ASSESSMENT of THE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AFFECTING CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN ITU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Background of the study: Cassava is one of the world's most important staple food crops, supplying a significant source of glucose to people who consume it. Since independence, Nigeria has enacted several development-oriented programmes, particularly in the agricultural sector. The Federal Government has implemented institutional and policy changes aimed at boosting smallholder farmers' socioeconomic position. These include the Rivers State Government's Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP), Cassava Multiplication Programme (CMP), and School to Land Programme. Many areas of agricultural production, such as cultivation, marketing, and processing, were addressed in available reports (IRBI, 2019). The CMP includes the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP). According to Nnanna (2015), RTEP is a farmer-oriented programme whose beneficiaries are poor households and smallholder farmers, but the overall goal of RTEP is to improve rural households' food security and income for poor farmers within Nigeria's cassava belt, which includes the Southern and Middle Belt States (Onyeneke, 2018). Cassava is a major source of dietary carbohydrate and feeds approximately 60 million Nigerians (Abdulahi, 2016). Cassava's adaptability to relatively marginal soils, erratic rainfall, high productivity per unit of land and labour, the certainty of obtaining some yield even under the most adverse conditions, and the possibility of maintaining supply continuity throughout the year (Nweke 2017) make this root crop a basic component of the farming system in many areas of Nigeria, including Rivers State. Famine is uncommon in locations where cassava is abundantly planted because it offers a consistent food foundation for the food production system. Aside from its usage as a staple meal for humans, additional applications include animal feed formulation, agro-industrial uses (e.g. starch, ethanol, glue, fructose/glucose syrup), and the peels in the creation of organo-mineral fertilisers. Cassava has become the "miracle crop" in Nigeria as a consequence of a Presidential push on cassava a few years ago, with high export potential.

Itu farmers rely on agriculture for a living, and cassava farming is their specialty. Cassava originated in Brazil, and the Portuguese carried it to tropical West Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries (Woyengi – Ina 1969). Cassava production is as old as the village itself in Itu Local Government Area. Sweet cassava (Manihot Ultilisima) is a Euphobieace species that originated in South Africa and is now grown in all warm parts of the world (IR VINE 1969). Cassava was unknown in the wild, and its emergence as a species is directly tied to human selection under cultivation. Colonial administrations such as Java and the British developed famine reserves in West Africa and Southern India, as well as cassava processing export factories in Makker (Hinton, 1988). Due to the longer maturation time, cassava planting is restricted to the tropics and subtropics.

This root crop is only second to yam in Itu. This significance may be traced back to the colonial period, when cassava was frequently used as a famine reserve crop. Even now, some farm holdings in cassava production support this viewpoint. Cassava, on the other hand, is now a commercial product that is frequently interplanted with other crops. Hardwood stem cuttings, typically 30mm long, are planted on moulds, ridges, or the flat substrate. Manuring the soil boosts production, but early weeding is essential as well. Cassava is consumed in a variety of forms, including garri, fufu, tapioca, flour, boiled or roasted, and can be devoured or cooked by pigs and other herbivores. The leaves are consumed as a vegetable.

In Itu, Akwa Ibom State in general, there is substantial trading in garri, and cassava is widely farmed as a cash crop with a future market. The expansion of cassava output will need the improvement of the crop's market. Finance is one of the issues that Itu farmers face since most cassava growers lack the funds to acquire planting materials and pay labour to assist their agricultural operations. Farmers took advantage of government handouts on occasion.

​​​​​​​PROBLEMS STATEMENT

1. To find out if there are suitable planting materials in cassava production.

2. To determine if farmers in Itu find cassava production more lucrative.

3. To investigate if there are available resources and materials to enhance cassava cultivation in Itu.

1.3  JUSTIFICATION AND BENEFICIARIES

Cassava is an important crop in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It provides over 80% of the natives of Itu constant food on their table. It is therefore cultivated with pride. The justification of the study therefore is on the fact that there is need to analyze scientifically if cassava production is economically (profitably) viable in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The beneficiaries of the study include the farmers in the village, the clan, the state and the Nigeria in general. Also expected benefits from the study include researchers in the field of agriculture, economics and marketing research units of colleges of education and universities.

1.4  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of the study is to analyse the problem of cassava production in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The sub-objective include:

• To ascertain the factors that hinders cassava production in Itu LGA.

• To examine the various factors which influenced and limit cassava cultivation in Itu Local Government Area.

• To determine the profitability of cassava production in Itu Local Government Area.

• To determine the impact of cassava production on the economic development of Itu LGA

1.5  HYPOTHESIS

H0: there are no factors that hinders effective cassava production in Itu LGA

H1: there are factors that hinders effective cassava production in Itu LGA

H02: cassava production has no significant impact on the economic development of Itu LGA

H2: cassava production has a significant impact on the economic development of Itu LGA

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the farmers in Itu LGA and beyond, as the study seek to ascertain the factors inhibiting effective production of cassava in the local government, the study will also be of importance to the Local government management, as the study seek to explore the benefit of effective cassava production to the economy of Itu LGA and beyond, as this will facilitate effective financing of the agricultural sector. The study would also be of immense importance to students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing a further study on the subject matter

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the economic problems of cassava production in Itu LGA of Akwa Ibom state. But in the cause of the study, there were some factors which limited the scope of the study:

a)     AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material      available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

b)     TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider         coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities        and examinations with the study.

c)     FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not     allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the        researcher has other academic bills to cover

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Cassava

Manihot esculenta  is a woody shrub native to South America of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates.

Cassava production

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) production is vital to the economy of Nigeria as the country is the world's largest producer of the commodity. The crop is produced in 24 of the country's 36 states.

Economic growth

Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product, or real GDP.

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the subject matter.     Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.