1

AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE

ON CASSAVA CROP PRODUCTION AND USE AS SUBSITITUTE IN

BREAD PRODUCTION IN ENUGU STATE

BY

OKELEKE PAUL, A REG. NO. PG/M.SC/07/47186

A PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE

(M.Sc) DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, INSTITUTE FOR

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA,

ENUGU CAMPUS

SUPERVISOR: PROF. IKECHUKWU .E. NWOSU, Ph.D

15TH OCTOBER, 2010

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APPROVAL PAGE

This project undertaken by Okeleke Paul A PG/M.Sc/07/47186 under the

supervision of Prof. Ikechukwu E. Nwosu in the Institute for Development

Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, has been approved as having

met part of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in

Development Studies in the University of Nigeria.

………………………………. ………………………… Supervisor Date

………………………………. .……………………… Director Date

………………………………. ………………………… External Examiner Date

CERTIFICATION

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This is to certify that this project undertaken and written by Okeleke Paul A. Reg.

No. PG/M.Sc/07/47186 and submitted to the institute for Development Studies,

University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus is original and has not been submitted for

the award of any Degree or Diploma in this University or any institution of higher

learning.

……………………………………… ………………………… Okeleke, Paul .A Date Reg. No. PG/M.Sc/07/47186

DEDICATION

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This study is dedicated to the Most High God and to Rev. Prof. Paul Emeka,

General Superintendent of Assemblies of God Nigeria, and to Rev. Emmanuel

O. Ngene, District Superintendent, Enugu District of Assemblies of God

Nigeria.

ACKWOLEDGEMENTS

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My appreciation to Prof. Ikechukwu, E. Nwosu a humble and resilient scholar

who is dedicated to the excellency of the Institute for Development Studies

(IDS). Incidentally he is my supervisor on this project. Other persons include

Umoh B.D, Co-coordinator of the IDS programme and my wife and four

children Christian, Grace–Faith, Believe and Chukwuma.

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ABSTRACT

The research work focuses on Empirical Assessment of the Presidential Initiative on Cassava Crop Production and Use as Substitute in Bread Production in Enugu State. The legislation on the import substitution of wheat flour, imposed obligation on the bakers of bread, biscuit producers and producers of pastries food to substitute imported wheat flour with up to 10 to 20 percent of locally made high quality cassava flour (HQCF). Cassava as an economic root crop has multidimensional applications pertaining to industrial domestic uses world- wide. This legislation, therefore, triggered a chain of economic activities ranging from the growing and harvesting of cassava to the processing of the root crop into local food stuffs, starch for packaging industries and of course, they HQCF as substitute for imported wheat flour. The main objectives which the study sets to achieve are: To ascertain whether the presidential initiative for mass production of cassava succeeded in the satisfaction of domestic and export markets, in Enugu State. To ascertain whether the legislation on the use of cassava flour for bakery and confectionery businesses, succeeded in Enugu State. The methodology employed was the survey research approach which used a representative sample size derived from the universe. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The researcher used both interview and questionnaire to elicit data and information responses from the selected respondents. For the data analysis, percentages, and frequency tables were used for descriptive analysis and ANOVA was used as a statistical tool to test the NULL hypotheses. The major findings from the study are: that the presidential directive led to mass production of cassava crop in Enugu State and affirmation of the use of cassava flour for bakeries and confectionery businesses in Enugu State, clandestine economic activities in cassava flour production, reversal of the unpatriotic psyche with respect to the cassava flour issue and effects of adequate communication on government development policies and programme.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages Title page - - - - - - - - - i Approval - - - - - - - - - ii Certification - - - - - - - - - iii Dedication - - - - - - - - - iv Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v Abstract - - - - - - - - vi Table of Content - - - - - - - - vii List of Tables - - - - - - - - viii List of Figure - - - - - - - - ix CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION 1.01 Background - - - - - - - - 1 1.02 Statement of Problem - - - - - - 3 1.03 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 4 1.04 Significance of the Study - - - - - - 4 1.05 Scope of the Study- - - - - - - 4 1.06 Limitation of the Study - - - - - - 5 1.07 Research Question - - - - - - 5 1.08 Hypothesis - - - - - - - - 5 1.09 The Area of Study - - - - - - 5 CHAPTER TWO RELATED LITERATURE REVIEW The concepts, Theories, models and frame work on Cassava flour Communication for Development - 11 2.1 Cassava Production and Institutional Invention for

sustainable Development of Rural Dwellers in Nigeria. 2.2 High Quality cassava flour (HQCF) Production - - 13 2.3 Factors Critical to the Sustainability of Cassava production

in Nigeria - - - - - - 14 2.4 A view of the Communication Process : A Cassava Flour

Policy Application - - - - - - - 20 2.5 The success or failure of the Legislation Depended on

number of factors - - - - - - - 29 2.6 Social Marketing Development Communication Models:

A special Application to Cassava Flour Project. - - 32 2.7 Systemic Challenges in the Effective implementation of

Cassava Flour Project - - - - - - 33

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CHAPTER THREE 3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - - - 44 3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 44 3.2 Research Design - - - - - - - 44 3.3 Sources of Data - - - - - - - 45 3.4 Instrument of Data Collection - - - - - 45 3.5 The population of the Study - - - - - 45 3.6 Sampling Techniques and Sample size - - - 46 3.7 Pilot Survey - - - - - - - - 47 3.8 The actual survey - - - - - - - 47 3.9 Analytical Techniques - - - - - 48 CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 49 4.2 Respondents Characteristics and Classification - - 49 4.3 Presentation of Data in Frequency table - - - 50 4.4 Analysis of Data according to research questions - - 52 4.5 Analysis of other data - - - - - - 53 4.6 Testing hypothesis - - - - - - 54 4.7 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) Calculations (f-Test Model) 55 4.8 Normal Curve Distribution (Z-score) Test - - - 56 4.9 Distribution t-Test or T- Distribution or Student’s Distribution 57 CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 5.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 59 5.2 The Effects of Adequate Communication on Government Development Policies and Programme 59 5.4 Reversal of the Unpatriotic psyche with the cassava flour issue 60 5.5 Clandestine Economic Activities in Cassava Flour Production 61 5.6 Prospects of Entrepreneurship: A cassava flour perspective 61 CHAPTER SIX 6.1 Conclusion, Recommendations and Suggestions for further

Study - - - - - - - - 63 6.2 Policy Recommendation - - - - - 64 6.3 Suggestions for further study - - - - - 65

LIST OF TABLES pages

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1. Table 2B: RTEP Crop Production Update 17

2. Table 2C: Weather Data For Year 2007/2008 18

3. Table 2D : Cassava Production Yields (000MT) Per

Crop Area (“000HA). - - - - 19

LIST OF FIGURES pages

1. Elements of Communication. 20

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

In recent years, food production generally and cassava production in particular,

have not kept pace with demand for food. This resulted to massive importation

of food such as rice wheat flour and other food items. In 2008 for instance food

import to Nigeria accounted for 8.1% of our GDP (CBN, 2008). Given the

importance of food to human health and the need to diversify the sources of

income to the rural populace, the Federal Government embarked on the

presidential cassava initiative. The cassava project was primarily aimed at

increasing the crop yield per hectare, with the ultimate objective of generating

employment; reduce poverty and the social malaise associated with youth

restiveness.

It was hoped that the presidential initiative on cassava crop should be

implemented through massive campaign on the various economic uses of

cassava which included the processing of cassava into high quality cassava flour

for use in bakeries and pastries.

Bread is a common staple food in many household in Nigeria. Ordinarily, it is

one of the cheapest and affordable food items however the scarcity of raw

materials (following the ban on importation of wheat), which has led (on many

instances across the world) to bread riots, Gallman, Matthew, (2009), as the

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bakers attempt to increase prices. The federal government has also made effort

to promote acceptable and suitable crop as alternative raw materials to wheat.

The most suitable alternative raw material to wheat among others is cassava,

which acceptability is merely implicit for certain reasons (the smell or odour of

a fermented cassava for local food). However, the production of a High Quality

cassava flour (HQCF) does not require fermentation. According to IITA (2005):

“The presidential initiative on cassava was to ensure increased

production processing, packaging and export of cassava

products to satisfy domestic and export markets”.

Cassava is not a new commodity across Africa. Again, in IITA (2006:x):

“Although cassava is consumed in many different forms

in Africa, traditionally prepared food products such as

garri, lafun, fufu (cassava flour), kokute, tapioca and

attieke constitute the principal mode of utilization”.

Currently, the utilization of high quality cassava flour (HQCF) in bakery,

confectionery and other food products is relatively a new paradigm and

insignificant compared to its potentials and wide opportunities available.

Fortunately, simple and appropriate technologies now exist for the production of

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HQCF as a partial replacement for wheat flour bread in baking, making biscuits,

indomies, pasteries and snacks food. The emphasis here on the “high quality”

nature of the flour distinguishes it from the cassava flour used for “fufu” which

is expected to undergo some days of fermentation to remove cyanide contents of

cassava, especially the bitter species. However, the high quality cassava flour

stuff does not undergo fermentation but must be started and finished within

twenty-four hours and that makes it unique and of high quality content suitable

for wheat flour substitution.

As has been rightly and severally observed, the major problem of agriculture in

Nigeria and Africa as whole are difficulties in storage and preservation of crops.

Agricultural produce generally are perishable and fraught with glut while the

prices most of the time become volatile making prediction for farmers budget

unrealistic and unreliable for credit and lending.

In Plumbley and Rickard (1991):

“When the cassava root has been harvested, a rapid

process of deterioration sets in after 2-3 days at the latest”.

Consequently, in C.T.A. (2007:6):

“They process about 500kg of fresh cassava and package the

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flour within 24 hours of harvesting”.

This means that cassava roots cannot be stored under wet conditions beyond

three days. Again, in Graham, A.J., Shegaonkar, V., Saxena. S., Thangaraji,

G.S. Raghu-Ramam, S.V. and Westly, A. (2005) in Department for

International Development (DFID) (2006:1): “Long-term storage (3-4 months)

of cassava starch under wet condition results in adverse quality changes, which

are reflected by a reduction in the grade and hence the sale price of any product

made from starch”. Cassava flour, cassava starch and animal feeds are the three

basic import substitution opportunities for cassava (FIIRO:2006). Due to the

absence of period of dormancy, the cassava crop when harvested must be

processed immediately to avoid loss in value of the endproduct and in the case

of cassava flour, must be completed within twenty-four hours to avoid

fermentation and give a high quality yield of HQCF.

The choice of cassava instead of any other root crop such as yam or cocoyam

may have been due to the huge component of starch in it.

In Grolier (2000):

“Because it is an important source of starch, the cassava

is the major economic important in the great roots crops

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of the world… The yield of starch from a cassava crop

can be very high. One acre of cassava is capable of

producing 10 tons (9 metric tons) or more of starch”.

The need to enforce the import substitution of wheat and the essence of

discontinuing the use of potassium bromate in bakeries must be emphasized

during the cassava flour propagation.

