about 3% having four value-added products, the most common products being roasted kernel and crude butter (37.3%). Regression analysis revealed that level of value addition was significantly influenced by gender, age, land under shea cultivation, income, information access, association membership and spot marketing, while the number of value-added products was significantly influenced by age, household size, extension access, information access, association membership, informal marketing, formal marketing and location of shea collector. The findings imply that increasing shea value addition in terms of both proportions allocated to value addition and the number of value-added products require adopting a group approach to provision of value addition and shea processing information. Therefore, we recommend the need to encourage shea actors to form associations focused on value addition.
... There are limited empirical studies on contextual factors influencing women's and men's participation in upgrading activities at the retail level, especially for edible insect value chains. Hence, we rely on previous studies (Adeyonu et al., 2017;Donkor et al., 2018;Khoza et al., 2019;Kuwornu et al., 2014;Musyoka et al., 2020) from various agrifood value chains such as maize, cassava, sweet potato and mango, especially the aspect of upgrading activities (e.g. roasting, drying, grinding, slicing and blending) at the production nodes to support our conceptual framework. ...
... In this paper, we expect socioeconomic factors such as age, education, labour availability and monthly income to be significantly correlated with women's and men's decision to participate in value addition and the lean season market. Donkor et al. (2018) showed that older farmers were less likely to participate in value addition at the production node of the cassava value chain in Nigeria. Hence, we expect that older women are more likely to engage in value addition and lean season market than older men. ...
... Based on these previous studies, we hypothesise that the availability of affordable labour might encourage women and men to participate in value addition and the lean season market. Upgrading strategies such as value addition is labour-intensive (Donkor et al., 2018) and labour availability enables them to process raw grasshoppers. ...
Gender gaps in agrifood value chains are manifested in differential access to and control of productive resources, upgrading activities, market participation, farm productivity and food security among women and men. These gender gaps threaten economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. With low-resource requirements, edible insects have emerged as a promising agrifood value chain with income opportunities for women and men. However, it is not clear how gender gaps are manifested in the participation in value addition and lean season market of the edible insect value chain with a potential to improve household welfare. In this paper, we analyse the gender gaps of retailers' participation in value addition and lean season market in the grasshopper value chain in Uganda. Multivariate probit and tobit models are used in the empirical analyses. We find that women are 15% more likely to participate in primary value addition. However, there are no gender gaps in the participation in secondary value addition and the lean season market. The study also shows that grasshopper business is an important source of income for many retailers. Therefore, the development of the grasshopper value chain, especially the aspects of value addition and lean season market, could contribute to gender equality and improvement of livelihoods of women and men.
... Result of late sales of excess production is the huge storage losses commonly associated with traditional transactions where farmers produce without having a clear idea in advance of when, to whom and at what price they are going to sell their products [10] With agricultural value chain, independent farmers sell directly to companies under specific stated agreement. Farmers undertake to supply agreed quantities of yam product based on the quality standards and delivery requirements of the company often at a price that is established in advance [2,10]. ...
... Result of late sales of excess production is the huge storage losses commonly associated with traditional transactions where farmers produce without having a clear idea in advance of when, to whom and at what price they are going to sell their products [10] With agricultural value chain, independent farmers sell directly to companies under specific stated agreement. Farmers undertake to supply agreed quantities of yam product based on the quality standards and delivery requirements of the company often at a price that is established in advance [2,10]. Companies often also agree to support the farmer through input supply, land preparation, extension advice and transporting produce to their premises [11]. ...
... However, a major challenge in the value chain development in Nigeria where smallholders are the major food crops producers is creating awareness among the farmers and marketers on how to link to the existing / new value chain, and how they can extract greater value from the chain, either by increasing efficiency or by also carrying out activities further along the chain [10]. ...
