ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY CASSAVA PROCESSORS IN NASSARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the sources of information used by cassava processors in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study specifically examined enterprise characteristics of cassava processors, examine the awareness of cassava products among processors and determine the sources of information among cassava processors in the study area. Both purposive and simple random sampling procedures were used to select a total of 120 respondents for interview. The results of the descriptive statistics used for the study revealed that 59.2% of the cassava processors used family labour, (52.5%) sells as a retailer, cassava processors resources needs was mainly capital with (98.3%), and only (0.8%) identified labour as resources needs. Only few (20.0%) were aware that cassava flour can be used for baking while all the processors were aware of garri and cassava flour for lafun. The result of the likert rating scale indicates that the sources of information for cassava processing in Nasarawa state were mainly through neighbors/friends. There is need for extension agents and research institute to provide improved information needs for the cassava processors in the study area. Processors should organize cooperative societies to improve their resource needs in terms of capital.