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The study investigated the effectiveness of agricultural technologies and constraint on cassava farming in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. One hundred and forty-eight well-structured questionnaires were used for this study to obtain data for this study from five selected villages. Data obtained were analyzed using percentage and Chi-Square to compare the significance among the variables in this study. The results showed that Cassava production was dominated by males (51.4%) as against females (48.6%), an active age group of 41-50 years (56.7%), more of married people (88.5%) to unmarried (2.7%). The study area was characterized with an average level of secondary education (54.7%), There was no significant relationship between the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and agricultural technologies used. This research hereby recommended that the government should make available agricultural technologies to the farmers and they should be aware of the technologies through the extension agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed that marketing capability is a critical component of market orientation. As such, knowledge of intelligence and competitive strategy, aspects of market capability obtained through training is essential for market orientation. Cross-sectional survey was used. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analysed using the structural equation model (SEM). The structural model and path estimates indicate that all the constructs intervene in food security, implying that a systemic approach rather than individual strength can help achieve food security. The study's findings support the perspective that marketing capabilities have spill-over effects that improve market orientation and food security performance. Therefore, BoP producers through training can generate significant marketing capabilities that can improve the food market. It highlights the importance of producers adopting a market-oriented approach. The study recommended a multi-stakeholder engagement model toward integrating biofortification into public and private policies and programmes. This would encourage investment and continuous training of producers on how to improve communication and customer relationship management to stimulate consumption and supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has remained a major source of food security and income generation for most developing countries including Tanzania due to its ability to drought and disease resistance. At present, its production in Tanzania stands at 630,000 tons while the country's market demand is expected to grow at 7% by 2026. Therefore, this study assessed the contribution of cassava production and marketing on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Tanzania particularly in the Dodoma region, so as to explore its potential contributions to the society welfare. A cross-sectional research design was employed whereby a multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting a sample of 240 cassava smallholder farmers from four districts in the Dodoma region namely Kondoa, Chemba, Kongwa, and Mpwapwa. Quantitative data were collected through self-administered structured questionnaires and focus group discussion, interview and observation methods also were used in collecting qualitative data from the study area. Content analysis was used in analyzing qualitative data. A binary logistic regression model was employed to estimate the contribution of cassava production and marketing on smallholder farmers' livelihoods in the region. The findings from the study indicated that family size, farmers' experience, land size, education, number of visits by extension, and market access statistically were significant with showed a positive relationship with the improvement in the livelihood of farmers in the selected districts. On the other hand, transportation costs showed a negative relation with the improvement of farmers' livelihood. Generally, it can be concluded that an increase in production and improvement in marketing variables could contribute much to the improvement of smallholder farmers' livelihood. Based on these findings, it is recommended that Ministries responsible for cassava production and marketing which included the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade focus more on the design, promotion, and implementation of policies and programs that are intended to enhance cassava production in rural areas and increase the provision of best farming practices through employing more extension officers.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava is one of the local food sources that are widely available in almost every region. Cuttings are used to plant cassava, and these cuttings will produce a number of roots and buds. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cuttings slices model and the number of buds on the growth of Tobelo local varieties of cassava. This study employed a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD), with the cuttings slices model as the first factor, consisting of three levels, namely: flat slice, one-sided slice and two-sided slice. The second factor is the number of buds, which is divided into three levels, 1 bud, 2 buds and 3 buds. The observation parameters in this study include plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area. The results have revealed that the model of two-sided sliced cuttings combined with the number of one bud is the most effective treatment in improving the growth of cassava plants of Tobelo local varieties. The models of one-sided and two-sided oblique cuttings slices yield the highest average value for the parameters of plant height, stem diameter and leaf area, while the treatment with one bud tends to give the best results for the growth parameters.

