Assessment of Cassava Processing Machinery in Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Economy and unemployment is currently driving Nigerian Agriculture. The Nigerian authority’s order of border closure against imported foods is making agriculture more interesting, many are returning to farm unwillingly without proper tools while others became emergency farmers of food crops. There is a need to fully transform agricultural practice from low level of mechanization to the highest level through the introduction of machinery. Tractors per 100 sq. km of arable land in Nigeria was 6.70 as at 2007. Its highest value over the past 50 years was 6.70 in 2007, while its lowest value was 0.21 in 1961 (FOA, 2007). Nigeria needs 750,000 tractors to be at par with global average (Okojie, 2018). Universities, private individuals and organizations are at the fore front of tackling the challenge of producing what we can use. These institutions have developed tillage, planting, harvesting and processing machines. However, processing machines are of much demand, therefore this paper’s focus is on cassava processing machines which come in different capacities and cost range that suit various farmers (Gbadamosi, 2017). Nigeria is currently exporting cassava processing machines to other countries thanks to IITA. Cassava (Manihot utilisima) is the most important food crop in Africa after rice and maize. The world's largest producer of cassava is Nigeria with a production of 47,406,770 tons in 2013 (Oishimaya, 2018). Cassava processing has received considerable attention in Nigeria due to increased demand for it as food with governmental policy backing. Farmers look up to the agronomist to provide them with improved varieties; they look up to engineers to help them solve complex issues of value addition by providing appropriate machines and equipment. This challenge has been undertaken by indigenous manufacturers, research institutes, universities and similar higher institutions.

These facilities designed and developed in hand tools format are usually manual, electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) operated machines. Equipment for processing cassava root are not different. All the unit operations involved in cassava processing have been successfully mechanized in Nigeria without exception. The fact that it is a perennial plant makes it easy to harvest when required and treated as a food reserve during droughts and famines. Cassava thus serves as both a cash and a subsistence crop. African nations are the most heavily dependent on root and tuber crops. In some countries of sub-Saharan Africa, cassava is even a staple or a sub-staple. In Ghana, 46% of the GDP of the country is contributed by trade in cassava. In India, cassava is a staple food in the Kerala and Andhra Pradesh states of the country. It is also consumed as an important carbohydrate source in Assam. The cassava produced in Thailand and Vietnam find the largest export market in China. In China, the Guangxi province is responsible for about 60% of the country’s cassava production. Several types of alcoholic beverages are also made from cassava. Cassava is also an important part of many cuisines worldwide. Cassava also has certain toxic properties that must be treated before consumption. Cassava roots are also used as an important animal feed. A number of laundry products utilize cassava derivatives as laundry starch.

Cassava root is locally consumed in Nigeria as fufu, gari, or as cassava flour. Its products and by products are utilized in the industry and as livestock feeds. IITA has just introduced naturally fortified variety with β- carotene otherwise known as pro vitamin A. Processing the large tones of cassava in Nigeria to a targeted product for local consumption or export depends on the available machinery inputs. Therefore, the overall goal of cassava processing in Nigeria through agricultural mechanization practice is to enhance productivity, add value to products, reduce losses and drudgery, increase turnover of product which can increase house hold income and improve their overall welfare.

Davies et al (2008) carried out survey of cassava processing machinery in the whole Oyo state as well as in Iwo local government area (LGA) of Osun state. Gbadamosi (2017) carried out appraisal of cassava processing machinery in Oyo town. In continuation of Gbadamosi’s work, Akinyele LGA became a subject of these investigations with the objective to know the level of cassava processing mechanization adoption in every LGA of Oyo state for knowledge transfer to vocational students of agricultural science on how to feed the future generation. This paper is an effort to document another LGA report critically, looking at cassava processing machinery in Akinyele LGA of Oyo state.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Survey of cassava processing machinery at Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) as a case study was conducted by means of a structured questionnaire, administered through a participatory learning technique. The Local Government Area was divided into wards with 5 cassava processors. Thus, a total of 50 processing centers were visited. The questionnaire was divided into two sections A and B. Section A consists of social economic characteristics of the cassava processor which are names of the processor, of respondent, age, marital status, religion, sex, educational level and year of experience in processing. Section B consists of the type of machines, gender of operator and the machine manufacturer, the processor and the machine owner. The power sources for the machines, the abandoned machinery and the reason.

The study was carried out at Akinyele local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Moniya is the headquarter, its geographical coordinates are 7° 31' 42" North, 3° 54' 43" East. It is about 20 kilometers north of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. The altitude is between 300 and 600 meters above sea level. The mean annual temperature is about 27°C while that of rainfall is 1165mm. The vegetation of the area is Southern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria (Gbadamosi, 2017).

