Abstract:
This study assessed the contribution of cassava value addition on incomes of farm households in Nyero sub-county, Kumi district. A total of 98 respondents were sampled through multi-stage random sampling technique. Primary data were collected from the respondents with structured questionnaire. Data generated were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics such as percentage, frequency counts and graphs. The result showed that the major cassava value addition mechanisms used were sun drying (67.91%), milling flour (22.39%), baking pancakes (8.21%) and frying chips (1.49%). The gross margin analysis results showed that equal quantities of 300kgs of raw cassava tubers processed to different cassava products earned gross profits i.e. fired cassava chips yielded (Ugs 222166.67) followed by milling cassava flour (Ugs128566.66), followed by drying cassava chips (Ugs 71042.1) and finally baking pancakes (Ugs 11250) respectively. However, the major challenges to cassava value addition were low prices of cassava products (26.56%), limited storage facilities (20.60%), limited processing facilities (11.11%), high taxes (9.49%), poor transport network (8.67), limited access to credit facilities (8.40%), limited knowledge on cassava value addition mechanisms (7.86%). It was concluded that cassava value addition has positive influence on the income generation of farm households in the study area.
Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that the households should be focus on investing on improved sun drying equipment such as upgrading from cow dung slabs to using tarpaulins, and constructing concrete slabs to produce high quality dry cassava chips that can fetch much revenue. Furthermore, farmers should invest much in planting the sweet cassava varieties because these varieties fetch more revenue when sold in tuber form than the bitter varieties, also they should invest more in drying and milling cassava because they are the common products in the market and have high potential to generate much revenue. It was also recommended that value addition to cassava should be prioritized and emphasized in order to get products of high value that earn much returns. Extension services on value addition to cassava and interventions such as the use of silos, pic bags and planting modern cassava processing facilities should be disseminated to the farmers to preserve cassava products and increase on the products shelf live.
