Cassava Processor’s Awareness of Improved Processing Technologies in Oyo State
Abstract
The cassava production is most carried out by smallholder farmers in the rural areas using low-level production techniques which have left them with production of cassava tubers without much value addition. Therefore cassava processors’ awareness of improved processing technologies in Oyo State was investigated. Simple random approach was employed through questionnaire and interviews to collect information from 176 Cassava processors. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, Chi-square were used in data analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Results of analysis revealed that majority (77.2%) of the respondents fell within the age range of 21 years to 50 years with mean age of 41.23 and greater population of females (75.6%) than the males (24.4%). Over 45.5% had secondary and below as their educational qualification with most (75.6%) married, with fairly large household size 4-6 persons. The respondents’ level of awareness of improved processing technologies among most need respondents low (54.5%) and this may accounted for low level of utilization of improved processing technologies among majority (56.8%) of the respondents. Chi-square analysis revealed that, among socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, religion(x2= 6.805, p= 0.033), educational qualification (x2 = 10.572, p= 0.032), mode of processing (x 2 = 14.015, p= 0.001) and mode of Labour (x2=11.960, p=0.003) were significantly related to respondents’ awareness of improved processing technologies. The result revealed clearly that respondents’ awareness of improved processing technologies does not depend on marital status, sex, household size and experience. It is therefore recommended that Government and NGO’s should encourage extension agents by giving them motivation as at when due to improve their services of dissemination of information to the cassava processors on awareness of improved processing technologies toward enhancing higher productivity, income and better standard of living of the respondents in the study area.