This study analyzed the profitability and marketing margins obtained by actors at various nodes of the yam value chain; and examined the organizations of the value chain, linkages among the key actors as well as the challenges faced by actors in the value chain in Nigeria using Baruteen Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State as a case study. 120 respondents consisting of 40 producers, 20 processors, and 60 sellers were selected through a three-stage sampling technique and were interviewed accordingly using structured questionnaires. Data collected were analyzed with; descriptive statics, statistics budgetary, marketing channels and Chi-Square analyses. Findings revealed significant difference in the net income of the value actors, with the processors having the highest share 3,558,63statistics 0, followed by the marketing agents 1,426,497 and the least 26,773.34 by the producers. Marketing margins also differed markedly among the actors. Sellers had the highest marketing margin per kg of yam. The identified constraints affecting yam value chain were high cost of production, inadequate market information, storage facilities, transport facilities, record keeping, and unfavourable government policies. The study recommends the need to scale up level of awareness in the value chain among smallholder farmers
... The Nigerian CVC can be described as a traditional food value chain, as the chain is dominated by small-scale producers and processors who add little value to cassava tubers through processing. Farmers usually sell their cassava tubers to middlemen or processors without any value addition (Donkor et al., 2018b). The financial constraint and the lack of innovativeness limit the farmers' capacity to increase their value addition (Donkor et al., 2018b). ...
... Farmers usually sell their cassava tubers to middlemen or processors without any value addition (Donkor et al., 2018b). The financial constraint and the lack of innovativeness limit the farmers' capacity to increase their value addition (Donkor et al., 2018b). ...
... Most studies on the CVC focus on the production node, with only a few studies considering activities at the processing and market nodes of the chain. At the production node, studies address issues related to adoption of improved cassava varieties (Opata et al., 2021;Afolami et al., 2015;Wossen et al., 2018), choices of marketing channels (Donkor et al., 2018a), value addition (Donkor et al., 2018b) and profitability of cassava production (Obayelu et al., 2013;Omotayo and Oladejo, 2017;Ojiako et al., 2018;Donkor et al., 2019;Rahman and Chima, 2016). Afolami et al. (2015) found that the adoption of improved cassava varieties increased the annual income and consumption expenditure of farming households in southwestern Nigeria. ...
Purpose
This 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/approach
The 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.
Findings
The 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 implications
The 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/value
Existing 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.
... This could partly be explained by the assertion that value addition increases the farmers' income, thereby improving their ability to obtain a credit facility. The finding was in tandem with those of Donkor et al. (2018) who indicated that cassava processors have higher credit access than non-processors. ...
... Based on the marginal effects (0.086), farmers who accessed credit were 8.6% more likely to engage in cassava value addition. Similar results were reported by Donkor et al. (2018), Falola et al. (2016), andNtale et al. (2014). This could be explained by the assertion that farmers with credit access are more likely to invest and allocate a certain proportion of the funds to cassava value-adding activities. ...
Cassava is a multifunctional crop with benefits ranging from its role as a source of food, income, and raw material in industrial processing. It grows in marginalized arid and semi-arid regions characterized by long periods of drought and consistent crop failure. In Kenya, cassava is a staple crop and ranks as the second most important root crop after the Irish potato. Nevertheless, there is a low cassava value addition in the country. This study therefore establishes factors influencing smallholder farmers' decision to participate in cassava value addition. The study was conducted in Busia County. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 362 cassava farmers. Descriptive statistics and probit regression were used to analyze the data. Descriptive results revealed a low level of cassava value addition among smallholder farmers. Education level, farm size, yields, access to credit, and processing equipment influenced the farmers' participation in cassava value addition positively while off-farm income and distance to the market had a negative influence. The study recommends strategies that could be applied to improve farmers' participation in cassava value addition. They include providing financial support to cassava farmers through accessible credit facilities and processing equipment. Likewise, the adoption of high-yield cassava varieties should be emphasized. Similarly, policymakers should formulate appropriate policies that promote farmers' engagement in cassava value addition.
... This could partly be explained by the assertion that value addition increases the farmers' income, thereby improving their ability to obtain a credit facility. The finding was in tandem with those of Donkor et al. (2018) who indicated that cassava processors have higher credit access than non-processors. ...
... Based on the marginal effects (0.086), farmers who accessed credit were 8.6% more likely to engage in cassava value addition. Similar results were reported by Donkor et al. (2018), Falola et al. (2016), andNtale et al. (2014). This could be explained by the assertion that farmers with credit access are more likely to invest and allocate a certain proportion of the funds to cassava value-adding activities. ...
