This study was
conducted to examine the environmental effects of value addition of cassava
processing in Etche local government area of
Rivers state. A total of 80 cassava farmers where sampled using purposive
sampling technique. Simple descriptive statistics and bivariate logistic
regression models were used in the assessment. Results shows that mean age
and household size were 43 years and 5 persons respectively. Also mean
annual income was #346,815. Majority (60%) engaged in trading as an
alternative income source. The result for the logit
regression model showed that only farming experience in years (0.092101),
household sizes in numbers (0.018994) were statistically positive while age
in years (-0.005669), annual income in naira (-8.68E-07) and quantity of
cassava harvested in kg (-0.000371) were all statistically negative in responding
to the environmental effects of value addition of cassava processing in the
study area. It was also learnt that the major constraint encountered by the
cassava farmers were unavailability of modern machines for processing and
lack of technical knowhow. This study therefore recommends that cassava
based farmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies in order to
pull their resources together. Also government should play an active role by
establishing modern processing units that are environmentally friendly in
all the rural areas of the states.
Accepted:2908/2023
Published: 09/09/2023
*Corresponding
Author
Dr Henry C. Unaeze
E-mail: henry.unaeze@ uniport.edu.ng
Keywords: Environmental
Effect, Value Addition, Cassava Processing, Rivers, State, Nigeria.
1.
INTRODUCTION
Agricultural production in Nigeria is still basically
categorized by production from the farms and direct sale of farm produce in its
raw form.
Cassava, a root tuber, has served, and will continue to serve as a major source
of food to majority of the people living within the West African sub-region (Hann, 1997). Some of the value added products from cassava
tubers that affect the environment are garri, fufu, tapioca, starch, cassava flour to cassava bread and chips.
This value addition on cassava generates
solid and liquid residues that are hazardous to the environment. The two
important biological wastes from cassava that cause damage to the environment
are cassava peels and liquid effluent squeezed out from the fermented
parenchyma mash.(Obueh, Odesiri-Eruteyan
2016). The toxicity of cassava is caused by the presence of the cyanogenicglucoside; linamann together with much smaller amount of the closely
related lotaustralin. These are the two major cyanogenic glucosides. They are
small but of significant amount in the cassava tuber (Hann,
1997).This effluent when discharged on soil causes physiochemical and
microbiological changes in the soil which calls for serious concern. It is
clear that most of these cassava mills are sited near residential areas. Also
cassava effluents and its peels that are usually discharged on land or water
channels as wastes results to health and environmental hazards. They have
serious environmental impact causing acidification due to the hydrolysis of
cassava glucoside, linamarin
and lotaustralin (methyl linamarin)
producing hydrogen cyanide, which is also toxic to household animals, fisheries
and other organisms Obueh, Odesiri-Eruteyan
(2016). This waste water from cassava processing that are
normally discharged beyond the factory wall into roadside ditches or fields, flow
freely and sometimes settle in shallow depressions. Eventually, it percolates
into the subsoil or flow into streams, resulting to serious environmental pollution,
foul odor, contamination of surface soil and underground water. Also effluent
released directly into streams and rivers, causes rapid growth of bacteria,
resulting in oxygen depletion and death of fish and other aquatic life. (OladeleKolawole, 2014). Also cassava
contains disease-causing pathogens like bacteria and fungi. (Eze, Onyilide, 2015). It is
important to note that villages where large scale garri
production is carried out, cyanide can be smelled in the air and exposure to
100 – 200 ppm IICN in air for 30 – 60 minutes can cause death. (Obueh and Odesiri-Eruteyan,
2016). At this point we ask the following research questions: (1) what
is the socio-economics characteristics of the cassava farmers in the study
area? (2) What are the socio-economic characteristics that affect their
responses on the effect of value addition in the study area? (3) What is the
different value addition of cassava carried out by the farmers in the study
area? (4) What are the constraints encountered in the study area? This study
will give answers to these questions.
2. MATERIALS
AND METHODS
This
study was conducted in Etche Local Government Area of
Rivers State. Etche is made up of several communities
such as Aku/Obuol, Eberi, Amaji, Opiro,
Chococho, Igbo, Egwi, Afala, Mba, Igbodo,
Ofe, Ohimogo, ObiohiaUmuogba, UmuajurokeOkehi, Obibi, Odufor, Nihi, Okomoko, Ulakwo, Umuakonu, Umuuanyag, Okoroag, Obite, Umuoe, Ibo, Umkem, Egbeke.