The quest for the dough to rise induces bakers to use potassium bromate (a

chemical compound known to be cancerous in health).

The legislation for substituting 10-20 percent cassava flour for wheat flour in

bread production would save substantial foreign exchange earnings spent on the

bulk import of wheat flour by Nigeria and other African countries. This import

substitution legislation which was effective from 1st July, 2006 is a welcomed

step by the government towards cassava industrialization, but the supply side of

the cassava crop must be sustainable in order to achieve the laudable objective

entrenched in the legislation.

The formulation of policy should be based on proper analysis of the pros and

cons, on one hand, and the follow-up implementation of the policy instrument

and the continuity of leadership interest in such laudable policy is yet another.

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Moreover, such vital economic policy on import substitution which transcends

the entire country is expected to be backed by adequate promotional strategies

to elicit the support of every stake-holder in the supply chain of cassava.

Notwithstanding the powerful influences of persuasive communication on man

in the society, man per se is sticky to change. Consequently, the policy may not

go without resistance or obstructive tendencies. The application of appropriate

public relations and communication theories such as the Uses and Gratification

paradigm, the Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) would be quite

relevant in eliciting the support of all the stakeholders to pre-empt the negative

re-actions of advocacy group or political interest groups to the bakeries and

other food pastas.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

From the above background it is evident that bread is a major food in the

households in Nigeria and Enugu state in particular. Consequently the Federal

Government of Nigeria embarked on an intensive drive for increasing cassava

yield to support the import substitution programme through a legislation for use

of 10-20 percentage of cassava flour in baking bread and other pasta products.

Given the backdrop in the vital place of bread in the breakfast table of most

household in Nigeria, this study is interested in the extent of acceptability by

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publics the use of cassava flour as a partial substitute for wheat flour in Enugu

State.

Moreover, an obvious economic implication of cassava flour project is

the employment creation effects, however, cassava production and harvesting

activities are drudgery in nature. Those who are able to cope with stress would

reap the benefits.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this research are as follows:

1 To ascertain whether the presidential initiative for massive production of

cassava succeeded in the satisfaction of domestic and market, in Enugu

State.

2 To understand whether the legislation on the use of cassava flour for

bakery and confectionery businesses, succeeded or failed in Enugu State.

3 To ascertain whether adequate promotional strategies were put in place

for popularization of cassava flour project.

4 To make policy statements and other recommendations based ion the

findings from the study.

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1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

Is the presidential initial for massive production of cassava successful in the

satisfaction of domestic and export markets in Enugu State?

Is the legislation on the application of cassava flour for bakery and

confectionery businesses, successful or not, in Enugu State?

Were adequate promotional strategies put in place for the popularization of the

cassava flour project in Enugu State?

Are there policy statements and recommendations based on findings from the

study?

1.5 HYPOTHESES

The following hypotheses have been formulated to guide this enquiry:

Ho (Null): The presidential initiative for massive production of cassava crops

was not successful in the satisfaction domestic and export markets in

Enugu State.

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Ho (Null): The legislation on the application of cassava flour bakery and

confectionery businesses was not successful in Enugu.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

The focus of the study is strictly on cassava production with special attention on

the production and utilization of cassava flour in Enugu State.

1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY

The limiting factors may critically be the dearth of literary materials on previous

studies on the topic of research and the recent, and the nature of the policy

require long-time frame for actualization.

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study when successfully concluded may provide insight into the response of

the farmers, millers, and bakers on the policy issues and legislation about the

production of cassava of flour in Enugu State. The end-product of the study may

induce investors into the production, marketing and distribution of cassava flour

in Enugu State. The factors which may have been supportive to the success or

failure of the legislation may also be identified at the end of the study for future

corrective measures, as policy and other recommendations may emerge from the

findings of the study.

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1.9 THE AREA OF STUDY

The choice of the Enugu State, in the south-east was informed by its historical

position as agricultural zone, and as the provincial headquarter of the defunct

eastern Nigeria in the colonial and post-colonial years. The population of Enugu

(257, 298), according to 2006 population census is quite large to encourage

substantive demand for bread, a staple food for almost every household at

breakfast. The study reliably gathered that Enugu State Government has

embarked on massive distribution of acres of land for food growing cassava and

other farm produce.

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.2 Cassava Production Interventions for Sustainable Development

Cassava originated from Brazil and now is widely spread in the Tropics and

Subtropics (Ross 1999) in Erhabor, Ezaiki and Ingawa (2007:1-2). Cassava crop

belongs to a group with 160 species that have demonstrated many beneficial

qualities such as dormancy, drought resistant and good crop yield (FAO, 2004).

The two main varieties in Nigeria are Manihot Utilissima and Manihot Palmate.

The species could be differentiated into bitter and sweet varieties depending on

the cyanide acid contents.

Cassava processing activities are widespread in Nigeria’s rural area, being the

most formally processed crop in the Southern and middle Belt areas of the

country. The economic livelihood of many Nigerians in the south-east and

south-south and middle-belt depended on the crop. The low income nature of

the developing countries compels the processing of agriculture produce into

primary foods which have a number of competing alternatives, and so the value-

added benefits of rural processing continues to be variable and marginal. This in

turn, seems to perpetuate their poverty levels. According to Tadaro and Smith

(2006:67):

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“The basic reason for the concentration of

people and production of agricultural and other

primary production activities in the developing

countries is the simple fact that at low income,

the first priorities of any person are food,

clothing and shelter. Agricultural productivity is

low not only because of the large numbers of

people in relation to available land but also

characterized by primitive technologies, poor

organization, and limited physical and human

capital flows”.

Moreover, other factors that may have constrained agricultural production in

Nigeria as in most other developing countries include: “The popular view of

traditional agricultural systems is that they are made up of peasants who have

been farming the same way for centuries. The implication is that traditional

farmers are bound by custom and incapable of making changes that raise the

productivity and efficiency of their efforts”, Perkins, Radelet, Snodgrass, Gillis

and Roemer (2001: 593). These are some of the factors that may constrain the

presidential initiative for massive production of cassava in Enugu State.

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Cassava, however, has a large number of industrial uses which are yet to be

fully exploited. For example, cassava flour which is most commonly produced

in the fermented form, can be made suitable as an important confectionery and

bakery ingredient, by way of unfermented well processed flour technically

known as “High quality cassava flour” (HQCF), and in many industrial

applications, as in cassava starch and animal feeds.

In Enugu state, the Root and Tuber Crop Production (RTEP) another

stakeholder in the agricultural development initiative, have cassava processing

centers.

The cassava from various farms are being conveyed to the nearest processing

centers where they are transformed into various local application and distributed

to the markets nearest to the farmers. Cassava and cassava products are

important to the majority of Nigerians who eat the products at least once a day

(IITA, 2007:v). According to the IITA (2007):

“The Federal Government, in a bid to forestall the

repeat of the experience of the 1980s with the cassava

Mealy-bug, initiated the Cassava Mosaic Diseases

(CMD) prevention project… The Federal Government

of Nigeria supports the project, as well as the 12 states

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of the south-south and south-east zones including

Ondo state, the Niger-Delta Development Commission

(NDDC), and its joint partners. The project seeks to

address the critical threat of an outbreak of CMD in

Nigeria, increase yield, and diversify the market”.

This project which started in 2003 as an integrated cassava development

programme (ICP) was operational in the eleven states of the south-south and

south-east zones including Ondo in the south-west of Nigeria. The overall

objective of ICP was to create a firewall from eastern flanks of the country that

would break the westward movement of the disease-resistant varieties. The

CMD project was expected to increase productivity and precipitate surplus that

must be mopped through appropriate processing into various food and industrial

applications and marketing interventions.

“The integrated cassava project (ICP) is made up of two complementary special

projects: the pre-empt management of Mosaic Disease project (CMD) and the

Cassava Enterprises Development Project (CEDP) both implemented by the

International Institute of Agriculture(IITA). While CMD primarily looks at

mitigating the impact of cassava mosaic disease and increasing productivity (or

crop variety) in Nigeria, CEDP focuses on utilization and the development of

agribusiness”, (IITA, 2005). According to the IITA reports, the ICP has three

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main objectives: sustainably increase food availability, reduce rural poverty and

unemployment; and enhance agro-industrial and social-economic growth in

Nigeria. In order to achieve this, IITA deployed high yielding disease resistant

cultivars, adapting improved and profitable post-harvest processing methods,

and facilitate policies to ensure that problems along the commodity chain are

reduced ICP aims also to increase private sector investment in production,

processing, storage and marketing. The result will be that the standard of living

of millions of poor farmers and rural processors would be enhanced in the

commodity chain of cassava production.

ICP is funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Niger-Delta

Development Commission, Shell Petroleum Development in Southern Nigeria.

These technological breakthroughs, (as evident in the cassava crop varieties

developed through scientific cross-breeding which have disease-resistant

capabilities, broader application of cassava with supportive assistance for the

local manufacture of the processing machines) under pioneer-lead of the IITA,

necessitated the presidential initiative for partial substitution of wheat flour with

HQCF. The focus of this study, therefore, is to ascertain the extent of success in

the production and the processing into cassava flour, accordance with the

legislative order.

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2.3 HIGH QUALITY CASSAVA FLOUR (HQCF) PRODUCTION

The process for deriving a high quality (unfermented) cassava flour as culled

from IITA (2006:iv), was as shown in appendix III on page…

When fresh or newly harvested cassava is peeled and washed, it would be

grated into mash and dewatered. The pressed mash (cake) would be broken into

fine granules (manually or mechanically). Dry in cabinet or flash dryers then

mill the dried cassava granules, and sift if necessary. Packaging would be in

polyethylene bags or any other air tight containers for preservation. Simple as it

is, one wonder why the production of the HQCF is not widespread and very

popular in Enugu State.

This study may, therefore unravel some of the reasons for the low

popularization of cassava flour among the millers, bakers and confectionery

product makers within the state. The weak publicity campaign experienced in

the propagation of the project, notwithstanding that the production of HQCF for

bakery and confectionery business is a viable investment project, may have

slowed the pace of embracing the project among bakers in Enugu State. In

Maya (2006:48), “The present wheat importers are putting up resistance to

truncate the campaign on the production and use of the cassava flour substitute

for imported wheat”. This was not unanticipated since man is sticky to change.

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It, therefore, behooves the presidential team and the relevant top government

functionaries to the cassava flour project to evolve and contrive schemes using

the appropriate social marketing and public relations models to pursue

persuasive communication for the purpose of eliciting the support of every

stakeholder, in the chain of cassava, cassava flour production, flour milling

firms, and wheat flour importers. The success of the cassava flour project is also

dependent, to a very high degree, apart from increase in the produce, on the

adequacy of the promotion/publicity campaigns aimed at convincing the

consuming publics on the nutritional values of properly processed HQCF for

bread bakery and confectionery productions. This may convince the bakers to

purchase the locally made cassava flour as basic input for bread production in

Nigeria and Enugu state in particular. Maya (2006:48-49), reported the squabble

between RMRDC and FIIRO as having precipitated the initial setback on the

project and may have been instrumental for the low publicity drive experienced

on the side of the presidential team on the cassava flour project. In Root and

Tubers Expansion Programme (RTEP) published flyers (2006); the lift of the

ban on wheat importation into Nigeria, notwithstanding, the overall trend has

been declining imports, attributed to such factors as weak exchange rate of the

naira and a continual fall in real per capita income.