Cassava is a multifunctional crop with benefits ranging from its role as a source of food, income, and raw material in industrial processing. It grows in marginalized arid and semi-arid regions characterized by long periods of drought and consistent crop failure. In Kenya, cassava is a staple crop and ranks as the second most important root crop after the Irish potato. Nevertheless, there is a low cassava value addition in the country. This study therefore establishes factors influencing smallholder farmers' decision to participate in cassava value addition. The study was conducted in Busia County. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain data from 362 cassava farmers. Descriptive statistics and probit regression were used to analyze the data. Descriptive results revealed a low level of cassava value addition among smallholder farmers. Education level, farm size, yields, access to credit, and processing equipment influenced the farmers' participation in cassava value addition positively while off-farm income and distance to the market had a negative influence. The study recommends strategies that could be applied to improve farmers' participation in cassava value addition. They include providing financial support to cassava farmers through accessible credit facilities and processing equipment. Likewise, the adoption of high-yield cassava varieties should be emphasized. Similarly, policymakers should formulate appropriate policies that promote farmers' engagement in cassava value addition.
... This could partly be explained by the assertion that value addition increases the farmers' income, thereby improving their ability to obtain a credit facility. The finding was in tandem with those of Donkor et al. (2018) who indicated that cassava processors have higher credit access than non-processors. ...
... Based on the marginal effects (0.086), farmers who accessed credit were 8.6% more likely to engage in cassava value addition. Similar results were reported by Donkor et al. (2018), Falola et al. (2016), andNtale et al. (2014). This could be explained by the assertion that farmers with credit access are more likely to invest and allocate a certain proportion of the funds to cassava value-adding activities. ...
... Value addition is achieved through innovation and coordination processes (Donkor, Onakuse, Bogue, and de los Rios Carmenado, 2018) . However, Farmers' interest to add value to their product through innovation and coordination is largely limited by the market environment, supportive services, processing technologies, infrastructure, institutional, economic, and socio-demographic factors (Gashaw, Habteyesus, and Nedjo, 2018). ...
... This result concurs with the finding by Alkan and Kumar, (2018) that storage was one of the best strategies for mango value addition and post-harvest management practice among small-scale farmers. This finding contradicts results by Donkor et al. (2018) that lack of storage facilities reduces the active participation of farmers to value addition along the local value chain. ...
The study examined farm-level value addition among small-scale mango farmers in Machakos County, Kenya. A sample size of 352 small-scale mango farmers was proportionately selected from six wards of the study area. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Percentage and Heckman two-stage selection model were employed in data analysis. The result showed that only 33.52% of the farmers practised mango value addition. Off-farm income, access to cold storage facilities, price of value-added products, group membership, extension contact, farmers' awareness, amount of credit and hired labour positively influenced mango farm-level value addition. Training, farmers' awareness and access to cold storage facilities positively influenced the proportion of mangoes value added at farm-level, while distance to market and livestock equivalence precipitated a negative effect on the proportion of mangoes value added. Relevant authorities in the County should provide adequate and up to date mango storage facilities and improve methods of extension delivery in order to increase the uptake of mango farm-level value addition among small-scale farmers.
... Cassava was perceived as a "poor man's crop", but currently there is a paradigm shift from a subsistence to a market-oriented production due to the promotion of cassava tubers as valuable sources of raw materials for industries (Afolami et al., 2015). Cassava is a chief source of ethanol required for the production of biofuel (Donkor et al., 2018a(Donkor et al., , 2018b. The market demand for biofuel is high in Asia, in particular China, where environment pollution from diesel and fossil fuels are alarming (Awotide et al., 2015). ...
... The overall implication of these empirical findings is that the adoption of mineral fertiliser has a greater propensity to improve rural farmers' livelihoods and transform rural economy in the Oyo State of Nigeria by increasing cassava yields and net revenues of the farmers, who constitute the majority in the cassava sector. High production of cassava could improve rural food security since about 80% of the cassava output produced in Nigeria is consumed domestically in various traditional food products (Obaleyu et al. 2013;Donkor et al., 2018aDonkor et al., , 2018b. In addition, with enhanced farm incomes, farmers are able to provide quality education for their children, access better health care, and provide balanced nutritional food for their households, which, in turn, improve the general well-being of the farmers. ...
Poor soil fertility emanating from land degradation is one of the causes of low crop productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the issues of food insecurity and poverty have become prevalent in these countries. It is however imperative to explore agricultural innovations such as mineral fertiliser to improve soil fertility of the arable lands in Africa including Nigeria. In this study, we analyse the adoption of mineral fertiliser and its economic impacts on the livelihoods of 400 rural farmers in Nigeria. We apply the endogenous switching regression and propensity score matching approaches in the empirical analyses. We find that the adoption of mineral fertiliser increases cassava yields and net revenues of rural farmers. The enhanced cassava yields and net revenues have implications on the transformation of rural economy by reducing food insecurity, minimising poverty, and improving the overall well-being of rural farmers. The results also show that farmer age and leasing negatively influence the adoption of fertiliser whereas farmer education, experience in cassava farming, household size, keeping of farm record, location differential, access to credit, membership of farmer association, and herbicides show positive effects. To achieve higher adoption of fertiliser among rural farmers, we recommend that agricultural policies could target the aforementioned key factors.
... Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that farmers have access to this direct market to encourage them to increase their cassava outputs. More than 80% of the cassava tubers produced in Oyo State are consumed in various processed forms, namely gari, lafun, bread, fritter, cake, croquette, among others (Adejobi & Adeyemo, 2012;Donkor et al., 2018). This evidence shows that the cassava sector contributes to improving sustainable food supply to feed the increasing population in the State. ...
... This evidence shows that the cassava sector contributes to improving sustainable food supply to feed the increasing population in the State. Furthermore, cassava can be regarded as an 'untapped treasure of Africa' because it is an important source of many valuable industrial raw materials such as starch, ethanol and high-quality cassava flour (Owusu & Donkor, 2012;Donkor et al., 2018). These raw materials are used in the pharmaceutical, bakery and confectionery, textile, brewery and biofuel industries. ...
Improving rural farmers’ access to direct agricultural markets is required to ensure sustainable supply of food. Rural farmers in the developing world account for the largest share of food supply including cassava. Globally, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is recognised as an important source of valuable semi-processed industrial raw materials such as ethanol, high-quality cassava flour and starch. However, there is less empirical research on rural farmers’ participation in direct marketing channels in the cassava sector. This study focused on analysing the determinants of farmer participation in direct marketing channels using the case of the cassava sector in the Oyo State of Nigeria. The Bivariate Tobit model was applied in the empirical analysis, based on a primary dataset generated from 400 rural cassava farmers from the Oyo State of Nigeria. The result showed that, in general, farmers sold a higher percentage of their cassava output to processors. The Bivariate Tobit results showed that human capital, physical capital, social capital, and market conditions had significant effects on farmers’ decisions on whether to sell their cassava output directly to processors or middlemen. On the contrary, natural and financial capitals did not significantly affect farmers’ marketing channel decision. The study recommends that policy instruments should target improving road networks in rural areas, enhancing farmers’ access to market information, and increasing membership of farmer association to ensure an active participation of farmers in the direct marketing channels.
... Farmers typically do not add value to their products; therefore, they make a minimal profit. As processing enterprises proliferate, farmers' capacity to add value will probably improve and this will improve the rural economy (Donkor et al. 2018). For instance, processing finger millet grains using techniques like milling, roasting, popping, and malting results in various meal preparations that improve the final food product's appearance, flavor, and acceptability (Ambre et al. 2020). ...
Understanding the value chain and profitability of underutilized crops is critical to increasing their cultivation in developing countries. This study examines value chain maps and economic performance of three potentially important underutilized crops in Southeastern Sri Lanka: finger millet (Eleusine coracana), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), and red cowpea (Vigna unguicu-lata). In Sri Lanka, the value chains or profitability of these underutilized crops have not yet been examined. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Farmers primarily cultivate finger millet and red cowpea in chena (shifting cultivation land), but cashew is the dominant crop in home gardens. They mostly grow crops with their own seeds, little fertilizer, and with family labor. Farmers sell approximately 85% of their red cowpea and 60% of finger millet directly to urban wholesalers, whereas cashew is sold through collectors/middlemen. When unpaid family labor costs are excluded, the net annual income from finger millet is significantly higher than that of red cowpea and cashew. At the farmer level, value addition to products is lacking, resulting in a low return on investment. We advocate for the formation of farmer organizations and the provision of necessary institutional support (e.g., technical and financial) for value addition to underutilized crops in order to increase net returns and improve socioeconomic outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https:// doi. org/ 10.
... The factors determining a baobab collector's choice of marketing channel are grouped into human capital, transactional and institutional factors. This categorisation is based on Donkor et al.'s (2018a) study on promoting value addition among cassava farmers in Nigeria. Variables categorised under human capital include the collector's gender, age, number of children, marital status, other incomes, number of baobab trees, baobab collection point, experience of selling baobab and number of known buyers. ...
