Assessment of Women's Participation in Cassava Processing in Anambra State, South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Cassava is a major staple crop in Nigeria, and women play a dominant role in its processing, which is critical for food security, income generation, and rural development. Despite their significant involvement, women face challenges, including limited access to credit, modern equipment, and markets. This study assessed women's participation in cassava processing in Anambra State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents across four Local Government Areas. Data were collected on socioeconomic characteristics, processing activities, products obtained, income generation, and constraints, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and exponential regression. Results showed that cassava processing is largely driven by middle-aged married women with an average of 14.6 years of experience. Gari was the most processed product (75.8%), followed by fufu (61.7%) and tapioca (58.3%). Women generated an average monthly income of ₦181,962.50, with a net return of ₦7,727,092.07 and a profitability index of 1.97, confirming cassava processing as economically viable. The exponential regression model (R² = 0.737, F = 30.49, p < 0.01) revealed that women’s participation level, access to credit, cooperative membership, and income from other sources significantly influence earnings, while marital status showed a significant negative effect. Major challenges included lack of modern equipment (mean = 4.2), insufficient capital (mean = 4.1), poor market access (mean = 4.1), and high transportation costs (mean = 4.1). The study rejects the null hypothesis that women’s involvement has no significant influence on income generation. Enhancing women’s access to credit, training, cooperatives, and modern technologies is recommended to strengthen women's economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, and sustainable agricultural development.