IMPACT OF ROOT AND TUBER EXPANSION PROGRAMME TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ON POVERTY REDUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY AMONG CASSAVA-FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

IMPACT OF ROOT AND TUBER EXPANSION PROGRAMME TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ON POVERTY REDUCTION AND FOOD SECURITY AMONG CASSAVA-FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Agricultural technology adoption remains one of the most effective pathways for improving rural livelihoods, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing food insecurity in developing economies. In Nigeria, the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP) was introduced to enhance the productivity of root and tuber crops through the dissemination of improved production technologies, farmer support services, and community-based agricultural interventions. Despite the implementation of the programme across several states, empirical evidence regarding its contribution to poverty alleviation and household food security among cassava farmers remains inadequate. This study therefore examined the impact of RTEP technology adoption on poverty reduction and food security status among cassava-farming households in Southwestern Nigeria.

The study was conducted in Ogun and Ondo States, selected from the Southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents from both RTEP beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities. Data were collected from 540 cassava-farming households using structured questionnaires. Information obtained included socio-economic characteristics, farm size, educational status, access to credit, participation in off-farm activities, technology adoption level, household consumption expenditure, and cassava output. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) poverty indices, and Tobit regression model at 5% level of significance.

The findings revealed that adoption of RTEP technologies significantly improved cassava productivity and household welfare. The average technology adoption level among beneficiaries was high, reflecting positive acceptance of improved cassava production practices. Variables such as gender, educational attainment, access to credit facilities, and participation in off-farm income-generating activities positively influenced technology adoption, while distance to input markets negatively affected adoption intensity. The study further showed that adoption of RTEP technologies reduced poverty incidence and food insecurity among beneficiary households compared with non-beneficiaries. Male-headed households, farmers with access to credit, and those engaged in supplementary economic activities experienced greater improvements in welfare indicators.

The study concludes that the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme contributed significantly to enhancing food security and reducing poverty among cassava-producing households in Southwestern Nigeria. It therefore recommends increased investment in agricultural extension services, rural infrastructure, credit accessibility, and farmer education to strengthen technology adoption and improve rural livelihoods. The study also highlights the importance of community-driven agricultural interventions in promoting sustainable agricultural development and achieving national food security objectives.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Table of Contents

List of Tables

List of Figures

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

1.2 Cassava Production and the Nigerian Economy

1.3 Statement of the Problem

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Objectives of the Study

1.6 Research Hypotheses

1.7 Significance of the Study

1.8 Scope of the Study

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

1.10 Organization of the Study

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Agricultural Technology Adoption and Rural Development

2.4 Poverty and Food Security Concepts

2.5 Agricultural Intervention Programmes in Nigeria

2.6 Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP)

2.7 Determinants of Technology Adoption among Farmers

2.8 Empirical Review on Technology Adoption, Poverty and Food Security

2.9 Research Gap

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study Area

3.2 Research Design

3.3 Population of the Study

3.4 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size

3.5 Sources and Methods of Data Collection

3.6 Measurement of Variables

3.7 Analytical Techniques

3.8 Model Specification

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of Respondents

4.2 Level of RTEP Technology Adoption

4.3 Determinants of Technology Adoption

4.4 Impact of RTEP on Household Income

4.5 Poverty Status of Cassava Farming Households

4.6 Food Security Status of Respondents

4.7 Discussion of Findings

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Findings

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendations

5.4 Suggestions for Further Studies

References

Appendices

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Poverty and food insecurity remain critical developmental challenges confronting many developing nations, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite global efforts toward achieving sustainable development, millions of rural households continue to experience inadequate access to food, low income levels, and poor living conditions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2022), a substantial proportion of the global population still suffers from chronic hunger and malnutrition, with rural farming households accounting for the largest share of vulnerable groups. In Nigeria, poverty and food insecurity are more prevalent in rural communities where agriculture constitutes the primary source of livelihood.

Agriculture plays a strategic role in economic growth, employment generation, and rural transformation in developing economies. In Nigeria, the agricultural sector contributes significantly to food production, raw material supply, and household income generation (World Bank, 2021). However, the productivity of smallholder farmers remains relatively low due to poor access to improved technologies, inadequate extension services, low mechanization, and insufficient rural infrastructure. Consequently, agricultural interventions aimed at increasing productivity and improving farmers’ welfare have become central to national development policies.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is one of the most important staple crops in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa. The crop serves as a major source of calories for millions of people and contributes significantly to food security, employment, and income generation (Nweke et al., 2002). Nigeria is recognized as the world’s largest producer of cassava, with production exceeding 50 million metric tonnes annually (FAOSTAT, 2023). Beyond its role as a food crop, cassava has extensive industrial applications in the production of starch, ethanol, flour, livestock feed, adhesives, and pharmaceutical products.

The importance of cassava in the Nigerian economy has stimulated increased governmental and institutional interest in promoting improved cassava technologies. One of such interventions is the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme (RTEP), initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme was designed to improve the productivity, processing, and marketing of root and tuber crops through the dissemination of improved technologies and community-based agricultural support systems.

The RTEP focused primarily on smallholder farmers cultivating less than two hectares of land, with the objective of reducing rural poverty and enhancing food security. The programme introduced improved cassava varieties, better agronomic practices, processing technologies, and market linkages aimed at increasing farmers’ productivity and income. The adoption of these technologies was expected to improve household welfare by increasing yields, reducing production constraints, and strengthening access to food and economic opportunities.

Technology adoption in agriculture has long been recognized as a key driver of agricultural transformation and rural development. Improved technologies can enhance farm efficiency, increase output, reduce production costs, and improve resilience to environmental and economic shocks (Feder et al., 1985). Nevertheless, adoption levels among smallholder farmers are often influenced by socio-economic, institutional, and environmental factors such as education, access to credit, extension services, market accessibility, and household characteristics.

Although several agricultural intervention programmes have been implemented in Nigeria, concerns persist regarding their effectiveness in addressing poverty and food insecurity among rural farming households. Empirical studies have shown mixed outcomes concerning the extent to which agricultural technology adoption translates into measurable improvements in household welfare (IFAD, 2021). Consequently, there is a growing need for evidence-based evaluation of agricultural programmes such as RTEP, particularly within the context of cassava farming households in Southwestern Nigeria.

This study therefore investigates the impact of Root and Tuber Expansion Programme technology adoption on poverty reduction and food security among cassava-farming households in Southwestern Nigeria. The study also examines the socio-economic factors influencing adoption and evaluates the extent to which improved technologies contribute to rural livelihood enhancement.

1.2 Cassava Production and the Nigerian Economy

Cassava occupies a prominent position in Nigeria’s agricultural and economic systems due to its adaptability, resilience, and diverse utilization potentials. The crop thrives under varying climatic conditions and can tolerate poor soils and drought better than many staple crops. These characteristics make cassava particularly suitable for smallholder farmers in rural communities.

Nigeria’s dominance in global cassava production reflects the crop’s strategic importance in food security and industrial development. Cassava contributes significantly to household consumption and serves as a source of income for millions of farmers, processors, marketers, and transporters. It is processed into various food products including gari, fufu, lafun, tapioca, and cassava flour, which constitute staple foods in many Nigerian households.

In recent years, government policies have increasingly promoted cassava as an industrial crop capable of supporting economic diversification. The inclusion of cassava flour in bread production, ethanol manufacturing, starch industries, and livestock feed production demonstrates the expanding industrial relevance of the crop (FMARD, 2022). Consequently, improving cassava productivity through technological innovations remains essential for achieving national food security and economic growth.

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Despite Nigeria’s enormous agricultural potential and numerous intervention programmes, poverty and food insecurity remain widespread among rural farming households. Smallholder cassava farmers continue to face numerous production challenges including low productivity, inadequate access to improved technologies, poor infrastructure, limited credit facilities, and fluctuating market conditions.

