ABSTRACT
The study which comparatively examined adoption and consumption level of pro vitamin A cassava in south-east and south-south Nigeria is necessitated by dearth of information and low supply recorded in demand for pro vitamin A cassava stems and products such as garri, fufu, flour, tapioca and the value added products. A purposive and multi stage random sampling procedures were employed to select 480 respondents across the four selected states in south-east and south-south Nigeria. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion and were analyzed with descriptive (frequencies, percentages and mean count) and inferential statistics: (ANOVA (DNMRT), OLS and Simple Linear Regression). The pooled mean results showed that farming experience of pro vitamin A cassava was 3.7 years with high participation in extension activities by the respondents ( =2.58). On technological attributes of pro-vitamin A cassava, a pooled mean of ( =3.7) indicated positive knowledge of technological attributes. On adoption of pro vitamin A cassava the pooled mean score of ( =3.04) indicated moderately high rate of adoption of pro vitamin A cassava with higher adopters in South-south and ( =2.05) indicated moderately high rate of consumption with higher consumers in south-south Nigeria. On factors influencing consumption, nutritional information ( =4.34), health benefit ( =4.24) and vitamin A content( =4.14) strongly influenced the consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products across the states with south-south having more influence while on factors affecting adoption, inadequate fund ( =4.72), cost of labour ( =4.46) and lack of farm credit ( =4.24) were the factors that strongly affected adoption of pro vitamin A cassava across the states with south-east mostly affected. The multiple regression (OLS) result on (years spent in education, farming experience, farm income, farm size, access to credit, social group membership, participation in extension activities and level of palatability) influenced adoption of pro vitamin A cassava across the states with pooled R2 (0.432) at 1% level of probability. Hence, the null hypothesis was rejected. The multiple regression (OLS) result on (all the nine variables) influenced consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products across the states with pooled R2 (0.512) at 1%. The null hypothesis was rejected. The ANOVA (DNMRT) results indicated that there were significant differences on the level of adoption with (F-value of 51.74) and consumption with (F-value of 92.12) of pro vitamin A cassava across the states at 1% level of probability respectively. The null hypothesis was rejected. Multiple regression (OLS) result on Hypothesis six showed that (early maturity, yellow root colour, stay green, accessibility, affordability and complexity) influenced adoption of pro vitamin A cassava across the states with pooled R2 (0.624) at 1%. The null hypothesis was rejected. The simple linear regression result indicated that there was a significant relationship between farmers’ form of consumption and frequency of consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products at 1%. The null hypothesis was also rejected. This study concluded that there were more adopters and consumers of pro vitamin A cassava in south-south than south-east Nigeria as a result of undesirable traits and lack on nutrition information of the cassava. Research recommended more nutrition information, a better pro vitamin A cassava with increased dry matter content and can retain yellow colour during processing. There is need for NRCRI, Umudike and government to supply stems to farmers for more multiplication to boost the rate of adoption and consumption in the locality.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Declaration
ii
Certification
iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables xii
List of
Figures xiv
Abstract xv
CHAPTER
1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement
of Problem 4
1.3 Research
Questions 6
1.4 Objectives
of the Study 7
1.5 Hypotheses
of the Study 8
1.6 Justification
of the Study 9
1.7 Scope
of the Study 11
1.8 Definition
of Terms 11
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Origin and spread of Cassava in Nigeria 14
2.1.1 Production and adaptation of Cassava 16
