Determinants of Cassava Productivity Heterogeneity among Farmers in Nigeria: A Socioeconomic Perspective

Abstract

This article investigates the assertion and generalisation of low productivity among cassava farmers in Nigeria. The dataset obtained from the General Household Survey Panel Data (GHS-P) of the Living Standard Measurement Survey-Integrated Survey of Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) was used to generate a cassava productivity index, which was then analysed using a multinomial logit regression model. The analysis reveals that 78%, 7% and 15% of Nigerian cassava had low, moderate, and high productivity status, respectively. The main determinants and drivers of farmers’ high productivity are gender and farm size. Age, marital status, extension visits, and improved stem cutting contributed to farmers' low productivity. It is recommended that more policies be put in place to support and motivate young male graduates to engage in commercial (large-scale) cassava production, leveraging modern farming technologies and high-yielding cassava cultivars, with adequate training and encouragement for better cassava yield and productivity. Keywords: Cassava Productivity; GHS Panel; Heterogeneity; Multinomial.