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Research Article
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers
in Oyo State, Nigeria
*1Obi-Egbedi Ogheneruemu and 2Olabamire Oluseun
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Low cassava productivity in Nigeria has been linked to low adoption of modern technologies
amongst farmers, creating a large gap between the current and the potential yield of cassava.
Therefore, this study examined the level of adoption of improved cassava variety (TME 419) and
its drivers among cassava farmers in Oyo state, Nigeria. Data collected from 236 cassava farmers
with the aid of structured questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, adoption
index and logit regression model. Results showed that cassava farmers in Oyo state were 49 years
of age with farming experience of 21 years and farm size of 4 ha. About 69% of surveyed farmers
adopted the improved cassava variety while the adoption coefficient was 0.66. The likelihood of
adopting improved cassava varieties was significantly influenced by education, household size,
primary occupation, farming experience, farm size, land ownership and age. Therefore, increasing
the years of farmers’ education, farm size, ownership of land, entry of younger farmers, household
size and non-farm occupation will increase the likelihood of adopting improved cassava variety
among farmers.
Keywords: Improved varieties, technology adoption, adopters and non-adopters, TME 419, cassava hybrids.
INTRODUCTION
Africa produces over 54% of the world’s cassava and about 10.2 tons (FAO, 2018). Moreover, cassava is a staple
Nigeria is the largest producer, leading with a production of of choice across cultures and social divides in Nigerian
59.4 million metric tons in 2017 (Food and Agriculture households. Almost half of the quantity of tuber produced
Organization - FAO, 2018). The Democratic Republic of is consumed locally as traditional meals (IITA, 2017). Apart
Congo (DRC), Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil follow from its importance to the Nigerian diet, cassava is also an
respectively, as the second to fifth largest cassava important contributor to household income for producing
producing nations globally with 31.6, 31.0, 19.0 and 18.9 households as about 40% of total household income comes
million tons, respectively (see Figure 1). Among Africa’s from cassava (IITA, 2017). On the whole, it is the most
largest producers, after Nigeria and the DRC; Ghana, important crop by production and the second most
Cameroon and Sierra Leone follow respectively, as the important crop by consumption, after rice (IITA, 2012).
third to fifth largest cassava producing nations in the
continent (FAO, 2018). In terms of area harvested of
cassava, Nigeria, the DRC and Thailand maintain the
position of the top three nations of the world with 6.8, 3.9
and 1.34 million ha respectively, while Brazil and Uganda
take the fourth and fifth positions with 1.31 and 1.19 million
ha, respectively (FAO, 2018). In Nigeria, cassava
production occurs mainly in 24 out of the 36 states of the
country with the North Central zone being the largest
producing zone followed by South-South and South West
zones. The South East, North West and North East follow *Corresponding Author: Obi-Egbedi Ogheneruemu,
as the fourth to sixth producing zones in the country Department of Agricultural Economics, University of
(International Institute for Tropical Agriculture – IITA, 2012). Ibadan, Nigeria.
Average yield per hectare over the past 40 years stands at E-mail: gheneobi@gmail.com
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
Obi-Egbedi and Olabamire 727
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 728
improved cassava varieties in Nigeria, using Oyo state as A multi-stage sampling technique of four stages was used
a case study. The specific improved variety assessed in this to select the cassava farmers. The first stage was the
study was TME 419. random selection of three out of the five agro-ecological
zones namely: Ibadan, Okeogun and Oyo zones since
There are currently over 50 improved cassava varieties cassava is cultivated in all the zones. The second stage
released by the National Root Crop Research Institute involved the purposive selection of six LGAs from the agro-
(NRCRI), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ecological zones that are known for cassava production.