2.1.2 Potentials and prospects of Cassava in
Nigeria 17
2.2 Constraints to Cassava production in
Nigeria 19
2.2.1 Contributions towards addressing the
challenges 22
2.3 Improved
Cassava varieties and their attributes 23
2.4 Development and distribution of Pro
Vitamin a Cassava varieties 28
2.4.1 Pro –Vitamin A Cassava processing, storage
and utilization 30
2.4.2 Pro Vitamin A Cassava value chain 32
2.5 Concept
of adoption and consumption 35
2.5.1
Concept of adoption 35
2.5.2 Diffusion and adoption of innovation 36
2.5.3
Innovation-decision process 38
2.5.4
Features of innovation and rate of
adoption 41
2.5.5 Adopter categories 44
2.5.6
Concept of consumption 46
2.6 Socio-Economic characteristics of the
respondents 47
2.6.1 Level
of education 48
2.6.2 Household size 48
2.6.3 Farming experience 49
2.6.4 Farm size 49
2.6.5 Farm income 50
2.6.6 Member of social group 51
2.6.7 Access to farm credit 52
2.6.8 Participation in extension activities 52
2.6.9 Level of palatability 53
2.7 Technological attributes of Pro vitamin A
Cassava 54
2.8 Adoption
of Pro vitamin A Cassava 56
2.9 Consumption of Pro vitamin A Cassava
products 58
2.10 Pro Vitamin A Cassava improved farming
practices 59
2.11 Factors influencing consumption of Pro
vitamin A Cassava products 61
2.12 Factors
affecting adoption of Pro vitamin A Cassava 62
2.13 Agricultural technology and extension services 65
2.13.1 Extension
services 68
2.14
Review of empirical studies 69
2.15
Review of related theories 77
2.15.1 The Normative decision- making model 78
2.15.2 Knowles’ adult learning theory 78
2.15.3 Theory of communication for social change 81
2.15.4 Theory of social exchange 82
2.15.5 Diffusion of innovation theory 83
2.16
Theoretical framework 89
2.16.1 Adoption
theory of innovation 89
2.16.2 Adoption process 89
2.16.3
Implication to adoption and consumption 91
2.17
Conceptual framework of the study 93
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study area 96
3.2 Study population 98
3.3
Sample and sampling procedure 98
3.4 Validity of instrument 100
3.5 Reliability of instrument 100
3.6 Method
of data collection 100
3.7 Measurement
of variables 100
3.7.1 Selected
socio-economic characteristics of the respondents 101
3.7.2 The technological attributes of pro-vitamin
A cassava varieties 101
3.7.3 The level of adoption of pro-vitamin A
cassava varieties 102
3.7.4 The levels of consumption form of Pro-vitamin
A cassava products 103
3.7.5 The frequency of consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products 103
3.7.6
The consumers' preference and acceptability of pro vitamin A
cassava products 104
3.7.7
The levels of adoption of pro vitamin A cassava farming practices 105
3.7.8
The factors
influencing consumption of pro vitamin A
cassava products 105
3.7.9 Factors
affecting adoption of Pro vitamin A cassava 106
3.8 Method of data analysis 107
3.9 Hypotheses
testing 107
3.10
Model specification 108
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION
4.1 The selected socio-economic characteristics of respondents 113
4.1.1 Level of education 114
4.1.2
Household size 116
4.1.3 Farming experience 117
4.1.4 Farm size 118
4.1.5 Farm income 119
4.1.6 Group membership 120
4.1.7 Easy access to farm credit 120
4.1.8 Participation in extension
activities 121
4.1.9 Level of palatability 122
4.2 Technological attributes of Pro Vitamin A
Cassava varieties 124
4.3 Level of adoption of Pro Vitamin A
Cassava by farmers 128
4.4
Level of consumption form and usage of Pro Vitamin A Cassava product 132
4.5
Frequency of consumption form and usage of Pro Vitamin A Cassava products136
4.6
Consumers’ preference and acceptability of Pro Vitamin A Cassava products 139
4.7 Adoption of Improved Farming Practices of Pro
Vitamin A Cassava Varieties 142
4.8 Perceived Factors influencing consumption of Pro Vitamin A
Cassava
products by farmers 145
4.9
Constraining Factors affecting adoption of Pro Vitamin A Cassava
among farmers 149
4.10
Result of hypotheses testing 154
4.10.1
Hypothesis 1 154
4.10.2
Hypothesis 2 161
4.10.3
Hypothesis 3 168
4.10.4
Hypothesis 4 170
4.10.5
Hypothesis 5 173
4.10.6
Hypothesis 6 179
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 182
5.2
Conclusion 189
5.3 Recommendations 191
5.4 Area of further studies 192
References
Appendix