Baobab products provide cash income and supplement diets for local communities living in marginalised, arid and semi-arid regions. However, these products are neglected by research, selectively traded and considered underutilised. This study endeavours to narrow this information gap by analysing the determinants of baobab collectors’ choice of marketing channels in Kenya. A multinomial logit was employed, using a dataset of 268 baobab collectors from three counties. The results show that the majority of baobab collectors sell their baobab pulp through rural markets (assemblers and rural wholesalers), as opposed to urban buyers (urban wholesalers, retailers and processors). Export channels are conspicuously missing from the chain. Human capital and transactional and institutional factors significantly influence the collectors’ choice of marketing channels. The results reveal that building capacity around market development, research and education, road networks and institutional services is essential to create more profitable channels for generating income, enhancing food security and reducing malnutrition.
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) on improving gender responsiveness of cassava value chain in Niger Delta regions of Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional, describing and interpreting the current situation. A total of 780 rural women respondents were sampled across the Niger Delta region.
Findings – The results from the use of a combined logit model and propensity score matching indicate that CSR of the MOCs using GMoU model has recorded little but significant success in enhancing rural women participation in the cassava value chain in the Niger Delta.
Practical implications - This implies that if CSR interventions are not tailored to enhance opportunities for women, they may contribute towards reducing the participation of women in economic, political and social development and, by extension, damping efforts of reducing poverty and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Niger Delta.
Social implications – This suggests that MOCs’ CSR interventions in the cassava value chain should consider gender relations to benefit men and women and alleviate household poverty.
Originality/value – This research contributes to the inequality debate in the agrifood value chain and inclusive growth literature from the CSR perspective in developing countries and the rationale for demand for social projects by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help in solving problems of public concern.
Keywords Gender, cassava value chain, corporate social responsibility, multinational oil companies, sub-Saharan Africa
Paper type Research paper
Purpose: We assess farm technology adoption in an integrated analysis of social networks and innovation in plantain production in Ghana. The paper explores the strength of social networks in the agricultural innovation systems (AISs) and the effect of AISs on adoption of improved farm technology.
Methodology/Approach: The paper uses social network analysis (SNA) tools to identify, map and analyze the AISs and the two-stage Heckman selection model. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods allows testing the differential effects of social networks on technology adoption.
Findings: We find weak innovation systems in the study area. Farmers are central in the social networks but have little to no influence in the innovation system perspective. Social network capital plays a critical role in improving adoption of improved farm technology.
Practical implication: Focal farmers are important actors disseminating farm technology. They should be supported by policies to interact more effectively with research and extension agents. Strengthening the role of social networking in the innovation system will enhance adoption of improved farm technology.
Theoretical implications: The inclusion of SNA indicators in the adoption model is a novel approach for quantifying the effect of the innovation system and contributes to understanding the roles of different actors. Further validation of the SNA indicators is needed for a comprehensive analysis of the innovation system.
Originality/value: The innovation system approach is useful for researchers and policy-makers by encouraging them to consider new innovation actors and relationships in technology development and dissemination. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods can help to identify starting points for policies to promote innovations among farmers.
full text available here: http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/vfQutrwNb6K2qZhFuzPe/full
In developing economies, well-functioning markets are known to provide the poor with avenues for wealth creation. Using a value chain approach, this paper aims at examining bottlenecks to and opportunities for different categories of women to participate in markets for high value agricultural commodities, with a view to identifying feasible upgrading strategies for the different categories. The findings are based on a case study of Kenya's avocado value chain, which depicts export and domestic market orientation. The data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and household surveys. The results suggest that in the more commercialized and well developed chains like that of export, upgrading strategies vary for the different typologies of women. While women in female headed households may require limited efforts such as tailoring financial products to their needs or providing interlinked services coupled with prompt payment for their produce to allow them to produce quality fruits and access lucrative markets, women in male headed households need institutionalization of gender-sensitive policies in the governance of producer groups to enable them to upgrade as chain integrators and chain owners. In the less commercialized domestic chain, limited efforts may be required to upgrade women along the chain, but the need to change from the less marketable local variety to exotic variety is likely to alter women's position, thereby calling for the need to institutionalize gender-sensitive policies in the governance of existing organized groups and use the groups as a platform to introduce the new variety.