(IITA) and other Agricultural Research institutions in Three LGAs were selected out of eleven in Ibadan zone
Nigeria. Some of these include NR8083, NR 208, CR41-10, (Lagelu, Akinyele and Ido), two LGAs out of ten in Okeogun
CR36-5, TME 419, TMS 1980581, TMS 1011412 and TMS (Saki West and Saki East) and one local government out of
1070593. These improved varieties have a number of four local governments in Oyo zone (Afiijo), proportionate
desirable attributes over the traditional varieties planted by to size. In the third stage, two wards were randomly
many smallholder farmers. Some local cassava varieties in selected from each local government making a total of 12
the southern part of Nigeria include Oko iyawo, Onikoko, wards. Finally, a total of 20 cassava farmers were randomly
Tomude, Nwugo, Nwaiwa, Ekpe and Okotorowa. The selected from each ward in the fourth stage, making a total
improved cassava varieties are higher yielding, disease of 240 respondents. However, only 236 were used for the
resistant, often more effective in weed control and have analysis due to incomplete responses from the surveyed
desirable starch content compared with the local varieties. cassava farmers.
Moreover, Muhammed-Lawal et al (2012) in a comparative
study, found higher profitability level for improved cassava The analytical techniques used include; adoption index to
varieties than local varieties. assess the adoption status of cassava farmers and logit
regression model to estimate the determinants of adoption
The TME 419 is one of the many existing improved cassava of the improved cassava variety in the study area.
varieties which was introduced to Nigerian farmers by IITA
in 2005. It is an early maturing variety of nine months. It Adoption was inferred using the actual hectare cultivation
suppresses weeds with its tall stem and branches that form to improved cassava varieties as against the local or
an umbrella shape. It has a high resistance to cassava traditional varieties. Following Saka et al., (2009); Owusu
mosaic disease (CMD) and high dry matter of about 25%. and Donkor (2012), the adoption index is given by:
Compared to the local varieties which give between 2-10 n
tons/ha (Anikwe and Ikenganyia, 2018), it gives a yield of C vi
over 25 tons/ha with 6 to 10 roots per stand which store well v = i =0
n
C
in the soil. The produce can be pounded and has a high
starch content more than other varieties. It is good for food T
i =0 Equation (1)
and its low sugar content makes it a recommended meal
for diabetics. Howbeit, its height makes it susceptible to
falling during heavy breeze and this affects its growth Where 𝛽𝑣 = the adoption level for cassava variety v,
(Bentley et al., 2017). In addition, its high starch content 𝐶𝑣𝑖 = land area grown to cassava variety v by farmer i (i=1,
may not make it a favorite for garri processors, however; 2………...n), and
TME 419 is the preferred variety in all the cassava-using 𝐶𝑇 = total land area grown to cassava by farmer i
factories for other end products other than garri. This
includes products such as high quality cassava flour, edible Logit regression model was employed to determine the
starch and odorless fufu which are in high demand on the factors influencing the adoption of improved cassava
export market. Hence, the variety is becoming popular variety. The logit model is a probabilistic statistical
among many farmers who are either at different stages in classification model which measures the relationship
the adoption process or have actually adopted the variety. between a categorical dependent variable and one or more
independent variables, which are usually (but not
necessarily) continuous, by using probability scores as the
METHODS AND MATERIALS predicted values of the dependent variable.
The functional form of the Logit model is given by Friendly
This study was carried out in Oyo State, Southwestern (1995) as:
Nigeria. The state comprises of thirty-three Local
𝛼+𝛽𝑋𝑖𝑗
Government Areas (LGAs) with total land area of about 𝜋 (𝑋𝑖𝑗 ) =
𝑒
Equation (2)
𝛼+𝛽𝑋𝑖𝑗
28,454 square kilometers and population of 5,591,589 1+𝑒
(National Population Commission – NPC, 2006). Ibadan is
the capital of Oyo state and is the largest indigenous city in This is transformed into the logistic regression model by a
West Africa. Farming is the main occupation of the people linear function of explanatory variables:
and commonly cultivated crops include: cassava, maize
and vegetables, among others.
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
Obi-Egbedi and Olabamire 729
Logit (𝜋𝑖𝑗 ) =𝛼 + 𝛽𝑋𝑖𝑗 Equation (3) 𝛼 = constant term of the regression equation to be
estimated, and
Where 𝛽 = parameters to be estimated.