“These scenarios and the potentially substantial

wheat replacement markets in the country have

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created a very favorable environment for

HQCF production. Industries which can make use of

the product include the bread making, and also in shrimp

feed, ice-cream and noodle production activities”,

(RTEP; 2006).

The benefits of widespread small and medium scale processing of cassava into

HQCF are varied and can contribute substantially to the country’s socio-

economic developments, create jobs, enhance industrial capacity utilization and

facilitate rapid rural development through the promotion of cassava-based

industries.

One, therefore, wonders why the government seemed to be hesitant in taking the

bull by the horn in the intensive campaign towards advancing the use of cassava

flour in bakery and confectionery applications through persuasive

communication.

2.4 FACTORS CRITICAL TO THE SUSTAINABLITY OF CASSAVA

PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

A call for Private Enterprise in Production of Cassava Stem Varieties

The critical challenges to the sustenance of cassava production is “How to raise

per hectre yield in farmers’ field of production”. This was the point raised by

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the station coordinating manager of the three states (Anambra, Enugu and

Ebonyi), under the IITA co-ordinating units in the south-east zone. There are

five new cassava varieties in the series TMS98/0505, TMS98/0581,

TMS98/0510, TME419, and TMS97/2205 all of which were released in 2005

under multi-location trial “That has identified specific genotypes for each of the

12 states of the project and also five genotypes that are of general sustainability

across wide ecologies and also respond to the needs for food, feeds and

industry. These varieties are on reserve with RTEP, NRCRI, and CMD-IITA in

the process of multiplication in all 12 states in small amounts at different

multiplication efforts of the state, contract growers and IITA Onne Farm in

Rivers State. Efforts to further multiply these varieties will require consultation

with the agencies to achieve a concerted work plan”, (IITA, 2005).

This means that different varieties thrive in various state, such that of the five

species, Enugu state can favour TMS 98/0505, TME 419 and TMS 97/2205.

“However, the supply of planting materials is slow because of factors of poor

timing and inadequate action” (Ezeaku, 2009). The flash dryers are the

machines relevant for the production of HQCF. These are the threats and

challenges of the cassava flour project and the new drive for large farms

plantation. According to Okoro, (2005):

29

“Leaping from traditional cassava plots to large

field or plantation is a giant step for the cassava

economy of Nigeria. That leap is inevitable and

the hurdles and obstacles to this action are

surmountable by the coalition of the able, the

willing, and the knowledgeable”.

The message is that, if the majority of cassava farmers grow less than 2ha and

there is a current pressure on supply of cassava to food processors and industrial

concerns, it implies that there may be inadequate roots to meet both food

security requirement, and the new drive for commercialization of cassava and

for industrial needs, the export to the northern parts of Nigeria and overseas

from European Union (EU) and China cannot be met at the current status of

cassava farming.

According to the co-coordinating manager, (Ezeaku, 2009):

“Among the varied inputs needed in any progressive farm, good planting

materials of the appropriate variety are a key input. Here-in lies the importance

of the cassava stem enterprise, New large farms exceeding 2ha have sought to

grow new varieties and improved types but they have nowhere to go and buy”.

Stressing on the importance of “back-store”, Ezeaku (2009), explained that

there is need for a buffer stock of farm materials supply where the farmers can

30

always fall back on, in the event of farm enlargement, which is a prerequisite

for the success of the envisioned commercialization of cassava crop (export and

extended industrial applications). In another development, IITA(2005), reported

that Oyo state came to NRCRI Umudike in Abia state to buy cassava stems for

planting. This crisis-cross of the nation by large cassava concerns very well

indicates the need for establishing healthy enterprise for the multiplication of

plantable cassava stems. The multiplication of the cassava stems in the relevant

varieties for bumper crop is not taken care of by RTEP, ADPs, Federal and state

Ministries of Seed multiplications Units, as expected to provide the needed

“back-store for farmers. There is, therefore, doubt in the production capacity

meeting the domestic and the export markets demand. The budget in terms of

the quantity and variety of cassava stems were not available. Our capacity or

what is on ground as we end the year 2009, is not available (Ezeaku, 2009).

This lackadaisical attitude of the government towards planning and budgeting

for input materials in quest for enlarging cassava plantable hectres may truncate

the obvious benefits that may accompany the enthronement of a cassava

economy. Consequently, there is need to divest agriculture from government to

the private concerns who are acclaimed to be more business-like, unlike, the

government MDAs who lack business acumen. Agriculture is presently in the

claws of the government and unless this divestiture is achieved, to allow for the

effective conversion of the cassava stems multiplication project into private

enterprise, not much could be attained in the drive for effective

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commercialization of cassava crop. At the present in Enugu state “Ugomentus”

only has dryers for processing within 24hours, HQCF at Adani Farm Settlement

in Nsukka, where “Ugomentus is located. The fear, however, expressed by

prominent flour millers such as Honeywell, BUA, Dangote, among others, was

the regularity of supply. These and other flour millers have acknowledged the

technical details for substituting cassava flour for wheat flour. The problem of

fluctuations in supply may well discourage the application of upto 10 percent

cassava flour for bread baking and confectionery uses. The quest for the level of

production in satisfaction of the domestic and export markets is in doubt. The

fact on ground is that the present capacity of cassava production is not up to

10t/ha but is currently about 6t/ha. According to Ezeaku (2009), if the farmers

are empowered with improved varieties, then the current per hectre yield will

increase; the current level of cassava production to meet the domestic as well as

the export demands is critical to sustainability. It is only on this premise or

platform that the sustainability of the economy as envisioned by the presidency

may be validated. If the public-private partnership (ppp) concept is introduced

into the agricultural sector for production of cassava, then credit would be

available for purchase of machines for planting, harvesting and processing. But

agriculture is presently in the hands of government whereas; it is believed that it

should be better in private hands. The VESA Farms at Benin City in Edo state

was cited in Ezeaku (2009), as an example of a successful private enterprise (an

agricultural outfit). The inefficiencies that bedeviled the public sector

32

(government) resulting from the high spate of corruption would drowsy down

the drive for agricultural production. The private sector may obviate such

tendencies towards inefficiencies in production because of the cost of borrowed

funds concept; but it is not so with the government who depended heavily on

annual revenue allocation which it spends with high profligacy and without due

regard to the actual needs of the citizens. This profligate lifestyle of the

government officials was vividly captured in Okoi (2005:47).

“Thus government expenditure may grow not

because the citizens do demand increasing

expenditure but because they originate from the

bureaucrats whose power and prestige are

enhanced by larger budgets”

The idea that the cause or causes of failure of development programmes and

projects emanate from the government officials, who were entrusted with the

success of such projects and programmes smacks on the integrity of the political

elites who vie for leadership positions each tenure of office. A situation where

individuals who were not qualified are enthroned, into sensitive positions may

not augor well for the development of Africa as a whole and Nigeria in,

particular. The private sector, therefore, should be allowed as a matter of

deliberate but pragmatic policy, to drive the agricultural sector.

33

2.5 THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF TE LEGISLATION DEPENDED

ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS

Man is living in an imperfect and a weak world and this predisposes him, most

of the time, to weaknesses and imperfections, in the course of pursuit to re-shape

the society or environment in which he finds himself. According to Egwu

(2006:26):

“Because society is made up of an un-equal individuals

(the weak and the strong, the talented and the un-talented,

the males and females, the young and the adults, the developed

and the underdeveloped etc), inequality is perhaps the first

law of the nature and society.”

Hitherto, Rousseau (1759), a French Philosopher had postulated that “man is

born free yet everywhere, we see him in chains “. He sadly concluded that man

is a “Down hill being”. However, a century later Darwin (1859), inversely

argued against the postulations of Ruousseau. In his powerful theory of evolution

and the origin of species, he persuaded the world to believe and accept that it is

man, through his biological hereditary and innate potentials that evolve over time

and, therefore, influence, manipulate and shape society (Egwu,2006:25). Indeed

society and history is what it is today, culturally, scientifically, technologically,

educationally, economically, politically and so on, because of man’s immutable

34

biological endowments from God, to evolve and change society. In his works,

Egwu (2006) argued that a just society is that which provides equal opportunity

to all its unequal members and citizens to display their talents, skills, abilities

and core personalities, intelligence and geniuses through persuasive

communication, or else through the same equal opportunity, make fools of

themselves. Persuasive communication, is thus the basis for building of a just

and egalitarian society in which there is sufficient law, order, integration and

unity to protect all members and citizens and satisfy their needs and diverse

endowments and at the same time encourage ….., to develop his or her talents

and potentials to the fullest and through persuasive communication sell or

market their talents to the society. It is, therefore, the presence of law and order

that enable the delicate balance between order and disorder, unity and pluralism

to be sustained through the willingness and the ability of members of the society

to apply the principles and tools of persuasive communication.

Even where the weaknesses of man seem to make him appear irrational to

believe or not to believe in the potential benefits of substituting the locally made

cassava flour for imported wheat flour…,in all situations and circumstances man

must doubt and remain skeptical until persuaded otherwise, with facts and

figures. Persuasive communication is simply, the ability of the cassava flour

project communicators to convince by dialogue, albeit, according to Egwu

(2006:29), in a “Socratic manner”. It is to motivate (reconciling of interest of

35

divers interest groups), to induce (through provisions of enabling environment

for establishing the cassava flour factories locally) and excite (through intensive

public seminars), instigate and influence others to action. The ability to articulate

and develop information system capable of alluring all the publics to the cassava

flour project is, therefore, critical to the success thereof.

Persuasive communication on cassava flour project should be well-researched

and well grounded, if it is to form the basis of economic development and

change the living standard of Nigerians. The objective of persuasive

communication is to win over and manage people and can be appropriately

employed in the social marketing of ideas and policies such as the cassava flour

legislation.

2.6 EXTENT OF THE SPREAD OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE

TECHNICAL FORMULA OF THE BLEND

The role and influence of the mass media on the target population was

exemplified in a number of theories on development support communication,

which were expatiated in Nwosu (2009) and considered relevant to this study:

One of these theories is the Agenda-setting theory: This was postulated by

McCombus and Shaw (1974:28) and Lipman (1922:3): Mass media have the

ability to transfer the salient of items on their news agenda to the public agenda.

36

“the world outside and the picture in our head are results of the mediatory role of

the media”.

The implication of this theory on the cassava flour progrmme is that, if the

frequency of popularization of the composite formula was increased beyond the

level it went, the knowledge of the usage of the cassava flour for bread bakery

would have pervaded Enugu State. But because the interest of the mass media on

this issue was very low or may have been dampened, the publication was

circumscribed. The president’s team may have also taken the role of the mass

media for granted and may have excluded part of the segments of the mass

media from participation.

