Determinants of sweet potato value addition among smallholder farming households in Kwara state, Nigeria

Abstract

Sweet potato is an important food security promoted crop in Nigeria. The recognition of its relative health benefits has resulted in fresh consumption as well as the utilization of processed products such as sweet potato chips, fries and pre-cut, flour, and pureed sweet potatoes. This study examined the determinants of sweet potato value addition among smallholder farmers in Kwara. A multi-stage sampling techniques was used to obtain information from 163 small holder farmers in Offa and Oyun local government areas of Kwara state. Descriptive statistics and Heckman two-stage model were used to analyse the data. The results indicate that 44% of the respondents were involved mainly in slicing and sun-drying; 39% took part in slicing, sun-drying and grinding into flour, while the main value adding activity of 15% of them was slicing and frying into chips. The results of the Heckman two-stage model showed that training and quantity of sweet potato harvested significantly increased farmers' decision to add value by 0.494 units and 0.003 units respectively. Furthermore, membership of association extension visits and access to credit significantly increased farmers' level of value addition to sweet potato by 1.301units, 0.821 units and 15.350 units respectively. Also, household size decreased the level of value addition by 2.174 units. For sweet potato farmers to be fully involved in value addition of their produce, loan packages, increase in extension outreaches, training and sensitization on birth control measures are necessary policy options.

Farm-Level Value Addition among Small-scale Mango Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya

“…The credible explanation of this is that training on value addition brings a considerable impact on the participants in terms of the extent of perceived knowledge and acquisition of the skills on value addition activities. These findings concur with those of Adeyonu et al (2016), that training on value addition significantly increases the farmer's decision to add value to sweet potatoes.…”

“…In addition, farmers practice value addition majorly in groups since this provides for mobilizing capital for easy purchase of value addition equipment. Further farmers in groups easily exchange ideas about making various products thus enhancing value addition (Adeyonu, Ajala, Adigun, Ajiboye, and Gbotosho, 2016). The table also shows results on various preferred markets by the small-scale farmers for the sale of their products.…”

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

“…The study was conducted in Kwara State, Nigeria. The state is located within the North Central zone of Nigeria, sharing boundary with Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kogi and Niger State in Nigeria and an international border with the Republic of Benin along its north-western part (Adeyonu et al, 2016) The state which lies between latitudes 7° 45ˈN and 9° 30ˈN and longitudes 2° 30ˈE and 6° 25ˈE has two distinct seasons (the wet and dry seasons). Kwara state has sixteen (16) local government areas (LGAs) and is primarily agrarian with a vast arable land and rich fertile soils.…”

Gender differentials in value addition and lean season market participation in the grasshopper value chain in Uganda

“…Based on previous studies (Donkor et al, 2018;Musyoka et al, 2020, Adeyonu et al, 2017, we expect institutional factors such as membership of an association and the use of credit to be positively correlated with women's and men's participation in value addition and the lean season market. Membership of association was found to positively influence participation in value addition among cassava (Donkor et al, 2018) and sweet potato farmers in Nigeria (Adeyonu et al, 2017). Associations through collective action can provide members with financial support and relevant information related to value addition (Donkor et al, 2018;Adeyonu et al, 2017).…”