𝜋𝑖 = adoption decision of farmer i assuming binary form of 𝑋𝑖 = explanatory variables
(1) for adoption and (0) for non-adoption,
𝑋𝑖𝑗 = 𝑗𝑡ℎ predetermined (covariates) household or Hence, following Gujarati and Porter (2009) and Faleye
(2013) the explanatory variables used are described on
technology attributes,
Table 1.
Table 1: Description of variables specified in the model
Variable Description Measurement Expected
number signs
Π Adoption Dummy (Adoption – farmers who cultivate some proportion
of their land to the improved cassava variety = 1, No adoption
- farmers who do not cultivate the improved variety= 0)
X1 Sex Dummy (male = 1, female = 0) +/-
X2 Age Age of cassava farmers in years +/-
X3 Years of education Years of formal education +
X4 Farming experience Years in farming business +
X5 Membership of a farmers’ group Dummy (member = 1, not a member = 0) +
X6 Land ownership Dummy (own land = 1, do not own land = 0) +
X7 Household size Number of household members -
X8 Primary occupation Dummy (farming = 1, non farming = 0) +
X9 Agricultural training Dummy (training = 1, no training = 0) +
X10 Cassava farm size Measured in hectares +/-
X11 Access to extension services Dummy (access = 1, no access = 0) +
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION cassava farming was a male dominated activity in the study
area and agrees with Aromolaran et al, (2017) that male
The description of the cassava farmers’ socioeconomic farmers dominate cassava production. In the same vein,
characteristics in relation to their adoption status are shown majority of the cassava farmers were members of farmer
on Table 2. The results reveal that the age of adopters (48 groups both among adopters (97.53 percent) and non-
years) of the improved cassava variety was significantly adopters (100 percent) of improved cassava varieties. This
lower than that of the non-adopters (52 years), suggesting may have positive implications for adoption of cassava
that younger farmers adopt improved varieties compared to hybrids in the study area. Further, 87.65 percent of the
older farmers. This contradicts Shuaibu (2018); Okoruwa et improved cassava variety adopters and 66.22 percent of
al. (2015) who found that adopters were older than non- the non-adopters own their farms, indicating land
adopters. It is expected that younger farmers would ownership among most of the cassava farmers. This
embrace innovations more easily than older farmers due to agrees with Floro et al, (2017) that most farmers who adopt
better education, access to information and being open to improved varieties own their farms. Similarly, 78.40 percent
new ideas (Rogers, 2003). The years of farming experience of adopters and 90.54 percent of non-adopters engage in
for adopters (19.83 years) was also significantly lower than farming as their primary occupation, suggesting that they
that of non-adopters (24.09 years). This agrees with the may be well disposed to adopting improved cassava
results of. Ojeleye (2018) that TME 419 adopters have a varieties. With respect to agricultural training, all the
mean farming experience of about 20 years. Similarly, adopters of improved variety had received formal
significant differences were found between the mean years agricultural training while 90.54 percent among the non-
of formal education for both groups. Adopters had about 9 adopters had received training. Finally, only 14.20 percent
years of formal education compared to non-adopters with 5 of the adopters and 8.11 percent of the non-adopters had
years. This result is also expected as farmers with more access to extension services. This also agrees with Floro
years of education are more likely to adopt improved et al, (2017) that most farmers do not access extension
cassava varieties than the less educated ones. Conversely, services.
there was no significant difference between the household
size of adopters and non-adopters, with both groups having The adoption level of improved cassava varieties among
a mean household size of about 6 persons. Similarly, there cassava farmers in the study area is shown on Table 3. The
was no significant difference in the farm sizes of the two result showed that a substantial proportion of cassava farm
groups with adopters and non-adopters having a mean land was cultivated to the improved variety with about 64
farm size of about 4 ha. percent of the cassava farmers having an adoption
coefficient greater than 0.6. The mean adoption coefficient
With respect to the binary variables used in the study, the of 0.66 indicates that majority of the farmers have adopted
results reveal that most cassava farmers were male, both the improved cassava variety by cultivating same on about
among adopters (70.99 percent) and non-adopters (81.08 two third of their total farm land. Only about 31 percent of
percent) of improved cassava varieties. This indicates that the farmers did not adopt the improved variety.
