Cassava farmers are faced with the decision to either sell or process the roots of the crop. However, the factors affecting this decision are largely unknown. Three hundred and six cassava farmers were interviewed, with the objectives to (i) profile the socio-economic characteristics of farmers (ii) examine the price trend between January, 2019 to August, 2020, (iii) costs and returns of the farmers who sell roots and cassava products, (iv)profile the risks and mitigating strategies used by farmers (v) examine the factors that influence farmer’s decision and (vi) evaluate the effect of the decision on farmer’s welfare status. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were employed for the socioeconomics, trend analysis and risks and mitigating strategies, gross margin analysis to analyse the costs and returns, double hurdle model to evaluate the factors influencing their decision and tobit regression to evaluate the effects of the decision. The price of fresh roots, garri, flour and fufu across the studied months were found to progressively increase. Gross margin analysis showed that garri processing was beneficial than roots and other products in terms of returns to the farmers with an average of ±₦4000 per acre. Age, distance from house to farm and from farm to market (in kilometres), point of sales outlet, years of farming experience, age squared, cassava farm size(acres), economic-related benefits, price of garri and price of fresh roots were found to influence decision to sell or process roots. Age and male gender had negative relationship with the decision to sell roots while age and years of farming experience influenced the extent of processing. In conclusion, the decision to sell roots positively influenced welfare of the farmers while decision to process roots does not affect the welfare of the farmers. This recommends effective policies that stabilize prices of cassava roots and products which would compensate the costs incurred by participants of cassava industry and also translate to improved wellbeing of their households.

IITA supervisor: Dr. Hauser, S.

Natural Resource Management

Aflatoxin; Agronomy; Cassava; Crop Systems; Farming Systems; Food Systems; Natural Resource Management

Cassava; Farmers; Roots; Sales; Prices

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria

Headquarters and Western Africa Hub