Given the increasing tension between food production and food demand in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the poor development of the rice sector in Africa, the present paper examines the impact of agricultural extension on adoption of chemical fertilizers and their impact on rice productivity in Ghana. A parametric approach was employed to account for selectivity and endogeneity effects, which most impact studies fail to address. The empirical results reveal that agricultural extension service is endogenous in the chemical fertilizer adoption specification. Our findings show that access to extension services significantly promotes adoption of chemical fertilizer. Access to extension services and adoption of chemical fertilizer exert positive influences on rice productivity. Promoting farmer participation in irrigation schemes and row-planting technologies, facilitating easy access to education and credit facilities, sensitization of female farmers and leasing of farmlands are policy alternatives needed to facilitate adoption of chemical fertilizer and access to extension services, with the goal of enhancing rice productivity and the livelihoods of rice farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and various institutions in Africa should train more extension officers, given the significant impact they have on agricultural technology adoption and productivity. Future studies on adoption of agricultural technologies and access to extension services in developing countries should adopt empirical approaches that account for endogeneity and selectivity effect in order to arrive at the precise magnitude and extent of impacts from productive agricultural technologies and interventions.
The use of modern agricultural inputs has been cited as a major factor for increasing productivity in most sub-Saharan African countries. A wide range of variables influence the adoption of such inputs. It is important to identify these variables in order to ensure the implementation of more effective programmes to promote the use of modern inputs. This article examines the determinants of adoption of three new agricultural technologies (improved maize seeds, inorganic fertiliser and pesticide) by corn producers in the west of Cameroon. Rather than the univariate probit model which is commonly used, the multivariate probit model is employed to take account of the correlation between the disturbances of the three adoption models. The results indicate that the decision to adopt agricultural innovations is significantly influenced by farmers’ education, income and risk perception as well as farm size. Therefore, policies aimed at setting up sustainable risk management markets, increasing the level of education of farmers and their access to credit could greatly promote the adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers of Cameroon in general and in the western region in particular.
Development of high yielding and disease resistant cassava varieties, coupled with the promotion of efficient processing technologies, was the principal intervention aimed at changing the cassava subsector in Nigeria. National research and extension programs in Nigeria and IITA have been spearheading efforts to disseminate these varieties alongside improving farmer’s access to processing machineries. Several Research-for-Development (R4D) projects were implemented to this effect between early 1980 to date. This paper investigated the effects of improved cassava varieties and processing technologies on adopting households. It also attempts to test and establish the link between adoption of improved cassava varieties and access to processing technologies. The data used in this paper come from a sample household survey of 952 households conducted in four regions of Nigeria. The results showed that in all the study sites farmers grow mixture of improved and local cassava varieties. They process cassava at home using small processing machines and also using services of commercial processors. The most common processed cassava products were found to be garri and fufu. Adopters of improved cassava varieties have higher cassava yield of 16 tons/ha compared to 11 ton/ha for non-adopters. There was also significant yield variation between villages that participated (15 tons/ha) in research for development (R4D) training and those which did not (13 tons/ha). The bivariate probit model estimates showed a strong relationship between adoption of improved cassava varieties and farmers’ access to grating machines. Moreover, farmers that were members of either community organizations or cooperative organizations had a higher tendency of using improved varieties than others, suggesting that the introduction of new cassava varieties would be enhanced by farmers’ access to processing facilities and services. Moreover, training of farmers and processors through R4D programs has led to increased use of improved technologies.
Low adoption of modern agricultural technologies amongst farmers in Nigeria has been identified as one of the main reasons for the low agricultural productivity and increase in poverty level. The general objective of this study is to examine the welfare impact of farm households adoption of improved cassava varieties in Southwestern (SW) Nigeria using poverty as an indicator. It utilizes cross-sectional farm household level data collected in 2013 from a randomly selected sample of 312 cassava producing households (186 in Ogun State and 126 in Osun State). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis such as Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measure and Logit regression model. The results revealed that adoption of improved cassava varieties increases the annual income and the annual consumption expenditure of producing households’ thus increasing welfare in the SW Nigeria. An analysis of the determinants of adoption with logistic regression model showed that access to improved cassava cuttings within the villages, use of radio, farming experience and farming as a major occupation are significant factors influencing adoption of improved cassava varieties in the study area. In order to achieve the much desired poverty reduction and generate an improvement in farming households’ welfare in SW Nigeria, efforts should be intensified in ensuring that farmers have access to adequate improved cassava cuttings at the right time and place. All programs, strategies and policies that would promote farmers’ education on the technology and consequently lead to improved adoption should be pursued.