Population for the Study

The population of the study was all the identified cassava Processors in Akinyele local government with headquarters at Moniya.

Sample and Sampling Techniques

A total of 50 centres were randomly selected, each cassava processor or delegate at each centre was engaged.

Collection of Data

Questionnaires designed by the researchers for the collection of data in this study were used.

Data Analysis

The result collected was analyzed using simple frequencies and percentage.

RESULTS

Table 1 shows the demographic structure of cassava processors as related to their socio-economic characteristics. The results revealed that majority of the cassava processors were female (75%) and married adults (70%) with their ages ranging from 31-40 years. This is an indication that the processors are still more active. The results also revealed that most of the cassava processors were Christians (61%) while least of them were traditionalists (9%) and this implies that the operation is not affected by religious beliefs. The results also revealed that the cassava processors had formal education, 50% attended primary, 40% secondary and 10% tertiary schools. The observation also noticed that the most of the respondents (45%) had been into cassava business for 15 years.

Cassava processing machines in the study area is presented in table 2. The results revealed that machines were not available in most of the processing centres with value of grater at (47.41%), dewaterer (6.61%) and sieves (45.97%), these were common. However, peelers, washer, fryer, dryer and millers were not observed in this present study and this is a strong indication that the cassava processors were still operating at a manual level.

Table 1. Demographic Structure of Socio-economic characteristics.

Parameters Frequency Percentage (%)

Sex

Male 10 25

Female 40 75

Marital status

Single 03 06

Married 35 70

Divorced 02 04

Widowed 05 10

Separated 05 10

Age

Below 20 05 10

21-30 07 14

31-40 23 46

40 above 15 30

Religion

Islam 15 30

Christianity 30 60

Traditional 05 10

Educational Level

Primary 30 60

Secondary 05 30

Tertiary 10 10

Year of Processing Experience

Below 20 22 44

21-30 18 36

31-40 05 10

40 above 05 10

Source: Fieldwork, 2019

The methods of processing operation of cassava are presented in table 3. The results show that peeling, washing, grating, dewatering, frying and drying were 100% respectively operated manually by the women and children. The sieving was done both manually (60%) and mechanically (40%) while millings were done mechanically (100%).

Table 2. Cassava Processing Machines in the Study Area.

Machines Observed Machines Percentage (%)

Peeler - -

Washer - -

Grater 165 47.41

Dewaterer 23 06.61

Sieves 160 45.97

Fryer - -

Dryer - -

Millers - -

Source: Fieldwork, 2019

Table 3 Methods of processing operation of cassava

Operations Frequency Percentage (%)

Peeling

Manual 50 100

Mechanical - -

Washing

Manual 50 100

Mechanical - -

Grating

Manual 50 100

Mechanical - -

Dewatering

Manual - -

Mechanical 50 100

Sieving

Manual 30 60

Mechanical 20 40

Frying

Manual 50 100

Mechanical - -

Drying

Manual 50 100

Mechanical - -

Milling

Manual - -

Mechanical 50 100

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

Table 4 shows the participation in washing and drying of cassava. The results revealed that most of the cassava processors washed cassava before grating with value of 80% like previous studies. Drying is done by spreading the residue of the sieved cassava mash into a flat surface in the sun and 100% of the respondent’s sundry cassava to form cassava flour in for sale.

Table 4. Participation in Washing and Drying of Cassava.

Operation Response Frequency Percentage

Washing Yes 40 80

No 10 20

Drying Sun drying 50 100

Mechanical - -

Source: Fieldwork, 2019

The abandoned machines and reasons for the abandonment of the machines are presented in table 5. The results revealed that grater, dewater and fryer were 53, 18 and 30 respectively. The reasons for abandonment was due to lack of technicians, as Technical colleges do not produce skilled technicians as expected, old age, high operational cost and non-availability of spare parts while most of the processing centres lack peelers, washers, dryers and millers.

Table 5. Abandoned Machines and reasons for the Abandonment of the Machines.

Key Number of Abandoned (NA) Lack of Good Technician (LGT) Old Age (OA) Un-Availability (UA) High Operation Cost (HOC) Total Spare Part (TSP)

Machine NA LGT OA UA HOC TSP

Peeler - - - - - -

Washer - - - - - -

Grater 15 10 16 16 06 53

Dewater 06 04 - - 08 18

Sieves - - - - - -

Fryer 10 - 16 04 - 30

Dryer - - - - - -

Miller - - - - - -

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

Table 6 indicated the gender in relation to cassava processing operations. The result shows that some cassava processing operations are gender dependent.