Etche has over 250 oil wells and various
flow stations. It is also said to have the largest natural gas deposit in Niger
delta region. Residents of Etche are primarily engaged in agriculture, earning
it the nickname "the food basket “of the state. They specialize in growing
crops as: Cassava, plantain, banana, yam, gum, palm oil, pineapple. Etche L.G.A. is geographically located in the northeastern
part of Rivers State, Nigeria. It lies within latitude 4045'N – 5017'N and
longitude 6055'E – 7017'E. Sample sizes of 80 respondents were selected using a
multistage sampling technique.
Stage
1: Four communities of Chokocho, Egwi, Nini and Umuoye were randomly
selected.Stage2: Twenty cassava processors were also
randomly selected from each of the four communities, making a total of 80
cassava processors for the study.
The respondents were
classified into two categories; those who respond that value addition of fresh
cassava tubers pollutes the environment and those who respond otherwise. The
response variable was in binomial regression taking values of 1 to represent those
who respond that value addition pollutes the environment and to those who
responds otherwise.
If
the disturbance term (Ui) is taken into account, the Logit Model becomes:
𝑍𝑖 =∑ BiXi
Where;
Pi
= Probability that a cassava farmer will respond positively or otherwise. Given
as Xi; (1 = responds positively; 0 = responded negatively).
Βi
= Coefficient of Parameter
Ui
= Error term or Disturbance term
X1
= Age (Years)
X2
= House size (numbers)
X3
= Farming experience (in years)
X4
= Estimated annual income (naira)
X5=
Quantity produced (kg)
X6=
Farm size (hectares)
β
= Constant
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Socio-economic characteristics of the
cassava farmers
Table 1 below shows that majority (80%) of
the respondents are female. The result suggests that more females are
involved in processing cassava than the males in the study area and cassava
processing requires more skills and attention which can only be produced efficiently
by female folks. This confirms the findings of Onyemauwa, (2012) who reported
that women play a central role in cassava production, harvesting, processing
and marketing, contributing about 58 percent of the total agricultural labour
in the Southwest, 67 percent in the Southeast and 58 percent in the central
zones. Most (60%) of the cassava farmers fell into the age range between 25-54
years showing activeness and innovativeness. This is also shown by their mean
age of 43 years. Majority (80%) are married while most (56.3%) had primary
school education showing that respondents canadopt an innovation to reduce environmental pollution by employing best
practices and techniques in cassava production and
processing. This is in consonance with the findings of Fapojuno (2010), who
stated that education is an important variable that influences individual and
household's rate of adoption of new and improved technology as well as their
choices of food commodities. It also implies that the more years a producer spend
in attaining formal education, the more the increase in their output and this
confirms the findings of Onoja and Emodi (2012)
who reported that education has the power of giving traders an edge over their
counter parts as their level of awareness of the use of efficient technology
and market information will enhance their output thereby increasing their
productive capacities. Majority (60%) of the respondents has household size of
3-5 persons with an average household size of 5 persons and 26 years as average
farming experience. Average annual income of the respondents was 346,815 Naira.
This implies that the cassava farmers sampled realized a substantial amount of
income annually with majority (60%) engaging in trading as an alternative
source of income.
Table 1: Showing the frequency distribution
of respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics in the study area.
Socio-economics
Characteristics
Frequency
Percentage
Mean
Gender
Male
Female
Total
12
68
80
15.0
85.0
100
Age
0
– 14
15
– 24
25
– 54
55
– 64
Above
64
Total
0
9
48
20
3
80
0.0
11.3
60.0
25.0
3.8
100
43
Marital
Status
Single
Married
Divorced
Widowed
Widower
Total
2
64
2
9
3
80
2.5
80.0
2.5
11.3
3.8
100
Educational
level
0
1-6
6-12
>12
Total
28
45
5
2
80
35
56.3
6.3
2.5
100
Household
size
0-2
3-5
6-8
9-11
Above
11
Total
6
48
20
5
1
80
7.5
60.0
25.0
6.3
1.3
100
5
Farming
Experience
1-20
21-30
31-40
Above
41
Total
21
30
23
6
80
26.3
37.5
28.8
7.5
100
26
Income
Status
N100,000-N300,000
N400,000-N600,000
N700,000-N1000000
Above
N1000000
Total
49
26
3
2
80
61.3
32.5
3.8
2.5
100
N346,815
Other
Income Sources
Hunting
Fishing
Artisan
Trading
Total
9
12
11
48
80
11.3
15.0
13.8
60.0
100
Source:
Field Survey, 2023
3.2. How farmers socio-economic characteristics affects their responses
on the environmental effects of value addition of cassava processing in the
study area.
