Stressors within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria - GREAT

Abstract

The study investigates cassava trait preferences in the context of climate change (CC) and conflict stressors among value-chain (VC) actors in Nigeria, to strengthen social inclusion and resilience within breeding. Multi-stage and purposive sampling procedures were used to select and interview 92 men and 95 women cassava farmers, 15 VC Key Informants and 63 VC participants in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in Osun, Benue and Abia States. Data were analyzed using descriptive (percentages), inferential (two way ANOVA) and thematic analysis. Preferred cassava attributes include drought-tolerance, early bulking, multiple-product use and inground storability. While CC manifests itself as drought and increased incidence of pest/diseases, farmer-herder and land conflicts exacerbate productivity; shape gendered coping strategies and stressor-related trait preferences, including early re-emergence of leaves, short-stem with ratooning potential and especially root milking/regrowth among women. Major coping strategies include frequent farm visit, engaging in non-agricultural livelihoods for men and backyard farming, early harvesting, choice of food with less processing steps and dependence on remittances for women. Resilience capacity is low for both, while it was higher for men due to better access to assets, facilitating coping strategies like relocating farms and migration. Considering gendered stressor-related attributes and coping strategies can complement efforts to make breeding more socially inclusive, resilient and anticipatory to future change