ANALYSIS OF INCOME DIVERSIFICATION AMONG CASSAVA PROCESSORS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Over the years, agriculture had remained the largest industry where the Nigerian labour force is highly concentrated. In recent times, cassava is becoming the most popular crop creating jobs and feeding the populace, especially with its commonest product (Gari). As a result of cassava potentials, with Gari being the leading product and the poverty observed among its processors in Ondo State, it becomes imperative to go into this research work titled “Analysis of Income Diversification among Cassava (Gari) Processors in Ondo State, Nigeria.” Multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from one hundred and twenty (120) respondents. Relevant information was obtained from the field using structured questionnaire and analyzed using tools such as: descriptive statistics, Diversification index and Tobit regression model. The study revealed that 54% of the respondents were between the age group of 41-50 years. Over 78% of the population was married. The results further revealed that cassava processing was to reasonable extent in the hands of secondary school leavers constituting 49.2% of the total population. Only 9.2% went beyond secondary school level. These are more likely to diversify income than the rest due to their higher educational skills and exposure to better training. All the respondents ventured into other income earning activities so as to better their standard living. The mean household size was 6 persons. About 65% of the respondents were not likely to enjoy the benefits derivable from associations. Above 72% of the respondents do not have personal processing facilities but depended on others that have for their processing activities. All the cassava processors used a combination of methods (local, full mechanized or semi mechanized) to process their cassava. Many of the respondents (55.8%) had been in the system for more than ten years, while the mean years of processing experience was 13years. The Tobit regression model result revealed that out of the eight variables (age, sex, educational status, processing experience, marital status, household size, income generated from cassava processing and membership of associations), five were statistically significant. Sex, educational status and membership of cooperative society were statistically significant at 1% probability level, while marital status and income generated from cassava processing were statistically significant at 5% probability level. Income diversification is very important and inevitable as discovered among the cassava processors in the study area. Therefore to make income diversification easier for the cassava processors, it is recommended that Government and Non-Governmental Oganization (NGOs) should work together to: provide good educational programmes for the cassava processors, sensitize the establishment of cooperative societies and the benefit derivable. Rehabilitation of rural roads and other infrastructures should be taken important by the Government and communities.