Table 2: shows the bivariate logit
regression on how farmer’s socio-economic characteristic affects their
responses on environmental effects of value addition. The probability of respondents
responding to environmental effects of value addition of cassava processing in
the study area in terms of their farming experience in years (0.092101) and
households’ size in numbers (0.018994) was positive. Their positive response
could be deduced from the facts that as respondents farming experience and
household size increase, the more they will be more knowledgeable in cassava
processing and their respective environmental effects. Likewise, the
probability of respondents retorting to environmental effects of cassava
processing in terms of their age in years (-0.005669), farm size in hectares
(-2.035579), annual income in naira (-8.68E-07), quantity of cassava harvested
in kg (-0.000371) and number of years spent in formal schooling in years (-0.570650)
are all statistically significant but negative. Their negative response on age
could be that as their age increases they, will not be responsive and energetic
to indulge in cassava processing due to its drudgery nature. Also as
respondents’ farm size, annual income and quantity harvested increases, the
more their commercialization index increases and purchasing power. With this
development they will be less responsive in cassava process.
Table 2. Bivariate logit
regression depicting how farmer’s socio-economic characteristic affects their
responses on the environmental effects of value addition of cassava processing
in the study area.
Dependent
Variable: Y
Method:
ML - Binary Logit(Newton-Raphson /
Marquardt steps)
Date:
08/19/23Time: 18:02
Sample:
1 80
Included
observations: 80
Convergence
achieved after 7 iterations
Coefficient
covariance computed using observed Hessian
Variable
Coefficient
Std. Error
z-Statistic
Prob.
C
7.206876
3.271016
2.203253
0.0276
AGE
-0.005669
0.058431
-0.097018
0.9227
FMEXP
0.092101
0.053616
1.717774
0.0858
FRM_SIZE
-2.035579
2.585061
-0.787440
0.4310
HHS
0.018994
0.336550
0.056436
0.9550
INCME
-8.68E-07
5.46E-07
-1.589104
0.1120
QTY
-0.000371
0.000487
-0.760765
0.4468
SCH
-0.570650
0.507221
-1.125051
0.2606
McFadden
R-squared
0.356111
Mean dependent var
0.887500
S.D.
dependent var
0.317974
S.E. of regression
0.278724
Akaike info
criterion
0.652925
Sum squared resid
5.593451
Schwarz
criterion
0.891127
Log likelihood
-18.11699
Hannan-Quinn criter.
0.748427
Deviance
36.23398
Restr.
deviance
56.27368
Restr. log
likelihood
-28.13684
LR
statistic
20.03969
Avg. log likelihood
-0.226462
Prob(LR
statistic)
0.005485
Obs with Dep=0
9
Total obs
80
Obs with Dep=1
71
Source: Field survey, 2023
3.3. Different value addition on cassava processing in the study area
Table 3, recorded multiple responses and demonstrated
that most (27.9%) of the respondents asserted that garri
was the most common products from cassava. This supported the findings of
Muhammed-Lawal (2013) who established that garri was
the most profitable products from cassava. Recently, attentions are given to
research centers on how to produce cassava flour in order to substitutes wheat flour
to reduce cost. However, multiple responses were recorded as respondents produced
more than one product from cassava.
Table 3: Showing frequency distribution of respondents
according to different value addition of cassava processing carried out in the
study area.
Number
Different Value Addition of Cassava
Frequency
Percentages
1
Garri
80
27.9
2
Fufu
75
26.2
3
Tapioca
68
23.8
4
Starch
12
4.2
5
Flour
3
1.0
6
Abacha
48
16.8
7
Total
286
100
Multiple responses recorded.
Source: Field Survey, 2023
3.4. Effects of carrying out value addition processes in the study area
In table 4, multiple responses were
recorded. It revealed that majority (30.9%) of the respondents observed
environmental effects as the major negative consequences of cassava processing,
with health related issues (29.1%). This implies that farmers in the study area
who indulged in cassava processing experienced environmental and health related
problems. These findings are in consonance with the findings of Reinhardt
Howler (2018) who stated that cassava processing is generally considered to
contribute significantly to depletion of water resources and the environment as
a result of unpleasant odor and the waste generated. Also, Fasoyiro (2012)
stated that the smoke from wood during garri
processing results to lung, kidney and eye sight health challenges, especially
nursing mothers who carry their young babes on their back.
Table 4.Showing
frequency distribution of respondents according to effects of carrying out
value addition processes in the study area.
Effects of Value Addition Processes
Frequency
Percentage
Health related issues
80
29.1
Environmental effects
85
30.9
Drudgery related issues
78
28.4
Cultural issues
24
8.7
Others
8
2.9
Total
275
100
Multiple
responses recorded.
Source: Field Survey, 2023
3.5.
Different processing methods used for value addition in the study area
Table 5 Shows
different processing methods used in adding value to cassava in the study area.
Multiple responses were recorded .The study revealed that majority (61.0%) of
respondents employed traditional methods of cassava processing. It was only
(36.6%) and (1.5%) that employed semi and modern mechanized method respectively.
This implies that majority of the respondents in the study area use traditional
method of processing. This involves peeling cassava roots, soaking roots
in streams, grating cassava, and pressing grated cassava, and frying in oven. This findings was supported by Etejere,
(1985) and Oluchi Chibuzor (2021) who stated that the
bulk (about 90%) of the fresh cassava roots are processed into garri and channeled into the traditional sector while about
10% of total FCR goes into the industrial sector. However FAO
(2014) asserted that manual or traditional methods of cassava processing is
time consuming and tedious. It is believed as technology advances, total
manual cassava processing will gradually be replaced by some small scale machines.
Since it can efficiently save time and get high quality cassava final
products.
Table 5. Showing frequency
Distribution of respondents according to different processing methods employed
in the study area.
Different processing methods used in the
study area
Frequency
Percentages
Traditional
(manual)
80
61.0
Semi
mechanized
48
36.6
Modern
(mechanized)
2
1.5
Others
1
0.8
Total
131
100
Multiple responses recorded.
Source: Field Survey, 2023
3.6 Constraints encountered
in the study area
Table 6 revealed that majority (59.8%) of
the respondents complained that lack of machines for processing was their major
problem. This findings supports, Ayodele et al., (2011) who stated that cassava
value chain addition was characterized by long chains of pre-modern
intermediate processes and infrastructural deficiencies which have generated
successions of low value addition. Also another major problem faced by the
farmers was lack of technical knowhow (23%). This finding further validates
Nguyen et al (2012) assertion that the
availability and accessibility of credit facilities among rural poor cassava
processors in Africa has been hampered by numerous challenges ranging from high
level of illiteracy, unfavorable government or institutional policies, low
level of upgrading and relevant information in both production and processing.
Table 6. Showing frequency distribution
of respondents according to constraints encountered in the study area.
Constraints Encountered
Frequency
Percentage
Lack of capital
3
3.5
Lack of availability of machines for
processing
52
59.8
Lack of access to market
4
4.6
Lack of transportation
8
9.2
Lack of technical know-how
20
23.0
Total
87
100
Multiple responses recorded.
Source: Field Survey, 2023
4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Cassava processing at the rural level pollutes
the environment and becomes a burden to natural resources. The study revealed
that respondents were literate enough to adopt an innovation with mean
household size of 5 persons and average farming experience of 26 years. Among
all the socio economic indicators considered in influencing their responses, on
value addition, only farming experience and household size were statically
significant and positive. Majority of the respondents employed traditional
methods of processing. It is true that considerable constraints remain; it is
obvious that there is significant scope for the realization of enhanced
productivity and diversification of cassava through local processing. Necessary
steps have to be taken to promote integration of cassava into the manufacturing
industries as a reliable raw material or its promotion as an export crop in
order to achieve economic growth for a significant number of primary producers,
processors and traders. Cassava based farmers should be encouraged to form
cooperative societies in order to pull their resources together and obtain loan
to acquire machines for effective processing. Also effective strategies that
will enhance the livelihood opportunities of the rural poor must be sustained
for the ecosystem services. Cassava processing must be designed to increase
economic, social, and ecological resilience to climate change. Cassava
processors must adopt the use of clean energy to prevent the effects of global
warming.
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Cite
this Article: Unaeze, HC; Nwasiolo, IC (2023). Environmental Effect of Value
Addition on Cassava Processing in Etche Local
Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Greener
Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 13(3): 170-177.