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 730
Table 3: Adoption index of improved cassava varieties age of the farmer by one year, decreased the likelihood of
among farmers adopting improved cassava variety by 0.006 percent. This
Adoption coefficients Frequency (%) is expected since technology adoption is easier for younger
0 73 (30.93) farmers than older farmers, who are more risk-averse
0.1 – 0.60 13 (5.50) (Pierpaolia et al., 2013; Rogers, 2003). Education, on the
0.61 – 1.0 150 (63.56) other hand, positively influenced the likelihood of adopting
Total 236 (100) the improved cassava variety and significant at 5 percent
Mean 0.6645 level. Hence, increasing the farmer’s education by an
Standard Deviation 0.4547 additional year of schooling increased the likelihood of
Source: Authors’ computation, 2017 adopting the improved variety by 0.06 percent. This is
expected since a literate farmer would appreciate the
The estimates of the logistic regression model for the benefits of adopting improved cassava varieties than an
determinants of the likelihood of adoption of improved illiterate farmer (Obayelu et al., 2017). Similarly, increasing
cassava variety in the study area are presented on Table 4. farming experience by 1 year increased the likelihood of
The log likelihood of -92.7927 and Chi-square value of adopting improved cassava variety by 0.008 percent. This
96.83, which is statistically significant at 5 percent, suggest is expected as experienced farmers would understand the
that the estimated model is highly significant. The Pseudo need for increased productivity through adopting improved
R2 shows that 34 percent of the variation in farmers’ varieties. Further, the estimated coefficient for membership
decision to adopt the improved cassava variety in the study of farmer group was negatively associated with the
area was collectively explained by the independent likelihood of adopting improved cassava variety implying
variables. that not belonging to a farmers’ association increased the
likelihood of adoption by 0.013 percent. This contradicts the
The result revealed that age, education, farming findings of Asfaw et al, (2011) and Solomon et al. (2014).
experience, membership of farmer’s association, land This may be due to the fact that individual farmers in the
ownership, household size, primary occupation and farm study area, usually make contacts with the research
size, were significant in influencing the adoption of institutions’ sales outlets to procure the hybrid stem
improved cassava varieties. Age was negatively associated cuttings, not via the farmers groups. The estimated
with the likelihood of adopting improved cassava varieties, coefficient of land ownership was positive and statistically
and significant at 1 percent level. Hence, an increase in the significant at 1 percent; implying that ownership of land
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
Obi-Egbedi and Olabamire 731
increased the likelihood of a farmer adopting improved cassava variety and significant at 10 percent level. This is
cassava variety by 0.124 percent. This also agrees with the contrary to expectation and may be due to the fact that
results of Floro et al. (2018) that ownership of land people who are not primarily farmers but invest in cassava
increased the likelihood of a farmer adopting improved farming, do so primarily for the profit incentive. Hence, they
cassava variety. may adopt improved cassava varieties more readily since it
has the potential of boosting their expected profits.
Household size positively influenced the likelihood of Similarly, farm size had a positive influence on the
adopting improved cassava variety and significant at 1 likelihood of adoption and significant at 5 percent.
percent level. Hence, an additional member in the Increasing farm size by 1 ha will increase the likelihood of
household increased the likelihood of farmers’ adopting adopting improved cassava variety by 0.025 percent. This
improved cassava variety by 0.028 percent. This is is expected as farmers with larger farms will be more
expected because a larger household needs more income disposed to cultivating a new variety on some parts of their
and may adopt improved varieties more readily due to its farmlands compared to farmers with very little farmland.
potential of increased income arising from the increased This agrees with the results of Floro et al. (2018) that
yield. The estimated coefficient for primary occupation increasing farm size by will increase the likelihood of
shows that having primary occupation other than farming, adopting improved cassava variety.
was associated with the likelihood of adopting improved
Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria
J. Agric. Econ. Rural Devel. 732
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Drivers of Improved Cassava Variety Adoption among Farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria