Effect of Value Addition on Farm Income of Sweet Potato Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of value addition on farm income of sweet potato-based farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 145 respondents. Structured questionnaire coupled with interview schedule were used to collect primary data. Multiple regression was used to analyse the effect of different value addition activities on income received from sweet potatoes. Also, marginal effects were obtained to analyse the effect of each independent variable separately on income. Findings revealed that farmers who engaged in value adding activities had higher income than those that sell at farm gate. In addition, farmer marketing groups had a stronger bargaining power in the market compared to farmers selling individually. The major factors influencing farm income of sweet potato based farmers are; access to trainings, family size, farm size and the stages of value addition. The ministry of agriculture through the ADPs should work more closely with the research and training institutes in the country to sensitize farmers on the need to form more farmer groups or join the different developmental programmes of government. Through these groups, useful information about trainings on new vine varieties, value addition, prices and limitless market opportunities are disseminated.

Keywords: Value addition, income from sweet potato