This study examined the nature and determinants of marketing channel levels in the cassava tuber and cassava products markets in the study area. A multistage sampling procedure was employed in selecting the respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. The results showed that there were a lot of differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of the cassava tuber marketers and cassava products marketers. The result of the regression analysis revealed that there were strong relationships between number of channel levels in cassava tuber/products markets and gender, access to market information, and number of products from the tuber and this underscores the importance of value addition along the value chain, which is likely to improve the income-earning capacity for households in this agro-allied subsector. It is recommended that there be deliberate policy efforts aimed at promoting functional and effective marketing information as well as value addition in the Cassava subsector.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to look at the ever-popular, “value-chain approach” for linking smallholder farmers to high value export markets. Conventional wisdom says that value chains undertaken for development purposes redistribute risk and provide benefits and services to participants that are otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain. The authors take a farmer-centric approach and ask farmers participating in these higher value chains if they perceive greater, or different risks and compare results to their conventional counterparts. The authors also ask what benefits they associate with participation and if they believe they believe those benefits are exclusive to value chain participation.
Design/methodology/approach
– The authors collect data from growers in three different cocoa value chains in Ashanti, Ghana. These chains include one focussed on certified production practices (Rainforest Alliance), one that focussed on high-value product characteristics (Fine Flavor) and a conventional chain, which serves as counterfactual.
Findings
– The paper finds differences in perceptions of participation risks and benefits – particularly among price risks – that appear to filter based on value chain membership. However, for many risks, value chain participation seems to do little to redistribute potential production shocks. With some exceptions, growers report that many of the benefits they enjoy as a result of participation could feasibly be accessed by other sources.
Research limitations/implications
– The limitations of this paper are related to sample size. This was managed from a statistical perspective.
Social implications
– The authors explore how these results might impact the sustainability of the value chain approach and encourage donors and development agencies to be thoughtful and critical about measuring how farmers perceive new market opportunities.
Originality/value
– The authors believe that this is the first paper prepared to critically investigate the perceived benefits of value chains.
We investigate the implication of farmers’ locus of control on their technology adoption decisions. Our empirical analysis is based on two longitudinal surveys and hypothetical choice exercises conducted on Ethiopian farmers. We find that locus of control significantly predicts farmers’ technology adoption decisions, including use of chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, and irrigation. We show that individuals with an internal locus of control have higher propensity of adopting agricultural technologies. We observe these empirical regularities in both datasets, and for both revealed measures of farmers’ technology adoption decisions as well as farmers’ hypothetical demand for agricultural technology. The results hold even in a more conservative fixed effects estimation approach, assuming locus of control as time-variant and dynamic behavioral trait. These findings provide behavioral and psychological explanations for the low rates of adoption of profitable agricultural technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our results highlight that improving farmers’ non-cognitive skills (locus of control) may facilitate technology adoption and agricultural transformation. More generally, the results suggest that anti-poverty policies that only focus on relaxing short-term external constraints, including physical access to markets and technologies, may not sufficiently alleviate agricultural underinvestment.
It has now become almost a stylized fact that sustained agricultural growth is central to rapid poverty reduction and economic development. Yet, world poverty is largely concentrated in the agrarian societies, which have the potential for agricultural productivity growth. This is particularly true for Sub-Saharan African countries, where the gaps between potential and actual yields remain high. Minimizing this gap through the promotion of modern inputs—such as fertilizer and modern seeds—has been at the core of almost all development strategies in Ethiopia. Among other initiatives, the country has promoted microfinance institutions and member-owned financial cooperatives to alleviate credit constraints of the smallholder farmers. This paper analyzes the impacts of these institutions. Using household survey data and a propensity-score-matching technique, we examine the effects that institutional financial services have on farmers’ adoption of agricultural technology in Ethiopia. The results suggest that access to institutional finance has a significant positive impact on both the adoption and extent of technology use. However, when impacts are disaggregated by type of financial institution and farm size, heterogeneities are observed. In particular, financial cooperatives have a greater impact on technology adoption than microfinance institutions, and the results appear to vary depending on farm size and types of inputs. The paper concludes with implications for policies to promote adoption of modern agricultural inputs.
