Access to Intervention Inputs in Cassava Enterprise and Enterpreneurs’ Socio-Economic Status in South Eastern, Nigeria

Ikwuakam O.T* and Iyela A

 

Research Paper I Published September,2015

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 1 (4), pp.43-52

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Cassava is a very important staple crop around which revolves several other enterprises such as production, processing and marketing enterprises. Given that it has enjoyed resounding patronage and intervention in Nigeria over the years, it is important therefore to ascertain the socio-economic status (SES) of the entrepreneurs in relationship with the interventions. The study examined access to intervention inputs in cassava enterprise (CE) and entrepreneurs’ SES in South-Eastern, Nigeria. Systematic sampling technique was used to select a total of 308 entrepreneurs and information on the respondents’ socio-economic and enterprise characteristics, access to intervention and socio-economic status was collected using interview schedule. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Annual income, age and years of experience in CE were N24965.1±75.59, 55.69±6.792 and 36.78±9.942, respectively. Most respondents were females (77.9%), married (95.8%) and had formal education (67.2%). Access to intervention inputs by producers (60%), marketers (87.4%) and processors (67.4%) was high while SES for marketers (162.8±3.1), producers (161.0±7.2) and processors (159.7±8.8) were essentially moderate. Access to intervention inputs by producers’ (r = 0.075 p = 0.386), processors’ (r = 0.188 p = 0.084) and marketers’ (r = 0.238 p = 0.451) did not significantly increase entrepreneurs’ SES. It is concluded that entrepreneurs’ level of access to intervention inputs did not influence their SES.

Key Words: Cassava Enterprises, Producers, Processors, Marketers, Socio-Economic Status, Access to Intervention.
 

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