| Sumario: | In 2015, mechanized technologies for planting and harvesting cassava were introduced to farmers involved in the Cassava Value Chain (CVC) in Ogun State of Nigeria for testing. This study comparatively analysed
the profitability of cassava production under mechanized and manual
operations. Partial budgeting was used to compare costs and benefits
of the new innovations with manual process. The comparison was based
on data obtained from farmers involved in an effort to enhance the
competitiveness of high quality cassava flour (HQCF). The results
revealed that yields from harvested fresh cassava roots on mechanically
planted cassava farm plots increased by 38% over the manually planted
cassava farm plots. The main gain associated with the mechanized
process was the relatively lower costs associated with planting and
harvesting operations, which were cheaper over the manual operations
by 55% and 59%, respectively. The mechanically and manually planted
cassava farm plots have a gross margin of $491/ha and $296/ha, respectively. Comparison of these levels of profitability showed that the
mechanized operations were relatively more profitable and exceeded
the manual farm operations by 83%. Thus, the study concludes that the
mechanization of cassava planting and harvesting, combined with
high-yielding variety and complementary agronomic practices, can
lead to higher competitiveness and economic break-through for cassava
farmers in Africa. Therefore, we recommend increased efforts to
scale-up mechanized cassava production operations, including building
the capacity of cassava farmers with regards to improved production
technologies and crop management practices.
|
|---|