Promoting value addition among farmers in the cassava food value chain in Nigeria
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 8 August 2018
Issue publication date: 30 August 2018
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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was conducted as part of a PhD thesis project, supported by the Agricultural Transformation by Innovation (AGTRAIN) Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme, and was funded by the EACEA (Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency) of the European Commission (2011-0019). This paper has benefited a great deal from the immense rich experience of Prof. K. Yerfi Fosu in this area of research and other areas of economic sciences for which the authors are very grateful. This paper also benefited immensely from the detailed comments of two referees. The authors acknowledge their help with the usual disclaimer.
Citation
Donkor, E., Onakuse, S., Bogue, J. and de los Rios Carmenado, I. (2018), "Promoting value addition among farmers in the cassava food value chain in Nigeria", British Food Journal, Vol. 120 No. 9, pp. 2047-2065. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2018-0030
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited