Abstract

The research work titled “Constraints and Opportunities of Cassava Production in Muyuka Sub-Division” was set to find out the constraints faced by farmers and the opportunities of cassava production in the Muyuka Sub-Division.

The specific objectives of the study were to identify the production processing and distribution methods of cassava, to examine the socio-economic importance of cassava production in the population of Muyuka. To propose the appropriate measures to these constraints that will improve productivity in Muyuka.

The research Methodology combines both primary and secondary sources to obtain relevant data. Collected data were analyzed using statistical techniques to test the hypothesis. The main finding of the study reveals that 80% of the cassavas farmers are women while 20% are men.

It was observed that cassava cultivation faces some challenges such as inadequate land, poor farm-to-market roads, insufficient grinding mills, poor processing methods, and poor hygienic condition during processing among others. Cassava production is a source of income to the farmers and revenue to the state as well as a source of employment.

Due to the challenges faced in the cultivation and marketing of cassava, it has reduced the rate of cultivation and quantity produced. The cassava has been transforming into garri, water fufu, and others. In order to ensure effective cassava production, there is a need for farmers to come together as one, form initiative groups, and cooperate so as to seek solutions and assistance of stakeholders on better ways of cultivation, and also improve on cutting.

The government should also provide good processing plants and should also develop good farm-to-market roads. It was concluded that cassava production has transformed many families, lives today because many cassava farmers sponsor their children through school, build houses, acquire lands, and other investments from the income of cassava.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Cassava also called Manioc Esculenta is one of the most important crops in the humid tropics being particularly suited to condition of low nutrient availability and can also survive drought (Amungwa, Njualem, Muluh, 2010).

The cassava originated in Latin America. It has an average height of 1 meter and has a palmate leaf formation. Cassavas belongs to a family of Rubber plants with white latex. (Burrel, 2003). Cassava produces bulky storage roots with a heavy concentration of carbon dioxide of about 80%.

The shoot grows into leaves that constitute a good vegetable rich in protein, vegetables, and minerals. The biochemistry of the crop indicates that the proteins embedded in leaves are equal to the quantity of protein of an egg thereby producing a balanced diet, protecting millions of Africa children against malnutrition in the case where the root and shoots are properly processed (FA0, 2004).

Compared to other crops, cassava excels under sub optimal conditions, offering the possibility of using marginal land to increase total agricultural production (Cock, 1982). It is a food crop that is cultivated in the tropics and constitutes a source of calories after rice and maize (Ugwu, 1996).

Millions of people depend on cassava in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Cassava is cultivated in the tropic because of its growth season of 8-24 months which makes limited to tropics and subtropics (Burrel, 2003).

In addition, it often grows across a broad range of agro-climate conditions from sea level to almost 200 meters in Indonesia and in areas with little rainfall of about 500mm to areas of tropical rainfall. Plant breeders, agronomist, and recently molecular biologist have made substantial improvement in cassava yield during the last two decades, while genetic characterization and mapping has revealed some insight into the molecular nature of cassava (Tanukari et al. 1997).

Cassava contributes an important part of the diet for more than half a billion people and provides a livelihood for millions of farmers, traders and processors worldwide. Almost 60% of Cassava production is concentrated in Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (FAO, 2001).

The smallest proportion of output (30%) is in the form of starch and flour for processing and industrial use while 30% is traded fresh. The greater proportion (70%) is exploited and traded as chips and pellets (Latham, 1979). More than two third of the total production of cassava is used as food for humans with lesser amount being used for animal feed (Nwokoro, et al. 2002).

Globally, Thailand is the most dominant supplier of cassava production in the world market with over 8% on a global basis. More than the cassava 55% of the root product is consumed as food and other are used for animal feed production (Nwokoro, et al. 2002).

The production of cassava has several characteristics in the tropics such as high carbohydrate yield per unit of land, its adaptation to poor soil, (Low PH), and its ability to withstand a dry period for up to five months and can be grown by small scale farmers.

In Africa, Cassava was introduced by Portuguese traders from Brazil in the 16th Century (Okigbo, 1980). In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest consumer of Cassava, followed by Nigeria.

About 90% of Cassava produced is used as food, while in Thailand, about 90% of Cassava produced is exported. In Indonesia, half of the cassava produced is used as food and only about 27% is exported.

Global production of cassava is about 0.1% in Africa 9%, in Asia, and 10% in America (FAO, 2004). China, cassava, and yam occupy an important position in the agricultural economy and contribute to about 46% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (FAO, 2004).

Neba (1981), observed that cassava grows everywhere under hot and humid climates and is mostly carried out in the Southern part of Cameroon especially in the Littoral, South, Centre, and South West Region.

In Africa, Nigeria processes the highest amount of Cassava while Rwanda produces the lowest amount. Nigeria produces about 54 million tones while Rwanda produces about 2.7 million tones. In the context of Cameroon, the country is ranked the 16th Country in terms of Cassava production with about 4.3 million tonnes, (FAO, 2002).

Also, Cassava is mostly grown by poor farmers with the majority being women on the marginal lands due to land tenure systems (Agwu et al. 2006). In Muyuka, the farmers and their families are those involved in the cultivation of cassava which is a source of income generation and food security. The cassava peelings leave and dried sieved parts are used in feeding goats, pigs, and fowls.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Several constraints are faced by farmers in Muyuka in relation to cassava production. These include low-yielding species, pests, and diseases.

Post-harvest losses, limited farm size, poor processing method accessibility problem, the use of crude tools, a poor hygienic condition during processing low level of technology during processing, modern processing machines such as grinding machine amongst others.

More so, farmers faced some constraints such as pests and diseases that affect cassava production. The pest includes mealybug Planococcus, grasshopper, and cassava green mite, and diseases such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown stick disease, all this has affected cassava production. Farmer faced limited access to the credit union this constraint has limited the cassava yields.

The use of crude tools has limited cassava cultivation from a large scale to rather a small scale and this has equally made it difficult for farmers to produce at a large scale that could permit them to make high profit.

Furthermore, limited access to the credit facilities and farmers cooperatives in Muyuka is also a constraint to the production of cassava because farmers need money as loans from the credit Union to pay their workers and also to sponsor the process of transforming the cassava in to a variety of products.

Also the absence of a cooperative makes the rendering of financial assistance to farmers, the provision of tools, the training of farmers on the management of the farms, and fertilizers to improve the soil fertility.

The inadequacy of cassava processing equipment such as grinding machine used to grind cassava is limited in Muyuka some quarters have only a single grinding machine and also when the machine gets bad it makes it difficult to grind cassava as will make processing difficult. More so the machines cannot grind large quantities at a time which makes processing difficult.

There is the problem of limited farm sizes due to the land tenure system and infrastructural development which have limited the land. All these constraints have affected cassava production.

1.3 Research Questions

This study is guided by the following questions

1. How cassava is cultivated, processed, and marketed?
2. What are the socio-economic impacts of cassava production in the Muyuka Area?
3. What are the constraints faced in the production of cassava?
4. What can be done to enhance the cultivation processing and marketing of cassava products at a large scale in the area?

1.4 Research Objective

The main objective is to find out if the constraints faced by cassava farmers and the opportunities of cassava production in the Muyuka Sub-division. The specific objectives are:

1. To identify the production, processing, and distribution methods of cassava in Muyuka.
2. To examine the socio-economic importance of cassava production in the population of Muyuka.
3. To identify the constraints in production and opportunities of cassava.
4. To propose the appropriate measures to these constraints that will improve productivity in the Muyuka area.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The challenges to cassava cultivation in Muyuka are more anthropogenic than natural.