Another theory is the Social Judgment Theory. To chose to accept the message

being communicated, chose to reject and chose to remain non- committal or

show indifference. According to Nwosu (2001): “From the point of view of the

theory, the level of usefulness of all the creative inputs and other resources into

the communication programmes surely depends on the readiness of the audience

to accept it….. “ Little wonder, some of the bakers in Enugu State admitted

coming across the cassava flour legislation in the news media (print and

electronic) but failed to go beyond that since social judgment theory allows them

to chose, select or reject which information is useful or not, except that the

weakness of the exchange rate of the naira and the continual fall in the income

37

per capita may be compelling the bakers and wheat importers to look inwards to

locally processed HQCF, albeit covertly due to the cassava inferiority complex

of Nigerian elites.

The Consumer Perception Process Theory, is yet another. This theory,

according to Arens (2004:147) in Nwosu (2009), shows how consumers,

perceive, conceive and remember advertising messages, and generally any

communication. It shows many varying factors which determine the

acceptability of such messages.

Here the persuasive power of advert could have been utilized to implant the idea

for the usage of cassava flour in the minds of the publics and other private sector

individuals who might go into the local production of cassava flour production or

bread bakery. Continuing on his discourse, Nwosu (2009) believed that the

import of this theory would “fore-warn and fore-arm communication,

practitioners, sort of, like those involved in social marketing, development

support communication, advocacy, public relations and advertising. They have

clearly got to understand these obstructive impediments and how to overcome

them. It is only then can their effort yield fruits and clients’ investments justified

and safe-guarded”. According to the schematic from the works of Arnes

(2004:148), Personality, Self-concept, Attitudes, Beliefs and Habits were some

of the physiological Screen (Sensory) and Psychological Screens (Emotional)

38

were some of the obstructive impediments that may inhibit the consumer from

taking in, on the persuasive communications. Here the consumers’ inferiority

psyche on cassava is a major psychological screen that seems to obstruct

purchase. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the social marketers, in the case of

the cassava flour idea, the presidents team, to devise means and ways for

overcoming these obstructive impediments in the various individual publics or

interest groups or advocacy. One of the models for handling interest group

challenges, is the uses and gratification paradigm (Nwosu, 2003:153). One factor

on this model would be how to reduce the amount of money paid by the

consumer for a loaf of bread. The cognitions (beliefs and opinions) of the

stakeholders, in the cassava flour programme, who were implicitly opposed to

the idea of blending cassava flour with wheat flour, must be altered through

persuasive communication and reconciliation paradigm (uses and gratification).

Another important theory to this study is the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, The

author of this theory, Leoan Festinger, a psychologist, believe that dissonance

operates in humans, in the same manner like drive or need or tension, which

compel individuals to reverse their attitudes or beliefs in order to avert

unfavourable consequences. In the works of Nwosu and Nkamnebe (2006:97):

“Human being has the tendency of experiencing psychological tension

particularly when their cognitions (beliefs and opinions) and behaviour/actions

39

are in conflict. When this occurs, the individual automatically seeks ways to

reduce the tension, in other words, dissonance results from conflicts between

attitudes/beliefs and actions/behaviour, and the human system has a way of

restoring consonance, that is, balance between attitude and action”.

According to Nwuso (2009), “the theory is of immense value to communication

practitioners who package communication messages, they must not only be

persuasive, but also capable of motivating the acceptability of the messages”.

Continuing in his exposition of the theory, Nwosu(2009), re-stated that the

utilization of the desirable motivational appeals in communication messages

leads to effectiveness and positive influence, particularly, if the right need of the

target audience is understood. It, therefore, implies that attempt to change

attitude could lead to resistance. Hence, arrangement must, therefore, be made to

contain such resistance and still ensure the attainment of the set goals. The

communicators must be able to break into the psyche of consumers to alter their

inferior beliefs about cassava flour input for bakery and confectionery purposes.

Although Nwuso (2009), directed the application of this theory to the image and

reputation re-branding project of the country (locally and internationally), it is

also most appropriate to the cassava flour legislation communication. The

question posed in Nwosu(2009):

40

“Could this have been responsible for the failure of Nigeria

successive government’s attempts to solve its

perceived image problems, not withstanding the series of

measures so far adopted?”

The “Wheat cabal” as described in Maya (2006), succinctly suggested that

these were in opposition or dissonant to the cassava flour bread-blending project

and could do anything humanly possible to put resistance. It is, therefore, the

responsibility of the president’s team to achieve restoration of consonance, that

is, balance between their beliefs that the nation must conserve scarce foreign

exchange and their resistance against the wheat flour substitution. The

communicators who designed the popularization campaign obviously failed to

take cognizance of the suitability of this communication theory in the planning

stages of the cassava project.

2.7 SYSTEMIC CHALLANGES IN THE EFFECTIVE

IMPLEMENTATION OF CASSAVA FLOUR PROJECT

In a contemporary world of dynamic changes, one cannot survive except the

necessary changes, re-engineering and innovations were embraced by the

authorities with the ultimate purpose of bringing good governance and effective

development to the people. Nigeria has been embattled with many obnoxious

policies inherited from the past military administrations and a change of

41

emphasis and re-structuring is the only recipe for effective development. One of

such changes and re-structuring is the be in the area of reformation of the various

ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the government in the way and

manner vital information are handled or managed for achieving the desired goals

of governance.

Systemic Errors

There are two basic errors that are observed to be rampant with our system

which should be rectified if Nigeria must move forward in the right direction

even at 50. One of these areas is the placement of wrong persons into the right

positions.

According to Tokumboh (2000:53): “One important factor giving rise to

maladministration is the employment of incompetent staff, particularly to

management and sensitive positions. This was the situation at the early stages in

many public corporations”. This was referred to as “Dysfunctional Placements of

Government Functionaries” in Okeleke (2009:5):

“One of the things that went wrong with our system of governance is the wrong

placement of poor caliber of personnel into sensitive position. For example,

persons who were not qualified were placed in the public affairs offices of the

presidency”. Individuals who were not qualified as public relations personnel

42

were made personal assistants (PAs) to governors. The placement of square peg

in a round hole was, indeed, a back-drop from the past military regimes and such

legacies inherited from the military should be discarded by the democratic

regimes by reviewing the constitution (a product of the military junta). There

must be a shift from the practice of trivializing sensitive positions, in appointing

individuals found to be most unsuitable to leadership positions, for a political

thuggery reward. This is not only counterproductive and wasteful of scarce

resources but impinges on the image and reputation of the country for which we

now seek for a re-brand. The incident that occurred between the Federal Institute

of Industrial Research Office (FIIRO) and the Raw Material Research and

Development Council (RMRDC) was a smack of the absence of relational

virtues among the MDAs. In Maya (2006:48-49): “Meanwhile fierce rivalry

erupted between FIIRO and RMRDC. Officials of RMRDC were asking for

some concessions and recognitions on the cassava project. They wanted the

vehicles used for the demonstration tour to be handed to them at the end of the

exercise. The suspicion heightened when RMRDC also demanded that the

technical details (composite formula) of the bread formulation and baking

technology be handed over to them for record purposes. FIIRO may have

expressed mis-giving on the issue of the release of the actual bread formulation

for fear of losing proprietary right. RMRDC also demanded that the labels to be

used by the 10 percent cassava bread, acknowledge “in collaboration with

RMRDC”. This was a case of questionable national interest. If the

43

communication and information management systems were sound, there would

not have been a cause for suspicion in the quest and pursuance of national

interest, such as the cassava bread project. The drive for personal

aggrandizement in our social life breeds avarice and acrimonious relationships.

The interest for national building and cohesion may be lost under such

conditions. This may have been contributory factor for the preponderant absence

of development in Nigeria and Nigerians even at 50, otherwise, what could be

the possible explanation for the jumbo salaries and miscellaneous allowances the

politicians fixed for themselves while the simple demand for them to oblige the

twenty-seven percent agreed under past administration for teachers and other

civil servants, was grievous to them, thereby orchestrating protracted strike

periods.

According to Fasina (1986:6):

“Given the circumstances of the pattern of our industrial development and the

well-conceived objectives of our ill-executed development plans, one is naturally

led to conclude that our plans foundered because we over-looked the importance

of inter-dependence of industries. But for this expensive over-sight. We would

have programmed for the setting up of satellite and small-scale industries which

would have either provided input for other industries by processing raw natural

products or utilize the output of some other industries by refining them for the

use of yet other industries”.

44

In Okeleke (2009:9):

“Nigeria would have been blossoming with

chains of micro-small and Medium Enterprises

(MSMEs) who joined one fleet or the other of the

multi-national companies (MNCs). The Nigerian

suppliers of raw materials are there quite alright

but too few to make any meaningful impact on

unemployment and industrial sector. These

MNCs do not allow any processing on some of

the supplied raw materials because they would

not want to support the growth and development

of the MSMEs but only interested in their profits

and capital”.

All these set backs would not have been suffered by the country, if the

appropriate machinery for the practice of information and PR Management

were put in place. Ukwu (2007:165), explained that, “PR is critically involved

in ensuring that our system of government approaches each of these ideals”.

The centrality of his (Ukwu) discourse is that if democracy is memorably

defined as “the government of the people, by the people, for the people, then

45

we ought to embrace PR practices as essential component and aid to

management.

It is worthy of note here that out major problem in Nigeria is not lack of

planning. Our problem stem from lack of proper and efficient implementation

of our plans, (Okere, 2008:7), stated that we are now in a business world at a

level when “right answers” in one time and context can become wrong

solutions in another time and context. Thus “best practices” unless repeatedly

analyzed for their sensibilities, may become “worst practices” that may

disastrously impede business performance and competence. So it is being

submitted that managers, governors, presidents... need to think “out of the

box” where box is the representation of all tested, tried things that always

worked in the past. They would need to think beyond what works today.

Other systemic errors are rigidity, weak patriotism and discontinuity of

development programmes and projects. One of the mistakes of leadership in

Nigeria, and which may have been, in part, one of the banes of development is

discontinuity of programmes and projects in the event of change in

government.

In highlighting some of the bottlenecks of development, Waku (2007:189)

explained that the problem of good governance in Nigeria centers around the

46

absence of fiscal and monetary discipline and stability, unbridled corruption,

and inconsistency in policy design and implementation. Public relations as a

communication centered activity, is based on openness, truthfulness of

information and respect for the right of the electorate to full information which

is the basis for free discussion and decision making. In the case of early

planning and decision making on the cassava flour legislation, some of the

publics who were called for briefing were not very free in the discussion but

concealed some issue agitating their minds, such as the taste, colour and smell

of the cassava bread. Moreover, no stakeholder was free enough to ask for the

technical details of the formula for making the cassava flour blended bread. A

situation which a PR-manager could have averted.

