AWARENESS AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON IMPROVED CASSAVA PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA
Oyscatech Journal
Authors
Abstract
The importance of improved technologies in agricultural processing cannot be overemphasized. This study
examined the awareness and sources of information of improved cassava processing technologies in Oyo State,
Nigeria. Multistage random sampling method was used with well-structured questionnaire to select 190 cassava
processors using descriptive statistics to achieve the objectives. The result revealed that the average age of the
respondents was 47 years. Majority (90%) of them were married with average household size of 6 persons. The
average years of processing experience was 11 years. The result also revealed that more than half of the cassava
processors did not have extension visit in the last one year. Majority of the respondents adopted most of the
technologies except the fryer and the peeler. Only 7% of the respondents sourced information from extension
agents while 27% sourced information from friends and other processors. The improved cassava processing
technologies identified in the study area includes mechanical grater, screw press, fryer, mechanized peeler and
mechanical sifter. The major constraints encountered by the respondents include inadequate credit facilities,
inadequate extension contact and high costs of cassava processing machines etc. This study therefore suggests
that policy makers on cassava processing sector need to increase extension services as a source of information
to create more awareness among the processors in Oyo state.
Keywords
Cassava processors, extension agents, improved processing technologies, sources of information
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