Development Studies

Climate Change and Cassava Processing in Southeast Nigeria

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Climate change is perhaps the most serious
environmental threat to whom African agriculture is
confronted today, essentially because of its impact
on pre- and post-harvest agricultural productivity.
Available literature shows that most of the recent
studies on climate change and agriculture were
mainly focused on pre-harvest, with little or no
emphasis on post-harvest issues. This study aims
to provide empirical information on the effect of
climate change on cassava processing and on the
cost-effectiveness of indigenous adaptation
practices relative thereto. The study was conducted
in two randomly selected states of southeast
Nigeria and in four randomly selected agricultural
zones, two from each state. The data were
collected using a well-structured questionnaire
administered to 320 randomly selected cassava
processors. The result of the analysis shows that
the respondents were predominantly women who,
in addition to cassava processing, also grow
cassava. Virtually all of them were, not only aware
of climate change, but also aware that it will have
effects on cassava post-harvest operations. The
respondents suggest that as a result of climate
change, the length of time cassava tubers can stay
in the soil without spoiling has been decreasing
while the water content of cassava tubers has been
increasing. In addition, the storage quality of all the
products has been deteriorating, just as the growth
of spoilage moulds in the products during storage
has been increasing. Moreover, the fermentation
period for akpu and alibo has been increasing while
there has been a general decline in the quantity of
product yield after processing for all the products.
Some of the adaptation measures used by the
processors include increased use of water, palm
oil, hired labour and wood fuel, increased
harvesting of cassava earlier than usual,
processing of more adaptive varieties of cassava,
shifts in the timing of processing as the weather
also shifts and increased fermentation in the open
spaces. There were also some relatively new
adaptation practices such as the use of detergents,nails, beans and bitter leaf to aid fermentation,
especially for the production of akpu and alibo. In
terms of profitability, the four adaptation practices
with high profitability indices were, in order of

decreasing importance, increased use of sun-
drying, water, hired labor and palm oil. The study

therefore recommends that breeding of improved
varieties of cassava should begin to target those
that are tolerant to excessive and extreme
fluctuations of rainfall, heat and flood. In addition,
the adaptation practices with high profitability
indices should be vigorously disseminated. Also,
further studies, especially on the chemistry of the
observed relatively new adaptation practices
should be explored.

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Publication Information

: Tropicultura., 2013

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Language

English

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Subject(s)

Climate change- Cassava post-harvest- Adaptation-

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Article

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