LIST OF TABLES
2.1 Attributes of Cassava Varieties released
to farmers in Nigeria 26
2.2 Six high pro-vitamin A cassava varieties
released in 2011 and 2014 55
2.3 Determinant of adoption of pro vitamin A
bio-fortified cassava 57
4.1a Distribution of respondents based on their
selected socio-
economic characteristics 113
4.1b Mean
score responses on access to credit and participation in
extension
activities 114
4.2 Mean
score responses of the farmers on the technological attributes of
Pro-vitamin A cassava varieties 124
4.3 Mean score responses of the farmers based
on their level of adoption
of pro vitamin A cassava 128
4.4 Mean score responses of the farmers
based on their level of consumption
form and usage of pro vitamin A
cassava products 132
4.5 Mean
responses of respondents based on their frequency of consumption
form and usage of pro vitamin A
cassava 136
4.6 Mean
score responses of respondents based on their consumption
preference and acceptability of pro
vitamin A cassava products 139
4.7 Mean score responses of the levels of
adoption of improved farming
practices by farmers 142
4.8 Mean responses of the
respondents perceived factors influencing their
consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products 145
4.9: Mean score responses of the perceived
factors affecting adoption of
pro vitamin A cassava among farmers 149
4.10 Ordinary least square result of the influence
of selected socio-economic
characteristics of farmers on adoption of
pro vitamin A cassava
in
the study area. 154
4.11 Ordinary
least square result of the influence of selected socio-economic
characteristics of respondents on consumption
of pro vitamin A cassava
products in the study area 161
4.12 Result
of Duncan’s new multiple range test of difference between the mean
rating of the respondents on their level of adoption of pro vitamin A
cassava
across the States 168
4.12.1 Result
of Post Hoc test showing where significant difference occurred
on the level of adoption of pro
vitamin A cassava varieties 169
4.13 Result of Duncan’s new multiple range test
of difference between the mean
rating of the respondents on their level of
consumption form and usage of
pro vitamin A cassava products across the
states 170
4.13.1 Result
of Post Hoc test showing where significant difference occurred on the
level of consumption form and usage of pro
vitamin A cassava products 172
4.15 Ordinary
least square result of the influence of technological attributes
of the technology on adoption of pro
vitamin A cassava in the study area. 173
4.16 Simple
linear regression estimate of significant relationship between consumers’
form of consumption and their frequency of
consumption of pro vitamin A
cassava products 179
LIST
OF FIGURES
Fig.1 Cassava Map of Nigeria (2007) Showing
Cassava Potentials 18
Fig. 2 Flowchart
for Pro vitamin A Cassava Utilization Forms 31
Fig. 3 Pro vitamin A cassava value chain flow 34
Fig. 4 A
model of five stages in the innovation- decision Process 38
Fig. 5 Adopter
categories on the basis of innovativeness 44
Fig.6 Conceptual
framework 95
Fig. 7 Map of Nigeria
showing Imo, Anambra, Delta and AkwaIbom States 97
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Human
race is wholly dependent on agriculture and as the world population continues
to increase, there is serious need to reassess agricultural practices to
optimize efficiency and productivity (Food Agriculture Organization, 2013).
According to FAO (2014), improvement in cassava production would boost farmers'
production capacity and increase the wellbeing of rural households through
minimizing poverty, boosting nutrition and improved health.
Cassava (Manihot
esculenta) is the most essential and economic root crop grown in Nigeria
and its potential to fight hunger and food insecurity is documented (Amadi et al.,
2018). The important value of cassava to resource-poor farmers in Nigeria does
not need much explanation. Cassava has a special potential towards food
security, poverty reduction, and environmental protection (National Root Crops
Research Institue, 2012). Although
cassava roots are very rich in energy, containing mainly starch and soluble
carbohydrates, its nutritive value is low (Ilona, 2012). Cassava is an
irreplaceable source of energy; without vitamin A carotenoids (Edoh et al,
2013).
Globally, vitamin A deficiency is an important
micronutrient deficiency, especially in Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa, affecting women and children
(HarvestPlus, 2013). It affects 30% of children under the age of 5 in Nigeria
being the world's largest producer and consumer of cassava (WHO estimates),
resulting in reduced immunity, impaired vision, and, in some cases, even
blindness and death (Njoku et al., 2013). Millions of Nigerians, irrespective of age, sex or
geographic location consume less vitamin A than the body needs while women and
children remain the most vulnerable (Egesi et
al., 2014). Furthermore, these
health impairments cost Africa's largest economy an estimated US $1.5 billion
in lost GDP every year (Njoku et al., 2014). A sustainable way of
mitigating vitamin A deficiency is by breeding food staples such as cassava to
produce vitamin A by itself, a process known as bio fortification (Ilona,
2012).
Cassava holds great potential for providing
substantially increased amounts of vitamin A to Nigerian diets as existing
cassava varieties have beta‐carotene
concentrations between less than 1 μg/g and more than15 μg/g (HarvestPlus,
2012). Cassava with high beta‐carotene can be visibly distinguished from normal cassava by its
yellowish color. Pro-vitamin A cassava is a genetically improved cassava
variety containing B-carotene which has the potential for the alleviation of
vitamin A deficiency in low income population like Nigeria (NRCRI, 2015).
Progressively, reputable institutions known for agricultural research, the
International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, in
corroboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute, (NRCRI) Umudike,
developed the pro vitamin A cassava varieties with the use of traditional breeding
techniques in a HarvestPlus-funded project (NRCRI, 2014).
The first three pro vitamin A cassava
varieties were developed and released in 2011 by the National Variety Release
Committee of Nigeria as UMUCASS 36, UMUCASS 37, and UMUCASS 38; and are
recognized as IITA genotypes TMS 01/1368, TMS 01/1412, and TMS 01/1371 while
the last three varieties released later in 2014 were UMUCASS 44, UMUCASS 45 and
UMUCASS 46 and known as IITA genotypes TMS 107/0220, TMS 107/0593 and TMS
107/0539 (NRCRI, 2015). The HarvestPlus project corroborates with national
partners and the private sector to ensure that the pro-vitamin A-rich varieties
get to the farmers and users (Abdoulaye et
al., 2015). Other partners in this
biofortification project work are the International Center for Tropical
Agriculture (CIAT) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
(Embrapa), (Abdoulaye et al., 2015).
The pro vitamin A cassava varieties have been
distributed to about 100,000 households in Nigeria as at October 2013 namely;
Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Delta among others
through the Extension Services Programme of the NRCRI, Umudike (Egesi et al,
2014) and other partners. According to Ilona et al., (2017) by 2013, a
cumulative total of 106,000 farm households in Nigeria had been reached with
vitamin A cassava. It is also estimated that by the year 2018, more than 2
million rural farming households will be farming vitamin A cassava and about 17
million rural and urban consumers will be eating pro-vitamin A gari and fufu in
their regular diets (Ilona et al., 2016).
Expectedly, farmers should take a lead in
adoption and consumption of the cassava as these efforts will ultimately
satisfy the increasing need for more healthy and nutritious food produced in
environmentally sustainable condition. Pro- vitamin A cassava has the potential
to contribute to improved nutritional status among Nigerian rural poor
households, and to boost improved pest and disease-resistance traits (Mehari et al.,
2015). Though, the exact rate of consumption is not yet certain in Nigeria and the
adoption and consumption rate of the technology is subject to its impact,
profitability, risk associated with it, capital involvement, and socioeconomic
characteristics of farmers in South East and South South Nigeria, adoption and
consumption of the cassava will improve farmers' uptake of vitamin A, thereby
increasing their nutritional and health status which result in the expansion of
the area under cultivation and ultimately increasing their income.