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), caused by Sri Lankan cassava mosaic virus (SLCMV), was first detected in Tay Ninh province in the southeast region of Vietnam in 2017 and is an emerging threat for cassava production in Vietnam. This study was conducted to characterize the causal agent of CMD in Nghe An province in the north-central region of Vietnam, which is more than 1,200 km away from Tay Ninh province. Genetic relationships between SLCMV isolates indicated that both DNA-A and DNA-B sequences from Nghe An province were identical with the isolates from Tay Ninh province and were highly homologous (>99.7%) with isolates from Cambodia, Thailand and China. This study confirms the gradual spread of SLCMV in Vietnam as an emerging threat to cassava production. In addition, the outcome of this study could help in the timely enforcement of effective management strategies for the cassava mosaic disease in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of the article – to assess the technical efficiency of climate adaptation practices on cassava production in two different agro-ecological zones within the study area to know where the climate adaptation practices are more productive. To achieve the main objective of the study, the specific objectives were stated as follows: (a) describe relevant socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers in southwestern region of Nigeria; (b) assess the influence of the used climate change adaptation strategies on technical efficiency of cassava production in both agro-ecological zones. Methodology / approach. The study was carried out in Ekiti, Osun and Oyo State in the southwestern region of Nigeria, where two different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) (rain forest and guinea savannah) were chosen for the study. The study used multi-stage sampling procedures, with well-structured questionnaire, to select 150 cassava producers from each AEZ, making a total of 300 cassava producers for the study. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. Results. From the study, it was revealed that cassava farmers in the study area were relatively young, fairly educated, mostly married, well experienced, adequately aware of climate change, but operated on a small scale. The result on the influence of climate adaptation strategies on technical efficiency of cassava production in both rain forest and savannah AEZs within the study area revealed that technical inefficiency existed in cassava production as confirmed by the gamma values of 0.687 and 0.639 in rain forest and savannah respectively Originality / scientific novelty. The study has really revealed diverse climate adaptation options available to cassava farmers in order to sustain its production as a means of employment to the unemployed, food consumption and contribution to the national gross domestic product. Studies comparing climate adaptation practices on the technical efficiency of cassava production in different agro-ecological zones in southwestern part of Nigeria are relatively scarce considering the mixture of socio-economic and climate variables to assess technical efficiency of cassava production. Practical value / implications. The study has succeeded in identifying key factors that will enables policy makers to formulate a sustained policy framework that would encourage the use of multiple climate adaptation practices by the cassava farmers. To ensure sustainability of cassava production, it is therefore recommended that farmers should use different adaptation strategies to climate change e.g crop diversification, multiple planting dates, land fragmentation, use of improved varieties and off farm income activities that would bring increase in their scale of operation as most of the cassava farmers in the study areas cultivated less than 2 hectares of land for cassava production.

One of the key hindrances to agricultural advancement is the wide gender gap in agricultural productivity. This study focused on gender dynamics in cassava production towards resource empowerment among farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of involvement of cassava farmers based on gender and to determine the empowerment status and gender parity of women and men cassava farmers. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected 245 cassava farmers made up of 68 adult male, 58 adult female, 61 youth male and 58 youth female cassava farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and empowerment in agriculture index. Both genders were highly involved in cassava farming. However, results further showed that adult males and females were more involved (... = 2.28 and ...=2.3) than the youth male and female cassava farmers (...=2.18 and ...=2.07 respectively). The disempowered headcount ratio was 60.3% for women as against 40.5% for men. This can be attributed to a number of indicators and domains of the 5DE sub-index in which women were considerably disadvantaged. The average adequacy score reveals that men achieved adequacy in 64% of dimensions of 5DE, while the 5DE adequacy score was 53% for women. The 5DE disempowerment index disaggregated by gender establishes that the domain of production and control over resources were the major contributors to the disempowerment index for both women and men. Within the domain of the resources, the combined influence of ownership of assets and access to credit and associated decisions contributed 26.86 and 31.52 % respectively to women and men disempowerment. Formulation of policies, planning and preparation of projects/programmes that would encourage gender sensitivity on cassava production by relevant agencies is advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a vital crop in Rwanda where it ranks as the third most consumed staple. However, cassava productivity remains below its yield potential due to several constraints, including important viral diseases, such as cassava brown streak disease (CBSD). Because various factors can be addressed to mitigate the impact of viral diseases, it is essential to identify routes of virus contamination in the cassava agrosystems from the seed system to farmer's practices and knowledge. The present study aimed at (1) assessing the current cassava seed system and farmers' practices and their knowledge of the biotic constraints to cassava production, (2) determining the status of CBSD as well as critical factors associated with its spread through the seed system channels, and (3) determining factors that influence cassava productivity in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was carried out from May to September 2019 in 13 districts of Rwanda. A total of 130 farmers and cassava fields were visited, and the incidence and severity of CBSD were evaluated. CBSD was detected in all cassava-producing districts. The highest field incidence of CBSD was recorded in the Nyanza district (62%; 95% CI = 56–67%) followed by the Bugesera district (60%; 95% CI = 54–65%), which recorded the highest severity score of 3.0 ± 0.6. RT-PCR revealed the presence of CBSD at the rate of 35.3%. Ugandan cassava brown streak virus was predominant (21.5%) although cassava brown streak virus was 4% and mixed infection was 10%. An informal cassava seed system was dominant among individual farmers, whereas most cooperatives used quality seeds. Cassava production was found to be significantly influenced by the use of fertilizer, size of the land, farming system, cassava viral disease, and type of cassava varieties grown (p < 0.001). Disease management measures were practiced by a half of participants only. Factors found to be significantly associated with CBSD infection (p < 0.05) were the source of cuttings, proximity to borders, age of cassava, and knowledge of CBSD transmission and management.

To enrich agriculture reform and reap its benefits, policy makers need to localise policy issues within and across their domestic zones. Using a stochastic meta-frontier function, this study analysed the production efficiency of the cassava subsector of cassava growers from Bomi and Nimba counties in Liberia. The paper contributes to the domestication of agriculture policy issues within a country. The study found different scales of production returns for cassava growers in Bomi and Nimba counties. Farmer age, gender, household size and access to credit were key determinants of the technical gap ratio of the cassava subsector. The study recommends that relevant stakeholders (in a multistakeholder partnership) design a holistic approach of innovative finance (including microfinance, agriculture insurance and a grouped loan scheme) and social enterprise development that will encourage more women and young people to grow cassava efficiently for the higher productivity of the cassava subsector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to measure farmers’ perceptions on climate variations, and examine the effects of such variations on cassava production in Ghana. Using a three-stage sampling technique involving cluster, stratified, and simple random sampling techniques, structured questionnaires were administered to 252 smallholder cassava farmers in the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region, Ghana. This was supplemented with focus group discussion sessions with male and female cassava farmers for the purpose of triangulating the quantitative and qualitative data. The study showed an overwhelming 98% of respondents, comprising 57% males, and 43% females, acknowledging to have noticed changes in the weather patterns over the last 30 years. While 85% of respondents said rainfall was decreasing, 75% said the rains did not come at the expected time, with 58% of them saying reduced rainy periods were the noticeable changes. Respondents attributed the changes in weather patterns to environmental degradation (72%), natural phenomenon (15%), and punishment by God (1%). Majority of them (97%) said they had suffered from decreasing yields in cassava as a result of seasonal variations in temperature and rainfall. The paper makes a strong case for activities that will bridge the knowledge-and-skill gap between male and female farmers.

This study analyzed the compound growth rate (CGR) and the contributions of yield and area to cassava production output in Nigeria. During the period, TE1970 – TE2018, production followed an upward trajectory from 9.3 million tonnes (1970) to 59.5 million tonnes (2018) while yield oscillated between 7.9tonnes/ha (TE2014) and 11.9tonnes/ha (TE2010). At this period, the CGR per year for yield declined (-0.2%), harvested area increased (10.9%) and production increased (10.6%). The decomposition analysis for the period revealed that, increase in output was largely due to expansion of harvested area (152%) while the interaction between area and yield effect declined production output by 45.8%. Regrettably, during the period, cassava yield also declined production output by 5.8%. The study also found that harvested area has the highest instability index (11.8). In order to further increase and sustain cassava production in Nigeria, intense planting of high yield cassava stems instead of solely expanding cropped area is recommended.

A study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to evaluate the growth and yield of four improved cassava varieties, determine their optimum NPK fertilizer rate and the best modes of fertilizer application for increased productivity. The experiment was factorial laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Four varieties of cassava, four fertilizer rates and three modes of fertilizer application were used for the study. The early planting had higher survival count, number of leaves, tuber and garri yield when compared with late planting. The variety TMS 98 05 05 gave significantly (p< 0.05) higher number of leaves, tuber and garri yields of 39.8 and 9.68 t/ha, respectively, at 12 months. At 6 months of crop growth, 200 kg/ha fertilizer application rate gave significantly higher tuber and garri yield of 24.69 t/ha and 5.15 t/ha, respectively. Furthermore, 400 kg/ha of NPK fertilizer rate gave higher tuber and garri yields of 39.4 and 10.12 t/ha, respectively at 12 months of crop growth. Split application of fertilizer gave significantly higher tuber and garri yield from single application, though it is statistically similar to split-split application. Therefore, early planting, 400 kg/ha fertilizer rate and split application should be adopted for cassava production. The variety TMS 98 05 05 with higher growth and yield should also be adopted by farmers for cassava production in Nsukka derived savannah agro-ecology.

The study empirically examines the production efficiency of cassava farmers in Delta State, Nigeria, using stochastic frontier analysis. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 farmers. The result showed that 68.3% of cassava farmers fell within the age range of 40-59 years, majority (63.3%) of them were females, 69.2% had formal education, 51.7% had 6-10 years farming experience, 62.5% had household size of 6-10 persons, 70% did not belong to cooperative society, 88.3% of them had farm size between 0.1-0.9 ha, 76.7% did not have access to credit and 74.2% also did not have extension contact. A mean technical efficiency of 67% was recorded. The results imply that the average efficiency of cassava production could be improved by 33% through better use of existing resources and technology. The result showed that the return to scale was 1.306.The gamma coefficient was 0.86, implying that 86% of variation of cassava output from the production frontier was accounted by the technical inefficiency of the farmers. The major factors which influenced the farmers technical efficiency were farm size, planting material and capital while farming experience, level of education, access to credit, gender, age of farmer and household size exerted a significant effect on their inefficiency level. The major problems faced by the farmers were inadequate finance, inaccessibility to credit, inadequate access to improved varieties and high cost of inputs. The study deduced that the gross margin and net farm incomes were N155,726.34 a and N147,464.84 with BCR of N2.38, suggesting that cassava production is profitable. It is recommended that more farmers should venture into cassava production as a means of wealth creation and employment generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to measure farmers' perceptions on climate variations, and examine the effects of such variations on cassava production in Ghana. Using a three-stage sampling technique involving cluster, stratified, and simple random sampling techniques, structured questionnaires were administered to 252 smallholder cassava farmers in the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region, Ghana. This was supplemented with focus group discussion sessions with male and female cassava farmers for the purpose of triangulating the quantitative and qualitative data. The study showed an overwhelming 98% of respondents, comprising 57% males, and 43% females, acknowledging to have noticed changes in the weather patterns over the last 30 years. While 85% of respondents said rainfall was decreasing, 75% said the rains did not come at the expected time, with 58% of them saying reduced rainy periods were the noticeable changes. Respondents attributed the changes in weather patterns to environmental degradation (72%), natural phenomenon (15%), and punishment by God (1%). Majority of them (97%) said they had suffered from decreasing yields in cassava as a result of seasonal variations in temperature and rainfall. The paper makes a strong case for activities that will bridge the knowledge-and-skill gap between male and female farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has brought about an irregularity in pattern and intensity of climatic variables, such as rainfall and temperature, which are important in crop production, making planning in agriculture difficult. The importance of cassava in the diet of Nigerians and its industrial use created a need to examine the effects of climatic variability on cassava production. Secondary data obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) were used for the study. An analysis of variance and error correction model was utilised. The study showed that the rainforest zone had the highest averages of annual rainfall (1,709 mm) and relative humidity (82.1%), while the Sahel savannah had the highest mean annual temperature (35.3°C). The variability in annual rainfall and relative humidity was low in the rainforest zone. The study showed that the rainforest zone had the least dispersion of average annual relative humidity (2.06%) while the Guinea savannah had the highest dispersion (4.68%). The average cassava output from the agro-ecological zones was 49,118,871 MT per year. Rainforest and Guinea savannah