Agricultural Value Chain and Households’ Livelihood in Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Abstract

One of the critical issues of concern is how African countries can take agriculture as a business that creates wealth which can help transform rural communities, increase income and reduce poverty. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to examine how participation in agriculture through cassava value chain can improve households' livelihood outcome in Nigeria. This is addressed by looking at the linkages between economic agents such as farmers (households heads) and processors. As a result, the study utilised qualitative approach to achieve its stated objectives. This approach is carried out with fieldwork in Benue and Oyo States, Nigeria. The study applied the logit regression and propensity scores matching technique. The result show that, while more significant proportion of male cassava production household heads sell cassava in its fresh form without adding value, their female counterparts add value by processing cassava further into finished staple foods. Also, the study identified high involvement of youth and women in cassava production, processing and marketing.  Thus, they have greater influence in promoting and improving household’s livelihood outcomes. Therefore, more assertive efforts should be made by all stakeholders to ensure that youth and women have better, less expensive and dependable assess to loans at lower interest rates to participate in the value chain. This will engender inclusiveness of the disadvantaged and poor groups in productive cassava value chain and position Nigeria as an economy that is ready to sustain a global economic agenda for sustainable development.

Keywords: sustainable development, Agricultural Extension Services, Land, rural, Food Policy