1.10
STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
Nigeria needs a roadmap for sustainable
nutritional balance. As a result, it is necessary to encourage increase
biofortified vitamin A crops and food production in the country by increasing
human knowledge on the essential of this vitamin A mostly to the rural
populace. Vitamin A deficiency is among the most serious problems in third
world countries and the common cause of childhood blindness. According to
Omolase et al (2008), 90 percent of the blind children in the world live in
Asia and Africa where 66.7 percent of children who do not meet their
requirements for vitamin A die from increased vulnerability to infection. In
Nigeria, over 1 million children are blind and another 1.5 million are visually
impaired (Georgina, 2014), mainly due to the deficiency in vitamin A. In
females, deficiency in vitamin A increases risk of death during gestation, as
well as giving birth to children with low weight (HarvestPlus, 2010). According to a National Nutrition survey
conducted from 2001 - 2003, almost 20% of pregnant women and about 30% of
children aged five and below are deficient in vitamin A (Esuma et al,
2012; Egesi et al., 2014).
Data from Delta State (a high cassava
consumption population) found that children consuming cassava as their staple
food are at greater risk for inadequate dietary intake of iron, and vitamin A
than those in affluent families where more options are available (Njoku et al.,
2013). As reported by Ilona et al., (2017), since cassava is a
massively-used and consumed staple food in the country, it was considered a
major means for biofortification to enhance vitamin A content and dietary
intake. The development and distribution of pro vitamin A cassava varieties by
NRCRI, Umudike and IITA, Ibadan under HarvestPlus project needs to be assessed
to know if the target population adopt and consume the cassava and take
advantage of the innovation with the purpose of eradicating vitamin A and iron
deficiencies and improved standard of living of rural poor households in
Nigeria. Obviously, the main solution to this challenge is adoption and steady
consumption of the products by the farmers and rural populace.
However, statistics show that upon
outstanding contributions made by NRCRI, Umudike and IITA, Ibadan to relieve
resource poor farmers, families, households, rural poor and Nigerians from this
problem of vitamin A deficiency, poor yielding during harvesting and Nigeria to
continue to be at top in cassava production all over the world, the adoption
rate of elite cultivars by farmers is about 40% and that is discouraging (Njoku
et al., 2013). Of major concern is the low adoption and consumption
status of pro vitamin A cassava production and poor nutritional information
campaign recorded so far in the rural household Nigeria (NRCRI, 2016).
Previous studies conducted by Agbarevo et al.,
(2019), Ayinde et al, (2017), Ilona et al., (2017), Okonkwo,
(2017), Abdoulaye et al., (2015) and Njoku et al.,
(2013) did not specifically assess the level of adoption and consumption of pro
vitamin A cassava in south-east and south-south Nigeria. However, Onyeneke et al.,
(2018), concentrated only on the pattern of delivery of pro vitamin A cassava
in Nigeria while most of the adoption studies on the technology were conducted
in the South-West Nigeria. More so, recent and ongoing studies by Agricultural
and Research project teams empowered by IITA, Ibadan, (the Cassava Monitoring
Survey in Nigeria, 2017, Africa Cassava Agronomy Initiative, 2018, BASICS,
2017, among others) were targeting on adoption of all the improved cassava
varieties with little or no specific attention to pro vitamin A cassava
varieties. However, the few adoption study already carried out did not cover
all the areas where the pro vitamin A cassava varieties have been disseminated
and transferred in 2012, 2013 and early 2014 (HarvestPlus, 2016).
This research is necessitated by dearth of
information on adoption and consumption rate of pro vitamin A cassava in spite
of breakthrough recorded by NRCRI and IITA in the technology development,
released and transferred in Imo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Delta states eight
years ago. Also low supply recorded in demand for pro vitamin A cassava stems
and products such as pro vitamin A garri,
fufu, flour, tapioca, and value
added products such as bread, boons, cake, doughnuts, chin-chin
and other snacks in the region is of major concern. However, Rogers (2003) and
Ah’ (2013) noted that “getting a new idea adopted or accepted, even when it has
outstanding benefits, is usually very difficult”.
Though, researchers have done some work on
adoption of pro vitamin A cassava varieties especially in the South-west
Nigeria, not much work has been done on assessing the adoption and consumption
of the cassava in South East and South South Nigeria. This study, therefore,
intends to fill these research gaps against the backdrop of Cassava
Transformation Agenda which is the current policy thrust of the Federal
Government of Nigeria meant to serve in the development and utilization of the
cassava products such as garri, fufu, starch, high quality cassava
flour for value added products (cake,
chin-chin, doughnut, bread, boons), sweeteners and fuel ethanol (Egesi et al.,
2014). It is in this regard that the study is conceived.
Some important questions for this research to provide empirical evidence
are outlined below.
1.3 RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
This study was guided
by the following research questions;
i.
What are the selected socio-economic
characteristics of respondentss?
ii.
What is their knowledge of the technological attributes of pro vitamin A
cassava?
iii.
What is the level of adoption of pro vitamin A cassava?
iv.
What is the
level of consumption of Pro-vitamin A cassava products?
v.
How frequent
does farmers consume pro vitamin A cassava products?
vi.
What are the
consumer preference and acceptability of pro vitamin A cassava products?
vii.
What is the level of adoption of farming practices of pro-vitamin A
cassava?
viii.
What are the
factors influencing consumption of pro vitamin A cassava?
ix.
What are the
factors affecting adoption of Pro vitamin A cassava?
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The broad objective
of the study was to analyze the level of adoption and consumption of pro
vitamin A cassava among cassava farmers in south-east and south-south, Nigeria.
The specific objectives of the study are to:
i.
describe the selected socio-economic characteristics
of cassava farmers;
ii.
examine the technological attributes of pro-vitamin A cassava by cassava
farmers;
iii.
determine the levels of adoption of Pro- vitamin
A cassava varieties among cassava farmers;
iv.
determine
the levels of consumption form and usage
of Pro-vitamin A cassava products among cassava farmers;
v.
assess the
frequency of consumption form and usage of pro vitamin A cassava products by cassava farmers;
vi.
assess the consumer preference and acceptability of pro vitamin A
cassava products in the study area;
vii.
determine the level of adoption of farming practices of pro-vitamin A
cassava among cassava farmers;
viii.
determine
the factors influencing consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products among
cassava farmers; and
ix.
determine
the factors affecting adoption of Pro vitamin A cassava among cassava farmers in
the study area.
1.5
HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
In
order to achieve the objectives of the study, the following hypotheses were
tested.
Ho1: The adoption of pro vitamin A cassava varieties
is not influenced by selected socio-economic characteristics of the respondents
in Imo, Anambra, Delta and AkwaIbom States.
Ho2: The consumption form and usage of pro vitamin
A cassava products is not influenced by selected socio-economic characteristics
of the respondents in Imo, Anambra, Delta and AkwaIbom States.
Ho3: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of the
cassava farmers across
the States on the level of adoption
of pro vitamin
A cassava varieties.
Ho4: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of the
cassava farmers across
the States on the rate of
consumption of pro
vitamin A cassava products.
Ho5: There
is no significant relationship between the level of adoption of pro vitamin A
cassava and the technological attributes of the technology among the cassava farmers in the study area.
HO6: There is no significant relationship between
the consumers’ form of consumption and frequency of consumption of pro vitamin
A cassava across the states.
1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE
STUDY
This research focuses on a very important
innovation in research and agricultural development which is adoption and
consumption rate of pro vitamin A cassava. Considering the nutritional
challenges today especially in developing countries, this study delivers to
policy makers an important innovation that is crucial to improving the
agricultural extension and adoption of technologies that drives agricultural
growth and development in general.
Accordingly, the study generated information
on the influence of some selected socio-economic characteristics of the
respondents on adoption and consumption of pro vitamin A cassava in South-East
and South-South Nigeria. The adopters and consumers of the technology are
empowered towards eradicating vitamin A deficiency, improving health,
nutritional status and increase production. It provides useful information for
other farmers about the technological attributes, agronomic practices and
benfits of the technology. As a result, production is highly increased.
Zonal differences on the level of adoption
and consumption of pro vitamin A cassava by respondents in different zones
identified will help agencies that provide intervention in research and
technology development and transfer to take informed decisions. Findings from
this research will spur farmers to adopt, consume and invest more on high
yielding cassava varieties like pro vitamin A cassava for optimum production,
good health, nutritional improvement and economic growth. This optimum
production and nutritional balance will enhance the living standard of the
respondents.
The study will bring
to the knowledge of respondents the importance of pro vitamin A cassava in
alleviating the vitamin A deficiencies in poor rural populations. The
registered farmers and others also benefitted from this study as they were
educated on how to enhance total value chain development of pro vitamin A
cassava in achieving national food security, income generation, gainful
employment and industrial development in the zones.
This study awakens and increases farmers'
frequency of consumption of the products and their consumption preference. The
study identified influential factors to the consumption of pro vitamin A
cassava products among consumers as yellow colour of the cassava, good quality
of the products and health value in terms of nutrition, weight reduction, sound
sight and fertility booster. These factors increased the rate of consumption in
the zones.
The findings of this study was able to
identify the factors affecting farmers adoption of pro vitamin A cassava in the
region and redesign a strategic plan to communicate the technology developers
to educate and carry out training and nutritional campign on the potentials of
the technology in order to boost the adoption and consumption level. It also
exposed extension agents, community leaders, farmers, rural households on the
nutritional and health benefit of the technology.
In fact, this study
added value to the potentials of pro vitamin A cassava and empowered farmers to
increase the production not minding the challenges. The study also generated
data which would be a reference material to future researchers in the field of
pro vitamin A cassava production, processing, storage, utilization and
socio-economics importance and agriculture in general.
1.7 SCOPE OF
THE STUDY
The scope of the study covered the South-east
and South-south Nigeria. Two states (Imo and Anambra) among the five states in
the South-East and two states (AkwaIbom and Delta) among the six states in the
South-South Nigeria were purposively selected because they were among the
states pro vitamin A cassava varieties have been massively disseminated to
farmers. It was delimited to the adoption and consumption of pro vitamin A
cassava in South-East and South-South Nigeria. The study equally as well as,
described the selected socio-economic characteristics of respondents, examined
the technological attributes of pro-vitamin A cassava, determined the levels of
adoption of Pro- vitamin A cassava varieties, determined the levels of
consumption of Pro-vitamin A cassava products, assessed the frequency levels of
consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products, assessed the consumer preference
and acceptability of pro vitamin A cassava products, ascertained the levels of
adoption of improved farming practices of pro-vitamin A cassava determined the
factors influencing consumption of pro vitamin A cassava products and determine
the factors affecting adoption of Pro vitamin A cassava.
1.8 DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Technology
development:
This means discovering, developing and release of an agricultural innovative
such as pro vitamin A cassava for the purpose of meeting the needs and
aspirations of the people and the society.
Diffusion: in this context, diffusion refers to
exchanging, distributing and propagating of pro vitamin A cassava to the
appropriate users through a particular communication.
Adoption: in this context, it is the decision those
farmers in the study area where pro vitamin A cassava varieties have been
disseminated have taken towards accepting and using the cassava.
Consumption: in this study, consumption is the ability to
eat pro vitamin A cassava products in form of garri, fufu, tapioca, cassava
flour and value added products.
Cassava: in this study, cassava is a crop popularly
cultivate in the study area and in a genetically improved level to better the
living standard of cultivators and users.
Improved Cassava
Varieties: here, it
is the development of high yielding cassava aimed at changing the cassava
sub-sector and improving the lives of cultivators and user in Nigeria.
Pro Vitamin
A: this is a substance called B- Carotene encooperated to the Vitamin A.
Pro Vitamin A
Cassava: is a
genetically improved cassava variety containing B-carotene which has the
potential for the alleviation of vitamin A deficiency in low income population
like Nigeria.
HarvestPlus: is part of the world agriculture research
partnership for a food secure future and Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition
and Health improvement.
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