accounted for 56.3% and 41.9% of total cassava output respectively. There were significant variations in the climatic variables (rainfall and temperature) among the agro-ecological zones but not significant among the years (p>0.05). The annual rainfall and solar radiation were the factors that influenced cassava output in all the agroecological zones. Affordable irrigation systems available to cassava farmers and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture are recommended to boost cassava production in Sudan savannah and Sahel savannah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cassava is becoming increasingly important as an industrial raw material in China. However, an insufficient supply of cassava raw materials and the expanding demand for cassava in downstream-processing industries restricts the development of the cassava industry in China. This paper studies how to increase the scale of cassava planting and promoting cassava production efficiency using output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) modeling. Overall Technical Efficiency (OTE), Pure Technical Efficiency (PTE), and Scale Efficiencies (SE) of the cassava-production system in the major cassava production areas of China are calculated using Variable Returns to Scale (VRS). Results reveal that, in addition to the Guangdong province, the OTE of Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Yunnan, and Jiangxi is inefficient, with an OTE of less than 1. The largest cassava-planting province, Guangxi, has the lowest SE with 0.551. The PTE of Guangxi is close to the minimum with 0.344. The OTE of Guangxi is also the lowest among the five provinces with 0.190. This study also presents ways to improve production efficiency. Results reveal that Guangxi has a large ratio of transverse adjustment on average. In the Guangxi province, 1.70% of the service cost and 1.72% of the labor cost need to be eliminated to keep the current output scale. Meanwhile, service and labor costs need to be reduced by 3164.85 and 3209.92, respectively, to achieve the best production efficiency. Further industrialization and large-scale cassava cultivation, increased yield, and strengthened cooperation with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Africa are suggested as policy options to improve the cassava system in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study used primary data collected from 90 cassava farmers through a multi stage sampling technique to examine the determinants of labour choice decision among cassava crop farmers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logit regression and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression. Findings revealed that cassava production in the study area was dominated by young, and educated (75.6%), female (68.9%) farmers, with an average household size and farming experience of 6 persons and 10 years respectively. The multinomial logit result showed that while household size and labour cost significantly influenced the choice of borrowed labour, farming experience, educational level, income of farmers and farmer’s age significantly influenced the choice of hired labour for cassava production. Also, the coefficient for farm size was positive and significantly related to the choice of both borrowed and hired labour. The study further revealed that cassava production in the study area was profitable with a gross margin of N 154,840 and net income of N125, 590. The Ordinary Least Square result revealed that family labour, hired labour, age of farmers, farming experience, household size and farm size impacted severely on cassava output in the study area. This suggest the need to pursue policies that would enhance access to land and encourage economical land holdings, advocate and intensify campaigns on the profitability of cassava production and increased participation of farmers, especially younger people in cassava production in the study area as the way out.

Cassava is becoming increasingly important as an industrial raw material in China. However, an insufficient supply of cassava raw materials and the expanding demand for cassava in downstream-processing industries restricts the development of the cassava industry in China. This paper studies how to increase the scale of cassava planting and promoting cassava production efficiency using output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) modeling. Overall Technical Efficiency (OTE), Pure Technical Efficiency (PTE), and Scale Efficiencies (SE) of the cassava-production system in the major cassava production areas of China are calculated using Variable Returns to Scale (VRS). Results reveal that, in addition to the Guangdong province, the OTE of Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Yunnan, and Jiangxi is inefficient, with an OTE of less than 1. The largest cassava-planting province, Guangxi, has the lowest SE with 0.551. The PTE of Guangxi is close to the minimum with 0.344. The OTE of Guangxi is also the lowest among the five provinces with 0.190. This study also presents ways to improve production efficiency. Results reveal that Guangxi has a large ratio of transverse adjustment on average. In the Guangxi province, 1.70% of the service cost and 1.72% of the labor cost need to be eliminated to keep the current output scale. Meanwhile, service and labor costs need to be reduced by 3164.85 and 3209.92, respectively, to achieve the best production efficiency. Further industrialization and large-scale cassava cultivation, increased yield, and strengthened cooperation with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Africa are suggested as policy options to improve the cassava system in China.

