Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the economics of cassava processing into garri and
pellets in Kogi State. Data were collected from 100 cassava processors (22 males and 78
females) and analysed to describe socio-economic characteristics, identify and describe
various technologies used in cassava processing, ascertain gender roles, estimate the
influence of socio-economic characteristics on income of processors, determine profitability
and identify constraints militating against the processors of cassava in the study area. Multistage
random sampling techniques were employed in the selection of local government areas,
communities and processors on who structured questionnaires were administered. Descriptive
statistics, gross margin, rate of return on investment and multiple regressions were used for
analysis.
Results shows that majority of the processing fell within the middle age group (31 -
50 years) with an average years of processing experience of 22 years; mostly women with an
average of 8 persons per household and 7 years of schooling. Traditional technologies were
employed by the cassava processors with low level of men's involvement relative to high
involvement of women in cassava processing activities. Six out of nine explanatory variables
were significantly related to income. These include; age, gender, education, experience,
access to credit and number of labourers in the cassava processing enterprise. Processing
cassava into garri and pellets were profitable, although processing cassava into garri was
more profitable with gross margin of 22,700 and profitable index (PI) of 0.04 than pellets
with gross margin of 13,100 with profitable index (PI) of 0.33. The major constraints facing
the cassava processors in the study area include: poor storage facilities, high cost of
processing inputs, poor road network for the transportation, bulkiness of fresh tubers,
unstable weather and shortage of labour. The study therefore recommended that improved
cassava processing technologies should be made available to the processors to enhance
productivity and acceptability of their products, capacity building of the cassava processors
for their improved profitability in the cassava processing enterprise, regular visits by
agricultural extension agents for quick adoption of improved cassava processing
technologies, stabilization of prices of agricultural commodities through the provision of a
functional marketing channel and provision of storage facilities with good road network for
improved production.