Men engaged in processing operations like grating, dewatering and milling while women were predominant in peeling, washing, sieving, frying and drying.

Table 6. Gender in Processing

Operation Frequency Percentage

Peeling

Male 05 10

Female 35 70

Male and female 10 20

Washing

Male 05 10

Female 45 90

Male and female - -

Grating

Male 50 100

Female - -

Male and female - -

Dewatering

Male 50 100

Female - -

Male and female - -

Sieving

Male 10 20

Female 36 72

Male and female 04 08

Frying

Male - -

Female 50 100

Male and female - -

Drying

Male - -

Female 50 100

Male and female - -

Milling

Male 50 100

Female - -

Male and female - -

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

Table 7 revealed the ownership of the processing centres in the study area. The results indicated that processing centres were predominantly owned by individuals (50%) while 30% were owned by cooperative societies and 20% were controlled by non-governmental organizations with non-involvement of the government.

Table 7. Ownership of the Processing Centre.

Ownership Frequency Percentage

Individual 25 50

Cooperative societies 15 30

Non-government 10 20

Government - -

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

The source of power for operating the machines is shown in table 8. The results indicated that most of the engines were running on diesel (70%) while petrol, electricity and both electricity and diesel operations were 10%, 06% and 14% respectively.

Table 8. Sources of Power for Operating the Machines.

Source of Power Frequency Percentage

Diesel 35 70

Petrol 05 10

Electricity 03 06

Electricity/diesel 07 14

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

Table 9 shows the relationship between the cassava processors and machine manufacturers. The result revealed that the most machines observed were manufactured by welders. The relationship between the cassava processors and manufacturers were moderate (75%), poor (20%) and high (5%).

Table 9. Relationship between the Cassava Processors and Machine Manufacturers.

Relationship

High 05

Moderate 75

Poor 20

Source: Fieldwork, 2019.

DISCUSSION

The current findings on demographic structure of cassava processors in relation to socio-economic characteristics, that favoured female, married, adults with age were in line with Gbadamosi (2017).

Similar range of values for gender, marital status, age and religious as observed has been reported. Due to the level of graduate unemployment, the researcher was expecting to see more operators with tertiary qualifications than what was reported. Researchers documented a range of values in favour of educational level and year of processing experiences but this was not the case. However, he noticed that males dominated cassava processing machine operations in this current study, that grater, dewater and sieves were commonly used in harmony with previous documented findings.

Gender, in cassava processing operations shows that females are always ready to switch their role for males to take over whenever machine is involved.

CONCLUSION

This paper discusses delivery activities in agricultural machinery in Akinyele LGA of Oyo state Nigeria, placing emphasis on cassava tuber processing machines. It is worthy to mention that the researchers are lecturers that have direct contact with students and are also involved not only in cassava tuber processing research but also in other agro-production machine research. This study shows that the people involved in the processing of cassava were females, married with formal educational background however, grater operators, dewaterers and sieves were the major machines while most of these machines were operated manually and some were abandoned due to obsoleteness and old age. Ownership was through individuals with moderate relationship between the processors and the machine manufacturers and the machines were operated with fossil fuels nonrenewable energy source.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on these findings, government involvement will be needed in the setting-up or ownership of cassava centres as a way to create more employment among the young. They should assist in educating the cassava processors in the new innovation and implementation of modern tools. Most recent machines discovered should be introduced in order to assist modern peelers, washers, fryers, dryer and millers.

Government can assist in the introduction of modern processing of cassava mechanically through extension agents and loans could be given to the people involved in the cassava processing to expand their work.

REFERENCES

Davies, R.M. Olatunji M.O. and Burubai W. 2008. A Survey of Cassava Processing Machinery in Oyo State World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 4 (3): 337-340, 2008 ISSN 1817-3047 IDOSI Publications.

FAO 2007 Nigeria - Agricultural machinery, tractors per 100 sq. km of arable land

https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/nigeria/indicator/AG.LND.TRAC.ZS

Fieldwork, 2019. An Appraisal of Cassava Processing Machinery in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Unpublished Research Project of Faculty of Education Department of Agricultural Science Ekiti State University. Ado Ekiti

Gbadamosi J. 2017 An Appraisal of Cassava Processing Machinery in Oyo Metropolis, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria International Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 2017; 2(6): 68-72

Okojie J. (2018) Nigeria needs 750,000 tractors to be at par with global average

https://businessday.ng/agriculture/article/nigeria-needs-750000-tractors-par-global-average-ritvonen/

Oishimaya N. (2018). Top Cassava Producing Countries

WorldAtlas, worldatlas.com/articles/top-cassava-producing-countries-in-the-world.html.