Gender participation in cassava processing and degree of commercialization of cassava products in Imo state

Abstract

This study analyzed gender participation in cassava processing and degree of commercialization of cassava products. Data were collected with structured questionnaire from 60 randomly selected cassava processing households from the three agricultural zones of Imo State, and analyzed using means, percentages, likert type scale, frequency distribution and bivariate regression model. Women provided the bulk of labor in cassava processing and the level of participation of men in cassava processing activities was low. Gari had the highest degree of commercialization among the cassava products, and the major factors constraining cassava products commercialization were tedious processing methods and low producer prices. There was a positive relationship between participation level of households in cassava processing activities and degree of commercialization of cassava products. Output of processing households and product commercialization would increase if labor saving technologies were developed through research for the most tedious processing activities.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 356-361