Purpose ‐ Multifunctional agriculture, including value-added agriculture, has drawn the attention of different stakeholders (government, farmers) interested in maximising the potential of farming operations and strengthening rural communities. This preliminary study aims to investigate value-added agriculture, including the extent to which food growers consider, or are involved in, this aspect of multifunctional agriculture, from the perspective of orchard operators located in different Australian states. Design/methodology/approach ‐ Orchard operators were contacted through regional growers' associations and by mail. A total of 80, the large majority of whom are small orchardists, participated in the study, completing a questionnaire designed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Findings ‐ Overall, there is moderate interest among the participating orchard operators in adding value to food production. Respondents also indicate barriers in the form of added expenses, lack of time, knowledge, and markets, to sell value-added products. Research limitations/implications ‐ This study has only provided preliminary data from a limited number of participants; future research could broaden the scope to gather the insights of more orchard operators or even study other rural food-growing sectors. Practical implications ‐ With increasing pressures on the farmland, the findings have several implications, in particular, the need to understand the cost-benefits involved in value adding activities and potential cost-savings strategies. Originality/value ‐ In the case of Australian agriculture, little has been discussed about the extent to which value-added food production is being considered among food growers, for instance, using commercial kitchens to process foods that do not sell as "premium." The present study examines this unexplored dimension and seeks to provide useful preliminary information.
We examine how the transformation of food value chains (FVCs) influence the triple malnutrition burden (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies and over-nutrition) in developing countries. We propose a FVC typology (modern, traditional, modern-to-traditional, and traditional-to-modern) that takes into account the participants, the target market, and the products offered. Next, we propose selected hypotheses on the relationship between each FVC category and elements of the triple malnutrition burden. The primary finding is that the transformation of FVCs creates challenges and opportunities for nutrition in developing countries. For example, Modern FVCs may increase over-nutrition problems and alleviate micronutrient deficiencies for urban people with relatively high incomes. However, they have little nutritional impacts among rural residents and urban poor people, who primarily depend on traditional FVCs to access adequate quantities of calories and micronutrients. In addition, modern food manufacturers are leveraging traditional distribution networks (modern-to-traditional FVCs), substantially increasing access to low-priced processed/packaged foods in rural areas and low-income urban neighbors with mixed impacts on the triple burden of malnutrition. Further research should focus on the influence of FVC transformation on reduction of micronutrient deficiencies, on modeling demand substitution effects across food categories and the attendant policy implications for malnutrition.
We analyze the adoption of mineral fertilizer in South-Kivu. We model technology adoption as a three-step-process, including awareness, tryout, and adoption; and empirically analyze these steps using cross-sectional farm-household data, and bivariate and Heckman selection probit models. We find that awareness about fertilizer is high (57%) and mainly determined by education and social capital. Tryout is low (13% of aware farmers) but positively influenced by extension interventions. Continued adoption is high (70% of tryout farmers) but capital constraints are important and not all extension interventions are effective for continued adoption. Our results entail implications for extension policies in poor areas.
Purpose
For many farmers across the USA the opportunity to sell their produce directly to the public in different ways allows them to avoid middle‐men and often reap higher benefits that are vital for their survival. However, to what extent do they fully maximise their produce? For instance, do farmers consider developing value‐added products when they have fruit or vegetable leftovers, or those with blemishes? The present paper aims to explore involvement in value‐added food production from the growers' standpoint.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected via telephone and face‐to‐face interviews among 30 farm owners located in the state of Alabama.
Findings
While the large majority of participating farmers (93.3 per cent) are involved in selling produce directly to the public, only 33.3 per cent are currently maximising their produce left‐overs, or unsellable produce by developing and marketing value‐added products such as jellies, jams and ice‐creams. Almost one fourth of farmers (23.3 per cent) would consider developing value‐added products. However, the lack of a commercial kitchen, a potentially considerable investment, is one significant barrier preventing the development of value‐added products.
Research limitations/implications
Choosing only farmers that are already involved in retailing their own produce, and their low number (30) are limitations that may not allow for making generalisations of the study's findings.
Practical implications
In times where the threat of food crises is latent, the ability for food growers to maximise their harvests becomes critical. Because farm operators play a significant role in providing food for society at large, they should be accordingly supported to maximise their produce, including through the development of value‐added products.
Originality/value
The study provides a different view of value‐added produce, investigating this dimension from the farmers' viewpoint.
Cassava value chain in Nigeria: a review of the literature to inform the integration of vitamin A cassava
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Emmanuel Donkor can be contacted at: edonkor.knust@gmail.com
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Value chains for rural development: rural development through decent work
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