Women’s Involvement in Cassava Value Chain Activities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate women’s involvement in cassava value chain activities in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the major value chain activities in the study area; investigate the value chain activities participated by women in the area; identify the constraints affecting effective involvement of women in cassava value chain in the area; and evaluate possible suggestions to improve effective involvement of women in cassava value chain activities in the area. Multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques were adopted to select 216 respondents for the study. The result revealed that the major cassava value chain activities in the area were processing ( =3.07), marketing ( =2.92), production ( =2.87) and packaging ( =1.86). The findings of this research also indicated that women participate more in cassava processing ( =1.94), rank=1st), followed by production ( =1.85). The respondents indicated that lack of adequate production and processing tools ( =3.81), poor access to land ( =3.78) and lack of financial support ( =3.72), as the three most critical constraints affecting effective involvement of women in cassava value chain activities in the study area. The respondents’ suggestion to improve their involvement in cassava value chain activities revealed that financial support, ease of transportation and access to improved cassava cuttings, with means of 3.79, 3,78 and 3.63, respective, were the most rated factors. The study concluded that women in Akpabuyo local government area are significant actors in the country’s agricultural sector, particularly the cassava sub-sector, and as a result, food security. Thus, it was recommended that value chain actors and promoters should make credit facilities available to women in order to encourage their effective involvement in cassava value chain activities in the area, among others.