The Root and Tuber Expansion Programme was introduced to address some of these constraints by promoting improved production technologies and strengthening rural agricultural systems. However, the actual impact of the programme on household welfare, poverty reduction, and food security has not been comprehensively established in many parts of Southwestern Nigeria.

Moreover, while some farmers adopt improved technologies introduced through RTEP, others remain reluctant or unable to adopt them due to socio-economic and institutional barriers. This uneven adoption pattern raises important questions regarding the effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability of agricultural intervention programmes.

Furthermore, there is limited empirical evidence on how RTEP technology adoption affects household poverty status and food security outcomes among cassava farmers in Southwestern Nigeria. Existing studies have focused largely on productivity outcomes without adequately linking technology adoption to broader welfare indicators. This study therefore seeks to fill this knowledge gap by examining the relationship between RTEP technology adoption, poverty reduction, and food security among cassava-farming households.

1.4 Research Questions

The study seeks to provide answers to the following questions:

What is the level of adoption of RTEP technologies among cassava farmers in Southwestern Nigeria?

What socio-economic factors influence the adoption of RTEP technologies?

What is the poverty status of cassava-farming households in the study area?

What is the food security status of cassava-farming households?

What impact does RTEP technology adoption have on poverty reduction and food security among cassava farmers?

1.5 Objectives of the Study

General Objective

The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of Root and Tuber Expansion Programme technology adoption on poverty reduction and food security among cassava-farming households in Southwestern Nigeria.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives are to:

determine the level of adoption of RTEP technologies among cassava farmers;

identify the socio-economic factors influencing technology adoption;

assess the poverty status of cassava-farming households;

examine the food security status of the respondents; and

evaluate the impact of RTEP technology adoption on household poverty and food security.

1.6 Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested in the study:

H01: RTEP technology adoption has no significant effect on poverty reduction among cassava-farming households.

H02: RTEP technology adoption has no significant effect on food security among cassava-farming households.

H03: Socio-economic characteristics of farmers do not significantly influence adoption of RTEP technologies.

1.7 Significance of the Study

This study is significant in several ways. First, it provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness of agricultural technology adoption in improving rural livelihoods. Second, the findings will assist policymakers, development agencies, and agricultural stakeholders in designing more effective poverty alleviation and food security programmes.

The study will also contribute to academic literature on agricultural development, technology adoption, and rural welfare in Nigeria. Furthermore, extension agents and rural development practitioners will benefit from the study’s recommendations regarding strategies for improving technology dissemination and adoption among smallholder farmers.

1.8 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on cassava-farming households participating and non-participating in the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme in Southwestern Nigeria. The research specifically covers selected communities in Ogun and Ondo States. The study examines technology adoption, poverty status, food security indicators, and socio-economic factors affecting adoption among rural households.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Technology Adoption: The extent to which farmers utilize improved agricultural technologies introduced under the RTEP.

Food Security: A condition in which households have consistent physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for healthy living.

Poverty Incidence: The proportion of households living below the defined poverty line.

Cassava Farming Household: A household primarily engaged in cassava cultivation as a source of livelihood.

RTEP Beneficiaries: Farmers who participated in the Root and Tuber Expansion Programme and adopted its technologies.

1.10 Organization of the Study

The study is organized into five chapters. Chapter One presents the introduction, background, problem statement, objectives, hypotheses, significance, and scope of the study. Chapter Two reviews relevant literature and theoretical frameworks. Chapter Three discusses the methodology adopted for the study. Chapter Four presents and discusses the results, while Chapter Five summarizes the findings, draws conclusions, and provides recommendations.

REFERENCES

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FAOSTAT. (2023). Cassava Production Statistics. Food and Agriculture Organization Database.

Feder, G., Just, R., & Zilberman, D. (1985). Adoption of agricultural innovations in developing countries. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 33(2), 255–298.

FMARD. (2022). Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Annual Report. Abuja, Nigeria.

IFAD. (2021). Rural Development Report. International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Nweke, F., Spencer, D., & Lynam, J. (2002). The Cassava Transformation in Africa. Michigan State University Press.

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