In Maya (2006:49): “During the meeting with the president where fruit and

coconut cassava flour blended-bread was tasted, the Association of Flour

millers stated that they were not opposed to the concept of cassava blended

bread but wondered if their cassava flour requirement could be met. On their

part, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria praised the

inward looking approach of government and pledged their readiness to evolve a

new baking technique to ensure good formula for the composite wheat plus

cassava flour that might be used. Incidentally, nobody raised the issue that the

millers stood to make less profit, at least in the short-run with the proposed

cassava-wheat regime. For one, not many of the Millers actually have capacity

47

to really mill wheat in the first place. What they do is to import already milled

wheat flour and just re-bag. And for this, they get all manner of concession for

‘locally producing wheat flour’. The import records showed that the emphasis

is one wheat flour not on wheat grains. It also clearly shows how much of the

local wheat produced is used up by the Millers. But everyone pretended as

though all was well. And it seems that the president fell for it”. Obviously, the

“president” in the works of Maya referred to president Obasanjo (1999-2006).

2.8 ENLIGHTENMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM

BROMATE AS ADDITIVE TO BAKERIES AND PASTRIES:

PREVENTABLE RISK BY USE OF HIGH QUALITY CASSAVA

FLOUR

Potassium bromate is a white crystal, granules, or powder, which is colourless,

odourless, and tastess. It has no medical value but is added to flour as a

maturing agent, to dough, to fish paste as a conditioner, and also to beer or

cheese, (Chipman 1988 in NJPS, 2009:59). The problem of potassium bromate

started with ozonization of drinking water to form bromate as a major by

product (WHO: 1993).

48

When research was done to confirm the safety of ozonated water, it was found

that potassium bromate causes renal cancer in rats when they drank water with

potassium bromate.

Following this discovery many countries, Health Organizations and Agencies

started banning the use of potassium bromate (NAFDAC, 2003 in NJPS,

2009:59).

In Nigeria , the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and

Control (NAFDAC) in 2002, held consultative meeting with Association of

Master Bakers in the various states of the country on the dangers in use of

potassium bromate in bread and the need to stop its use. Despite the awareness

created by NAFDAC on the danger of using potassium bromate as flour

enhancer, many bakers still use the restricted substance (NAFDAC) 2003, in

NJPS, 2009:59). In Nigeria, that there is no technology yet to detect food

product containing potassium bromate or the dangerous health hazard that this

chemical may cause, further complicates the health position of many

consumers of bread in the country. The use of bromate in bakeries and pastries

is a secrete that is difficult to detect by the consumers because of the

colourless, odourless nature of this chemical compound. Many Nigerian

consumers of bread face a very high risk of preventable renal cancer disease.

The bread consuming publics need to be enlightened on how to avert or at least

49

reduce the inherent risk of cancer through consumption of bakeries and pastries

containing potassium bromate. Here calls for consumer protection on bread

consumption.

In Maya(2006): “Cassava flour was observed by the team to rise very well in

the dough”. If that is the case, the government can intensify campaign for the

use of cassava flour up to 20 percent substitution since well prepared cassava

flour has the potency to rise well without potassium bromate.

2.9 THE ODOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF FERMENTED CASSAVA

Cassava, after fermentation in the process of preparing of the traditional foods

(fufu), in Igboland, produces unpleasant odour and this the people of south-

east, in particular Enugu State has its pedigree. It is therefore, a long historic

experience that cassava food smells and so many elites of the south-east and

south-south appear to avoid it and go for garri food, also derived from cassava

but the drying, frying causes the cyanide acid odour of cassava to escape. It is,

therefore, this cassava odour that predisposes it to a notion of an inferior food

product over the years in the psyche of many Nigerians, especially in the south-

south and south-east. The issue here is that inclusion of cassava flour into

bakery products may create resentment which in turn may affect negatively the

demand for cassava flour bread. However, this fear should be allayed following

the method of processing the cassava flour.

50

In FIIRO(2007):

“Cassava has advantages as a raw material for flour production because of the

ease of processing and low capital investment required in establishing a

processing unit. In addition, cassava flour has bland flavour and is thus

unlikely to alter the flavour of any product in which it is used”.

The problem of odour with cassava flour does not arise because the process

does not allow fermentation, as the process, from start to finish is within

twenty-four hours.

In IITA(2005):

“The process of HQCF production involves peeling,

washing, grating, pressing, drying and packaging. All these

processes have to be done within 24 to 36 hours. In terms of

quality, the standard organization of Nigeria recommends

that the colour, tast and odour shall be characteristic of

product…cassava flour when tested with iodine solution

shall give a blue black colouration”.

51

Consequently, the law on the use of cassava flour in bread and confectionery,

which has put farmers and cassava processors into supply chain of bakers and

flour millers in Nigeria (IITA:2005), may have been successful in Enugu state,

albeit, implicitly as no baker may be willing to disclose the secrete of their

blending formula.

2.10 REINFORCEMENT OF IMPORT SUBSTITUTION BILL

The systematic challenges which bedeviled development projects and

programmes, notwithstanding, Nigerian government cannot afford to jettison

the cassava flour project simply due to the inherent weaknesses of following of

implementation of development project or programmes

In FIIRO (2007):

“Import substitution opportunities for cassava exist in three broad areas: (a)

cassava flour, (ii) Cassava starch and (iii) animal feed. Cassava flour can be

used as a partial replacement for many bakery and pasta products. The process

of making cassava flour entails peeling and washing, grating, dewatering,

pulverizing, drying and milling”.

“Cassava flour is cherished so much both in Nigeria and abroad because of its

utility in the life of man and animal”, (Aboje, patrick, 2006:39).

52

In Oshisade, Victor (2005:65): “With 33 metric tons yearly output, Nigeria is

rated the world’s largest primary producer of cassava and adjudged the world’s

largest consumer”.

It may seem that the demand for cassava flour is very high but latent due to

certain unpleasant smell of cassava observable during fermentation for

traditional fufu. The new developments which occasioned wider application of

cassava products for domestic and industrial uses would definitely exert

pressures on demand for cassava. Nigeria being the worlds largest Consumer of

cassava. There are fears of paucity of supply of the cassava roots from which to

derive cassava flour resulting from the vagaries of climatic and weather

conditions. Another constraint, as observed in FIIRO (2007), is the lack of

capital investment in additional items of machinery for production of cassava

flour. The major physical bottleneck for IITA process are access to processing

equipment, power to provide mechanization and reliance on good weather for

drying the product. In Nigeria, weather appear to be the major bottleneck. It can

reduce production rates by 90 percent and interfere with deliveries and

reduction, in product quality and selling price. Prolonged drying leads to

fermentation of the wet mash and a reduction in PH value, where PH is a

measure of value of salinity.

53

Writing on the cassava economy, Bamiyi, Festus (2005:44), “As good as the

vision is, there are several challenges facing the cassava revolution in Nigeria.

These emanate from millers, equipment, financiers, international competition,

raw material base and pricing”. The utility and profitability of cassava and

cassava flour notwithstanding, the threats to the sustainability of cassava flour

supply, is a very high risk factor that must be redressed by the intervention of

end-users who provide demand for the product, set quality standards and offer

incentives for production of consistent quality. In FIIRO (2007):

“Continued support is required from both government

and NGOs to promote the use of cassava flour as a

substitute for wheat flour. Their support is also necessary

to provide training and financial assistance for processors

wishing to exploit the market opportunity”.

The absence of a strong credit markets for agricultural processors has been

another bottleneck to the success of the cassava flour projects. Even when the

government under the auspices of the bankers Committee on December, 21st

1999, inaugurated a policy shift for private sector intervention in the

development of small and medium industries equity investment scheme

(SMIEIS), under which a compulsory 10% profit Before tax (PBT) levy was

imposed on the banks, the scheme failed in their performance. Hence, in

54

Okeleke P.A., Onah E.S.E., Ugonne, Okamkpa, Onyia, M.N. and Shelika, G.C.

(2008:4):

“The inaccessibility of the SMEIS fund to the

Entrepreneurs is, therefore, the bane of industrial

growth and development.”

The banks (commercial) who in the first instance volunteered to support the

funding programme are, by nature of the term structure of their deposits, averse

to long term project financing. This attribute may still be inherent in these

banks. Moreover, the type of environment on ground in the country may best be

described as “disabling”, rather than enabling.

55

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Sun July 15:48-49, Vol 25, No 10, 266.

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Mohammed, Z. (2008), “Education and Sustainable National Development”,

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Sustainable Human Development”, in Nwosu and Fab-Ukozor (eds),

Communication for Sustainable Human Development Enugu. ACCE.

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Processes, Practices; Aba Afri-Towers Ltd.

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61

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter highlighted the strategic plans for gathering data from the field and

other sources of information relevant for this study. It detailed out the methods

this study. It detailed out the methods or approach and the tools and techniques

employed in the conduct of the research.

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN

The nature of this study requires that data should be gathered from the

field processors of cassava into cassava flour and the users of these cassava

flour for baking bread. The most appropriate design is the survey method, in

which data would be elicited from the producers of cassava flour and the master

bakers.

According to Asika, N. (2009:13), survey research focuses on population or the

universe. Data are collected from the population for intensive study and

analysis. Again in Osuata (2007:253-254):

“Survey are oriented toward the determination of the

status of a given phenomenon rather than towards the

62

isolation of causative factors. Survey differ from case

studies in that surveys are generally based on large

cross-sectional sample…”

The focus of this design (survey) is to select the samples that would be adequate

for proper assessment of the true status of the population characteristic. Put in

another way, samples that would enable us to make correct assessment of the

status on the usage of cassava flour for bakery and confectionery business in

Enugu State.

In this study out of a total universe of 35 Processors, thirty-two were selected as

the working universe and in a random sampling, 25 were further selected for the

effective administration of the questionnaire. Also telephone enquiries were

made to some renown master bakers and producers of bread flour.

The data collected were subsequently analyzed in chapter flour where the

research questions were answered using the data obtained from the respondents

(on the questionnaires) vis a vis the literature review. Finally, the Null

hypothesis was tested. Tests were executed on a triad statistical method, using

the ANOVA, Normal curve and the student t-test.

63

3.3 SOURCE OF DATA

The data for this study were gathered from both primary and secondary sources:

3.3.1 Primary Sources

Here, information was obtained directly from the field through interviews, and

questionnaires administered.

3.3.2 Secondary Sources

In the course of our investigation, we made use of relevant information

abstracted from published materials. These secondary data were culled from

textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet and other unpublished materials

relevant to the study. These include: completed research works from the

university’s library and seminar materials at the institution for Development

Studies (IDS).

3.4 INSTRUMENTS OF DATA COLLECTION

The instrument used for obtaining primary data was the questionnaire. In

designing the questionnaire care was taken to necessary ensure that appropriate

questions necessary for answering the research question vis a vis the hypotheses

were exhausted. The instrument was partitioned into two segments. The first

part contained the bio-data of the respondents.

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3.5 POPULATION OF STUDY

The population of the study consists of all cassava processors into

cassava flour, the master bakers and other confectionery makers in Enugu State,

which distribution of the population is as shown below:

TABLE 3A: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION CASSAVA FLOUR

PROCESSORS

Agricultural Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) 3

Enugu Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP) 10

Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) 5

Root, Tubers Expanded Programme (RTEP) 10

Master Bakers 7

Total 35

Source: Root, Tubers Expanded Programme, Enugu

Most of these workers are in the field at various locations which are Obino in

Nsukka, Amorji-Nike, Ehamufu in Isi-uzo and Isuawa in Awgu under the

supervision of the institutional farmers detailed above in table 3A. The

researcher instrument was administered to a cross-section of this total

population.