This study carried out a gender based economic analysis of cassava production with implication for poverty reduction among rural farm households in north central Nigeria. Two hundred and ten representative farm households were used for the study. Descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and multiple regression model were the analytical tools for the study. The results of the descriptive statistics show that the female-headed households had lower access to productive resources than their male-headed counterparts. The budgetary analysis shows that cassava production was a profitable enterprise in the study area with net-farm income of N73,100 and N58,035 and capital turn-over of 1.50 and 1.46 for the male and female-headed households respectively. This also suggests a lower level of welfare for the female-headed households. The production function estimates show farm size in hectares, family labour in mandays, cassava stem in tonnes and fertiliser in kilograms were the significant variables explaining the variation in cassava output in the study area. The efficiency ratio analysis indicates that cassava stems were under-utilised while other significant variables were over-utilised. The study recommends that cassava production be used as a crop for poverty reduction among farm households in the study area judging from its profitability. The farm households were also advised to cut down on over-utilised resources and increase usage of under-utilised ones for optimal efficiency in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carried out a gender based economic analysis of cassava production with implication for poverty reduction among two hundred and ten rural farming households in north central Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis and multiple regression model were the analytical tools. The results of the descriptive statistics show that the female-headed households had lower access to productive resources than their maleheaded counterparts. The budgetary analysis shows that cassava production was a profitable enterprise in the study area with net-farm income of N73,100 and N58,035 and capital turn-over of 1.50 and 1.46 for the male and female-headed households respectively. This also suggests a lower level of welfare for the female-headed households. The production function estimates show farm size in hectare, family labour in manday, cassava stem in tonnes and fertiliser in kilogram were the significant variables in cassava production in the study area. The efficiency ratio analysis indicates that cassava stems were under-utilised while other significant variables were over-utilised. The study recommends that cassava production be used as a crop for poverty reduction among farming households in the study area judging from its profitability. The farmers were also advised to cut down on over-utilised resources and increase usage of under-utilised ones for optimal efficiency in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to determine the factors affecting the relative competitiveness (RC) measured as the normalized profit per acre, of cassava farmers in South Western Trinidad through a determination of the factors affecting the mean and variance of the RC inefficiency term of the farmers. A sample of 112 small farmers growing cassava as their main crop provided the data for the study. A normalized translog stochastic RC frontier model was estimated. The model also determined the factors affecting the variance of the symmetric random error. The results showed that the variance of the symmetric error was affected by age as well as the number of parcels of land owned by the farmer. Wage rate, crop acreage, wage rate squared and the cross product term of wage rate and family labour were significant variables affecting the RC. The study found that the larger the number of parcels of land owned by the farmer, the greater was the RC efficiency and the smaller the variance associated with that RC efficiency. In addition men had a higher RC efficiency, but women tended to have a lower variance in their RC efficiency. Increasing age significantly increased the variance of the RC efficiency, but reduced the variance of the symmetric random error term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on evaluating factors that farmers consider relevant in adopting cassava production in five semi-arid zone of West African countries. The study is based on primary data randomly collected as part of collaborative study of cassava in semiarid zones of Africa (COSCASSA) village level survey from five West African countries namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Niger and Burkina Faso. This study models effects of farm, farmer and technology specific factors on the decision of semi arid farmers to adopt cassava into their farming system. By way of threshold decision models—Probit and Logit models, the estimation of each country and the pooled data adoption models reveal different adoption models for the countries considered. For each country, different variables appeared as major adoption shifters. Comparatively, the adoption models for Nigeria and whole region appear to have the highest significance variables, being seven in number. This is followed by Chad (6), Ghana (4), and Burkina Faso and Niger with three each. For the variables considered, distance to nearby urban market appears a major adoption shifter in all the country, except for Niger. This is closely followed by contact with extension, variety, pest/disease resistance and livestock feeds, which appear significant in four of the countries. Membership of cooperative societies appears as the least adoption predictor, which is only significant in Chad republic. The study therefore recognizes the importance of varietial characteristics and farmers’ characteristics in acceptance of cassava as a major root tuber crop in the semi arid region of West Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]