Utilization Of Iita/Nrcri Cassava Pulp De-Watering Machine In Rural Communities Of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Cassava-pulp de-watering machine was developed by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Ibadan and National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike to replace manual methods of expressing water from cassava pulps. The technology was introduced to farmers in South eastern Nigeria over two decades ago. This paper seeks to evaluate the use of the technology among farm households in rural communities of South eastern Nigeria. The study was carried out in five states within south east agro-ecological zone. A total of 320 respondents were randomly selected across agricultural zones of each state. Data were collected with structured questionnaires and analyzed with probit model statistic. Result of the analysis showed an R2 value of 0.8974 indicating that 89.74% of variations in use of the machine was explained by the variable considered in this study. Farmers' cosmopoliteness, accessibility of the machine, quantity of cassava processed and processing for market were positively related to use of the machine, while cost of processing and household labour were negatively related to use of the machine. It is therefore recommended that efforts should be made by governments and non-government organizations to enhance accessibility of cassava-pulp de-watering machine to farm households by establishing modern cassava processing centres especially in remote rural communities. Potentiality of the machine for quick de-watering of large quantity of cassava-pulp should be harnessed for development of cassava processing and marketing enterprises.

Keywords: Cassava Pulp De-watering Machine, Rural Communities

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 70-77