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3.6 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND SAMPLE SIZE

In cognizance of the fact that these farmers were settled in clusters or pockets

settlement. Consequently, the cluster sampling technique was used after

deriving the sample size of 32 out using the statistical formula as below.

From the works of Bourley, cited in Yemane (1973) in (Ozo in et al)

Sample Size Calculation

Given that: n = N

1+N(e)2

When n = Desired sample size

e = Level of Significance (5%)

N = Total Population of universe

n = 35 = 35

1+35 (0.05)2 1.0875 = 32.18

:. Sample size or working universe 32. This however, in November, 2009

during the site inspection to determine the actual number of processors on site it

was observed that the farmer/processors were settled in clusters. Consequently,

selection was randomly made according to the areas of their settlement:

Table 3: SELECTION BY CLUSTERS OF SETTLEMENT

66

Field Location Working Universe Sampling

Obimo – Nsukka 5 5

Amorji – Nike 5 5

Ehamufu – Isiuzo 5 5

Isuawa-Awgu 5 5

ADP 3 1

RTEP 3 1

IITA 2 1

Women Wing Entrepreneur 2 1

Baker/others 2 1

32 25

This led us to administering 25 persons with questionnaire. It was not until first

quarter of the year 2010 that we started receiving the completed from the

respondents. The research instrument was, there, distributed as follows:

Field Operators (Cassava Farmers/Processors 80%

Institutional Farmers/Representatives 16%

Master Bakers/others 4%

100%

3.7 PILOT SURVEY

67

This is one of the strategies adopted in the research design to establish the

validity of the research instrument. The pre-test which commenced in

September, 2009 was done on Saturdays throughout the month. The following

master bakers contact on one-on-on basis through personal interviews:

- Bon Nigeria Ltd (located along Enugu-Onitsha expressway)

- Danny Bread Located in Obiagu

- Nwokocha Bakery at New Haven

- Chitis Bakeries at Independence Layout

Meeting were scheduled for each to discuss with the factory owners. With the

factory managers in the cases of Chitis and Bons while the managing Directors

were interviewed in the case of Danny and Nwokocha factories. The pre-test

questionnaire were completed by the researcher. The information elicited from

this pre-test seemed to be partially biased as some of the master bakers feigned

ignorant of the legislation scheme while others admitted the usage of the

cassava flour in the dough blend. In the course of trying to clarify certain issues,

it was observed that most of the master bakers do not want their products to be

associated with “Cassava”.

The result from the pre-test, therefore, was useful in re-shaping and re-

structuring the questionnaire and re-directed the researchers attention to the

institutional cassava farmers (ADP, ENADEP, IITA and RTEP), who disclosed

the various locations of the processors of cassava flour used for bakery purpose.

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Apart from helping to enrich the content validity of the questionnaire, the pre-

test enabled the research to fully appreciate the operational definition of the

variables and how to sustain the validity of the research instrument.

3.8 DATA COLLECTION

The distribution of the questionnaire to the process located at different farm

location was not an easy task. After series of visits and meetings with some of

the staff ENADEP, one Mr. Ogbonna a field supervisor at Ugbawka was

introduced to me. He enlightened me on the best way to reach the processors at

the different locations which was through the institutional farmers

representatives who usually come to Enugu twice in a month for meeting and

briefings. We took him to Modotel for entertainments. He suggested that we

need to give some token of money to support Representatives his moral was

boosted. Twenty-five sheets of the questionnaire were administered, the sample

of which is in appendix VIII on page 73-74.

However, it was not until the end of March 2010 that the feedback from

the questionnaire started to turn. But tragedy struck on 20th November when

thieves broke into his residence and made away with some valuables including

laptop which contained the chapters one and two of the research works. This

incidence discouraged the researcher for more than five months but for some

lecturers that called to encourage him to restart the research report.

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3.8 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES

The study used quantities descriptive analysis in analyzing the data generated on

the status of use of cassava flour in Enugu State. The qualitative data generated

from the research instrument (questionnaire) returned by the respondents, were

transformed into quantitative data types and were arranged into frequency

distribution tables.

The parametric data in the forms of means, mode, variance and standard

deviation derived from the frequency tables were used to derive other numeric

using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). In this study ANOVA,

which is f-distribution, normal curve which is z-score and student t-test models

were used to corroborate the validity of the research instrument.

3.9 RELIABILITY OF DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS

In our description of validity test, we established that it was intended to ensure

the ability of the research instrument to adequately measure what it was

designed to measure. However, the reliability test is concerned with the

consistency in the results given by the same instrument, if employed by other

researchers. The reliability of data collection instruments, therefore, seeks to

foster replicability of research results. The uniformity of responses elicited from

the different respondents, in this study to whom questionnaire were

administered independently and the staggered characteristics of the

70

administration, ensured the reliability of data collection. We are rest assured that

reliability test would score well over 95 percent subject to significant margin of

less than five percent , so much so that if the research is replicated, the same

results would be derived using the channels for collecting and corroborating

data, and under the same conditions.

3.10 VALIDITY OF DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

The concept of validity here connotes the validity of findings, (which is a test

for research designs) and validity of measurements (which pertains to the

quality of the measuring instruments), when the research design is properly

contrived to ensure the adequacy of the instrument being employed in eliciting

the type of responses that it is designed to generate.

In this study, cognizance was taken of the demographic features of the

respondents, in designing the research instrument. The other part of the

questionnaire contained a combination of open-ended and closed-ended

questions to ensure the adequacy of the content validity. The distribution of the

questionnaire was staggered to prevent the concentration of the instrument in

the hands of persons within the same unit or field; the purpose of which is to

ensure that the respondents acted independently in the course of providing

answers to the questionnaire.

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Apart from the use of questionnaire, other methods of collecting information

such as observation (some cassava flour producers were watched in the process

of production), the telephone survey was employed also to assist in the

corroboration of the data collected from the respondents in the field. Some of

the important personalities interviewed on telephone (GSM) included Prof.

Mbah, the present Rector of Ehamufu Federal College of Education and Dr.

Ezeaku of the Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Data from World Bank

Publications, obtained from the ENADEP office, on annual crops yield on

cassava was used to further verify the authenticity of data and ensure the

validity of findings.

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CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

4.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter seeks to present and analyze the data collected for this research.

These data are presented in frequency tables… from which descriptive and

inferential analysis would be made, using the ANOVA Model derived from the

statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17.0

4.2 QUESTIONNAIRE RETURN RATE

A total of thirty-two (32) questionnaire sheet were distributed, however, twenty-

five (25) were completed which represented 79percent while seven (7) which

also represented 21 percent were not returned and so were not included in the

data collected.

Table 3 contained the detail of the questionnaire return rate:

Table 3: Questionnaire Return Rate

S/N SAMPLE PROCESSING

CENTER

DISTRIBUTED RETURNED NOT RETURNED

1. Obioma – Nsukka 5 16% 5 16% - - 2. Amorji – Nike 5 16% 5 16% - - 3. Ehamufu – Isiuzo 5 16% 5 16% - - 4. Isuawa – Awgu 5 16% 5 16% - - 5. Agric Dev. Prog.

(ADP) 3 9% 1 3% 2 6%

6. Root, Tuber, Expanded

2 9% 1 3% 2 6%

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Programme 7. Inter-nation

Institute for Tropical Agric (ITTA)

2 6% 1 3% 1 3%

8. Women Wing Entrepreneur

2 6% 1 3% 1 3%

9. Baker/Others 2 6% 1 3% 1 3% Total 32 100 25 79% 7 21%

Source: Field Survey, 2009

4.3 SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF

RESIDENTS

The background

However, confectionery products in Enugu State. The detailed information the

bio-data characteristics of the respondents are now presented as follows.

4.3.1 Table 4: Age Distribution of Respondents

S/N AGE BRACKET RESPONDENT PERCENTAGE 1. 18 – 30 4 16 2. 31 – 40 10 40 3. 41 – 50 9 36 4. 50 – Above 2 8 25 100% Source: Field Survey, 2009

The age distribution of the respondent indicated a very high concentration of the

sample population within the age bracket of 31 – 50years. This is quite an

acceptable working life age.

74

4.3.2 Table 5: Gender Distribution

GENDER RESPONDENT PERCENTAGE % Male 9 36 Female 16 64 Total 25 100% Source: Field Survey, 2009

The task of cassava production and process is quite and arduous task. The

people of Enugu state are traditionally known as farmers who even had travel

outside their communities and dwell in farm settlement. The sample population

of farm settlers in different communities is as shown in table 2 in chapter 3.

The Gender Distribution which is contained in Table 5, is one of a

disproportionate scale against the female gender which recorded a sample

population of 16 respondents or 64 percent as against the male respondents of 9

or 36 percent.

In Ellis, F (2000:168):

“Gender inequality is perceived feature of rural livelihoods. Women have

unequal ownership or access rights to land, their access to productive resources

occurs through mediation of men, their decision making capabilities concerning

resource use and output choices are often severely restricted. Moreover, women

confront narrower labour markets than men and unequal earnings prospects in

such labour markets as are open to them. Their lower education, resulting from

discriminatory access as children, means that when they do engage in labour

markets it is likely to be in low wage work with little job security”.

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The writing of this author (Ellis), merely epitomized the working environment

in which women were found to be highest in the drudgery work as cassava flour

production which ought to have been male-dominated. The low level of their

income brackets is an outright manifestation of male-chauvinism.

4.3.3 Table 6: Income Distribution of Respondents

Source: Field Survey, 2009

From Table 6: Income Distribution of the Respondents, Majority of which lied

between N11,000 to N40,000.00 was not quite impressive considering drudgery

characteristics of cassava production and the processing of a high quality

cassava flour which must be completed within 24 hours from the time of the

harvesting of the root crop to the finishing into bread flour to prevent

fermentation.

Although this study was not designed investigate the gender disparity, however,

as a front-burner it may be necessary to bring other people’s opinion on the

issue.

In an unpublished works of Okamkpa, U.F. (2010):

INCOME BRACKETS RESPONDENTS PERCENTAGE % 8500 – 10,000 3 12 11,000 – 20,000 9 36 21,000 – 40,000 9 36 41,000 – 80,000 3 12 81,000 – 99,000 1 4 100,000 – Above - - 25% 100%

76

“Ecofeminism perceives an interconnection between the domination of women

and the domination of nature… hence, all feminine is seen as inferior and may,

therefore, be exploited.”

The issue of gender segregation or male-chauvinism is widely criticized and

condemned as derogatory. Indeed, women and men (females and males) are

different biologically but all cultures intercept and elaborate these innate

biological differentials into a set of social expectations about what behaviours

and activities are appropriate, and what rights, resources, and power they

possess. Consequently, gender seem to be a social category that largely

establishes one’s destiny, shaping one’s participation in socio-political

economy.

Some societies do not practice racial or ethnic divides, however, all societies

recognize gender asymmetries and disparities in various degrees, but such

asymmetrical dimensions should not be seen to be derogative rather they should

be seen as complimentary.

Currently, there are various socio-political movements against gender inequality

which were aimed at changing or reducing gender segregation. In Enugu state

for instance, there are Women’s Advocates for Collective (WACOL) and the

Human Rights Organizations. These are Non-Governmental (NGOs) and they

seek to promote the ideals of the feminine category. However, the extent of their

successes is not widely known.

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4.4 ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS VIS A VIS ANSWERS

FROM THE RESPONDENTS.

4.4.1 Research Question one:

“Is the presidential directive for massive productive of cassava successful in the

satisfaction of domestic and export market in Enugu State?”

In the questionnaire administered, two questions (7 and 9) are connection due to

answer for the research question in focus:

Questionnaire Question #7:

Is Enugu State the largest or second largest producer of cassava in Nigeria?

Tabulation of the respondents answers below:

Table 7:

VARIABLES FREQUENCY PRECENTAGE %

RATIO

Yes 15 60% 3:5 No 5 20% 1:5 Neutral 5 20% 1:5 Total 25 100% Source: Field Survey, 2009

In real terms if the neutral sample population of 5 respondents is disregarded,

then the true ratio or percentage is 3:4 or 75 percent respectively. This means

that Enugu state, may be indeed the largest producer of cassava crop in Nigeria,

as the weather and climatic conditions reports seem to buttress these facts. The

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question of whether the production satisfied the local market demands may not

be in doubt except that the trend must be sustained. However, the question

whether, the cassava production also satisfied the export demands, according to

the respondents opinion is also resistive and follows:

Table 8:

Variables Frequency Percentage %

Ratio

Yes 15 60% 3:5 No 4 16% 4:25 Neutral 6 24% 6:25 Total 25 100% Source: Field Survey, 2009

From table , the real response in favour of export is almost 80percent i.e. when

the neutral components are excluded. Further oral enquires revealed that some

of the institutional investors such as the Agricultural Development Programme

(ADP) were into export through Lagos terminals. However, no data regarding

the export details was available with the Enugu State office of the Nigeria

Export promotion council (NEPC) when visited during the survey exercise.

4.4.2 Research Question Two:

“Is the legislation on the application of cassava flour for bakery and

confectionery businesses successful in Enugu State?”

Again, from the questionnaire distributed, there are quite a number of questions

posed included the following:

79

Questionnaire Question 12:

“Are there some notable processors of cassava flour in Enugu state?” The

frequency of the answers elicited from the respondents was as follows:

Table 9:

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 17 68 17:25 No NIL NIL NIL Neutral 8 32 8:25 Total 25 100% Source: Field Survey, 2009

In actual sense, if the neutral factor were eliminated, the total number of

respondents on the affirmative which is 17, may be said to be 100 percent.

Obviously, there are many processors of cassava flour all over Enugu State,

even beyond the sample frame of this study. No doubt the demand for cassava

flour as input for bread and other products such as biscuits, indomie noodles etc,

may be said to be quite high within and outside the state.

Questionnaire Question 13:

“Are you aware whether bread bakers and biscuit producers use cassava flour in

Enugu State?”

80

Table 10:

Source: Field Survey, 2009

Of course, it is possible that some of the bakers and confectionery products

manufacturers may not be using the cassva flour and all.

However, from table 10 one can deduce that about 80 percent of the

manufacturers of these products do, indeed, use cassava flour, going by the field

survey reports.

Questionnaire Question 18:

“To the best of your knowledge, is cassava flour presently being used in bakery

and confectionery products in Enugu State?”

Table 11

Source: Field Survey, 2009

Discarding the neutral component of the sample population which is three

respondents, it becomes obvious that over 85 percent of the bread baking

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 16 64 16:25 No 4 16 4:25 Neutral 5 20 1:5 Total 25 100%

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 19 76 19:25 No 3 12 3:25 Neutral 3 12 3:25 Total 25 100%

81

factories in Enugu State actually use bread flour, albeit clandestively. This

preponderant response to the affirmative was corroborated by the oral

interviews with some of the flour millers which included BONS Nigeria

Limited located at Kilometer…. Enugu-Ontisha Expressway.

Finally, was must examine other responses which critically bother on the quality

of bread made from the new bread flour. These were as follows:

Questionnaire Question 14:

“Do you think some consumers have fears in consumption of bread as product

made from cassava flour in Enugu State?”

Source: Field Survey, 2009

From the respondent’s opinion, majority of Enugu state citizens are skeptical of

the quality of bread made from cassava flour. This is, however, slightly true

from the same respondents reports in answer to questionnaire question 17:

“Do you think some Nigerians consider cassava as inferior food to be used in

bakery products?”

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 17 68 17:25 No 3 12 3:25 Neutral 5 20 1:25 Total 25 100%

82

Table 13:

Judging from the data presented in table 13, it is obvious that over 60 percent of

the sample population were of the opinion that some Nigerians in Enugu State

consider cassava as an inferior input for bread for fear of quality adulteration or

compromise.

The last question to be considered bordered on the attitude of many Nigerians

towards made in Nigeria products, in particular cassava flour made bread:

Questionnaire Question 16:

“In your opinion, do Nigerians have confidence or patronize made in Nigeria

products? Although this question measures the general attitude of Nigerians on

locally made products however, the respondent’s knew that the focal issue was

on the nation of the import substitution objective for use of locally made

cassava flour for bread bakery. Their answers were quite revealing:

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 18 56 14:25 No 8 32 8:25 Neutral 3 12 3:25 Total 25 100%

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 11 44 11:25 No 10 40 2:25 Neutral 4 16 4:25 Total 25 100%

83

Source: Field Survey, 2009

Here, the respondents have confidence in the made in Nigeria products were

approximately equal to the number of respondents that have no confidence.

Again, we are aware of the general phenomenon that the attitude of many

Nigeria elites towards locally made product is usually very low. It may,

therefore, seem that the cassava flow initiative is keeping a new track record of

a reversal of attitude. The respondents, fully aware that there is little or no

choice or substitute for bread at breakfast, if variety is indeed the spice of life.

That is to say that there may be other substitutes such as Okpa (made from a

local bean seed) and others but bread-food still ranks very high in the breakfast

menu of many families in Enugu State.

The final question to be considered is number 20 in the list of questionnaire

questions is:

“Do you think the government has adequately popularized the use of cassava

flour for bakery and confectionery products in Enugu State?”

Table 15

Variable Frequency Percentage % Ratio Yes 14 56 14:25 No 8 32 8:25 Neutral 3 12 3:25 Total 25 100%

84

Source: Field Survey, 2009

Contrary to the initial report in Maya (2006:49), that presidential campaign for

the popularization exercise was botched, the campaign seem to have received

adequate publicity as over 60 percent of the respondents affirmed to the due

propagation of the message. The various models on roles of the mass media as

discussed in chapter may have been at work. The agenda-setting theory of the

mass media may have propelled a following schedule for implement that

brought the programme into fruition in Enugu State. Moreover, the Cognitive

Dissonance Theory may have also engendered the reversal in the attitude of

Nigerians toward the locally made products as now evident in the field survey

conducted and shown in tables 12, 13, and 14.

4.5 TESTING THE HYPOTHESES

4.5.1 Introduction: ANOVA

This segment delved into the computation of statistical values with the aim of

making scientific comparisons with the descriptive analysis found in the

subsequent sections of this chapter.

The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is one of the statistical tools for testing

whether significant difference exist between two groups of categorical nature, as

in this study. The NULL hypotheses must be tested using the right inferential

statistical model relevant for establishing whether the level of variations

observed among the variable were significant or not consequent upon which

85

rejection or acceptance may be made of the NULL hypotheses based on certain

laid down decision rule.

In SPSS Version 17:

“A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used when you have a categorical

independent variable (with two or more categories) and a normally distributed

interval dependent variable and you wish to test for differences in the means of

dependent variable broken down by levels of the independent variable”. In this

study, the answers elicited from the respondents based on the various

questionnaire questions constitute the variable categorized as YES (x) and NO

(y) for the purpose of developing frequency tables for testing the NULL

hypotheses. These data types are called dichotomous categorical variables. The

F-distribution used to test for ANOVA.

4.5.2 Variance

In Asika, N (2009:122):

“Thus, variance is defined as the average of squared deviations of the values

from the mean of the distribution. It is denoted as s2 for sample variance and r2

for population variance…”

since, the purpose of the test is to establish whether the differences, if any

between the mean frequencies was mere error or due to chance or whether the

difference is statistically significant vis a vis the assume confidence level of

86

95%. The average of the summation of the variance is regarded as the calculated

F-distribution value also known as the ANOVA, which computation formula is

given as:

S = (x - y)2 N 4.5.3 Test of the NULL Hypothesis

HO1: “The Presidential initiative for mass production of cassava crops was not

successful in the satisfaction of domestic and export markets in Enugu

State?”

The relevant Questionnaire Questions are numbers 7 and 9 which combined

frequencies are 30 and 9 respondents for YES (x) and NO (y) categories

respectively.

In table 16 below, the ANOVA for testing HO1 is tabulated with the respective

means for x as x and y as y.

Table 16: ANOVA

VARIABLES Yes (x) 15 No (y) 4.5 Variance(S) 10.5 S2 110.25 S 110.2539 Calculated F-value 2.82 Critical Table Value

2.48

df 36

87

DECISION RULE:

Since the calculated F-distribution calculated value 2.82 is greater than the

critical value of 2.48 in appendix with a degree of freedom (df) of 36, at 5

percent level of significance and a confidence level of 95 percent. This means

that the test was at 95 percent level of success in the initiative to meet domestic

export market demand, while 5 percent was an error margin for possible

mistakes resulting from miscalculations or chance which is not statistically

significant.

HO1: “The legislation on the application of cassava flour for bakery and

confectionary businesses was not successful in Enugu State”.

The questionnaire question which is directly connected with the NULL

hypotheses (HO1) is question 18, which frequency and mean is 19 and 3

respectively for YES (x) and NO (y).

Table 17: ANOVA

VARIABLES Yes (x) 19 No (y) 3 Variance(S) 16 Variance Sq. (S2) 256 Critical F-Value 25622 =

11.64 Critical value 2.77

88

DECISION RULE

Since the calculated F-distribution calculated value 11.64 is greater than the

critical value of 2.77 in appendix…. With df of 36, at 5 percent level of

significance and a confidence level of 95 percent. This is to say that the test

conducted was at 95perencent level, successful in Enugu state, at 5 percent level

of significance in variations arising from miscalculations or chance and which is

not statistically significant.

89

REFERNCES

SPSS Version 17: p.2

90

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 DISCUSSION OF FINDING

5.1 INTRODUCTION

This study was basically exploratory in which the research was obligated to

execute within a specified period of time. Although the submission of the report

was slightly behind the schedule, however, it allowed for pretests, tests and re-

tests during which certain facts hitherto hidden or not too obvious were revealed

to the researcher.

A number of factors, no doubt, may have contributed in one way or the other to

retarding the wide-spread penetration of the knowledge and the blending

proportions on the use of cassava flour from pervading in general. The causative

factors may have ranged from the weak communication setting of the

programme abinitio, the undermining of the political factors, the quest for

proprietary rights which botched the first nation-wide campaign for the new-

found flour for bread and pastry doughs. Others may have been lack of

patriotism by many Nigerian elites for made-in-Nigeria products, and a host of

other reasons that may have eluded the study.

Despite the afore-stated factors which tended to mitigate the impact of flour, the

study rightly reveal the effects of the cassava project on the economic

development of the country as follows:

91

5.2 THE EFFECTS OF ADEQUATE COMMUNICATION ON

GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND

PROGRAMME

Although 63 percent of the respondent farmers, and processors of cassava into

bread flour were of the view that the government gave adequate popularization

through seminars and conferences as culled from the records of the Raw

Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC). The paucity of further

evidence by way of news documentaries or features in both the print and the

Broadcast media in Enugu state was to the contrary.

In spite of the obvious communicational flaws which attended the presidential

drive to create adequate awareness, the news about the knowledge on the

production and use of cassava flour may have reached Enugu but below the

wide-spread level anticipated.

One of the derivatives of this study is the power of effective communication of

government policies. When information is adequately disseminated to all the

publics or stakeholders, they would be properly empowered to make better

decisions on the issues on the ground. If the inadequate communication (63

percent) gave rise to about 88 percent of respondents who admitted that cassava

flour is presently being used for bakery and confectionery products in Enugu

92

state, see chapter 4 on the analysis, then other antecedent variables or factors

must have induced the success in the usage of cassava flour but not only the

success in the usage of cassava flour but not only the level of information

disseminated, as observed in Enugu State.

Some of these antecedent variables which may have facilitated the success of

the cassava flour in Enugu state include, among others:

(i) The quantity of cassava produced in the state. Enugu state was

ranked the second producer in the South-east after Imo state.

(ii) The industrious nature of the people of Enugu state. The Igbos

are known to be hard-working business men and women;

(iii) The cheapness of cassava flour vis a vis the imported wheat flour.

The locally produced cassava flour is cheaper.

(iv) The depressive state of Nigerian economy may have compelled

people in Enugu state to seek for alternative means of survival;

(v) The institutional interventions. The presence of IITA, universities

and other government institutions which were into research may

have encouraged the out-grower activities to boost production of

cassava flour.

93

5.3 REVERSAL OF THE UNPATRIOTIC PSYCHE WITH THE

CASSAVA FLOUR ISSUE

Most Nigerian elites have been severally criticized for acquiring insatiable crave

for foreign products instead of the locally made ones. This incessant desire for

imported items (household and merchandize) may have been acquired during

the colonial days and may have exacerbated in the oil boom days, during which

one of the leaders (Gowon in 1977) was quoted to have alluded that the problem

with Nigeria is not money but how to spend it. During the oil boom period that

our record of imports was unprecedented, and was unequalled by any other

country of the world, is not an exaggeration. This aberrant attitude and

behaviour towards the locally produced goods and services is one of the banes

of economic development in Nigeria. The unpatriotic character towards Nigeria-

made items by Nigerians must be reversed.

The cassava flour project may seem to have reversed this aberrant

psyche of Nigerian elites towards Nigerian products. The cassava flour

in bakery and pasta foods is quite good and acceptable just as if it is

imported wheat flour. The taste and flavour of the dough does not alter

simply because cassava flour is used. The bland (tasteless and

odorless) characteristics of the high quality cassava flour (HQCF) in

bakery and pasta products, makes it acceptable, not because the

94

consumers are not aware. It is simply that their awareness of cassava

flour in bread at breakfast table is implicit. This means that their

knowledge of the presence of some quantities (say 20% or even more)

of the cassava flour is not due to any known change in taste, flavour or

shell-life of bread. Notwithstanding, the utility of the cassava flour in

the production of bakery and confectionery products, the producers of

bread may not advertise the inclusion of cassava flour in the baked

products for fear of awakening the unpatriotic psyche of the

consumers which stemmed from the known smell and odour of

fermented cassava in the course of preparing akpu, (a local food made

from cassava). The demand for bread made from cassava flour in

Enugu is, therefore, implicit and not explicit.

5.4 CLANDESTINE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN CASSAVA

FLOUR PRODUCTION

The implicit demand for cassava flour in the study explains that most

consumers of bread which contained some percentage of cassava

flour, as intended under the import substitution policy, have no way of

knowing the difference. The bread bakers themselves do not indicate

the proportion of wheat flour and that of the cassava flour in the

contents list of ingredients on the leave-let inside the loaf package.

95

Consequently, carefully planned economic activities is going on at

different processing centres, without much ado about cassava flour.

This may have been reinforced by the fact that machine for garri and

cassava flour processing is the same except that the cassava flour must

be concluded within twenty-four hours, whereas garri processing

requires about 2 or 3 days after grating for dewatering, fermentation

and sifting before frying. See appendix V for the steps required in

cassava flour production. Even upto the time of concluding this

research, bags apparently containing processed cassava flour were

simply marked “bread flour”, yet large quantities of the product

(cassava flour) were being produced weekly at different centres.

5.5 PROSPECTS OF ENTREPRENURSHIP: A CASSAVA

FLOUR PERSPECTIVE

The situation as being revealed in this study imply that the clandestine

economic activities would, through the functional operations of the

laws of supply and demand, necessitate that industrious youths have

opportunities for investing into the growing of cassava and/or

processing of cassava flour as a matter of forward integration.

The population of Enugu which stood at over 3.2 million, according

to the 2006 population census promises very high demand for bread

96

and snacks at breakfast. Biscuits which are also prepared with cassava

flour are often used for snacks to school children in the state and the

nation at large. Moreover, most Nigeria Youths eat indomie noddles

also prepare with cassava four.

What is required now is how to create incentives to attract investing

publics into building of factories for the processing of cassava roots

into cassava flour. Tax and credit incentives including a long period of

moratorium on loan repayments.

REFERENCE

SPSS version 17.0 pp6-7.

Nwodu L.C. (2007), Research Communication and other Behavioural

sciences, Enugu: Phycee Kerex Publishers.

97

98

CHAPTER SIX

6.0 CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

FOR FURTHER STUDY

CONCLUSION

The import substitution scheme is indeed successful in Enugu State as the trial

tests conducted on the data generated from the fields of cassava flour processors

99

and the master bakers showed favourable trends on the use of cassava flour as

dough for bread and pastries.

Now that the business is thriving, albeit, clandestinely, the lower cost of the

local input (cassava flour) is yet to be translated into lower prices of bread. The

common man is yet to appreciate the benefits of the legislation whereas the

local producers of cassava-bread flour and related foods thrive on rising profits.

The cost of the locally made cassava flour (inputs) was expected to have

reduced the shelf prices of bread and biscuits. Instead the reverse has been the

case even when it was evident that some entrepreneurs are now diverting

resources into bakeries and pastries in Enugu State assessing from the

increasing numbers of brand names for bread.

Moreover, the study harped on the challenges of the sustainability of

cassava crops production and which is expected to increase to meet the demand

for local and foreign markets.

Personal interviews conducted with some of the officials of the intuitional

cassava growers reveal that the fears of future paucity of cassava stems may

increase the fears for dearth of cassava roots for processing cassava flour. It

may seem that the “wheat cabals” are indeed a strong formidable force that must

be contained.

100

Another issue addressed in the study is the lackadaisical attitude of the

government officials towards development issues. The weak publicity outlook

and the obvious indifference to political interest groups on the cassava flour

project may have allowed the business exist on a clandestine platform where the

master bakers were free to exploit the poor masses that the legislation sough to

protect.

The study also highlighted on the aberrant characteristics of some Nigerians

towards locally made products. This knowledge attitude and practices of these

highly placed individuals for local goods and services may augur badly for

future expansion of local markets. This reminds us of the current battle by the

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to enforce the age-long

agreement of local contents on the foreign companies. In the colonial days they

did it (relegation of local contents by way of value added to cocoa, rubber etc).

But in this 21st Century we must assert our rights and capacities of sourcing

local materials and labour in relevant combinations required by law on the local

contents for upstream and down-stream oil exploitation .

The researcher was also disillusioned with the idea of some government official,

entrusted with the responsibility of propagating the cassava flour programme,

who after spending the tax payers’ money in training abroad to acquire the

101

technical know-how from India turned round to assert proprietary rights on the

cassava flour scheme. The sense of commitment to national duty for the

development of Nigerian populace was gradually eroded due to egocentricism.

In another development workers salaries for six months and above were

observed to be placed in fixed deposits with unsuspecting banks while the

workers of such MDAs suffer untold hardships just because those government

officials want to corner the interest amount on the unpaid salaries for personal

aggrandizement and greed. Now that the interest rates payable in banks on fixed

and saving deposits have drastically reduced to one percent or below, courtesy

of the incumbent central Bank of Nigeria Governor(Lamido Sanusi) no safe

haven for such money hatchery.

6.2 POLICY OF RECOMMENDATION

It is part of the objectives of this study to make policy statements and other

recommendations based on the findings from the study and on other ancillary

issues arising from the research.

(i) Ensure that the shelf –prices of bread reflect the true cost of production.

With the new introduction of high quality cassava flour, for bread and

pasta foods, the presence of this local input was expected to cause

prices of bread to fall and the producers would still make their normal

102

profit. But as it is now the bread producers are on super- profit curve.

The bread makers should be made to display the blend of flour in the

leaflets inside the bread packages. The consumers whether implicitly or

explicitly are already aware of the local input. The government should

employ persuasive communication approach towards reducing the

prices of bread.

(ii) Increase the production level of cassava all over the nation where the

growth of the crop is favoured. This would allay the fears presently

expressed by some institutional investors. Increasing the per hectare

yield of the cassava roots is a sine qua non for a sustainable production

and supply of cassava flour in Enugu state in particular, and country as

a whole.

(iii) Always send out more than one person for training abroad on any

scheme for technological transfer to enhance sound competitive

advantage. A situation where only one official was allowed to attend

training on the technical formula for blending the bread dough which

contained locally made cassava flour does not allow for retraining of

other food technologists. The senior official of FIIRO who apparently

was the link with the India technical partner sought to assert a

proprietary right on the technical formula when the officials of the

RMRDC (an arm of the government under the establishment of

Ministry of Science and Technology) sought to take charge of the

103

technical formula. The issue of rights does not arise in the cassava flour

scheme under propagation by the government team.

(iv) Ensure that the right caliber of personnel are put in the right places. A

situation where some government MDAs indulge in recruiting

unqualified persons for employment into sensitive areas of national

economy, is just like placing a square peg in a round hole. Similar to it

is the government trying to pose as a manager employer of labour in an

office that require few workers to occupy. This would result to over

crowding of such offices without much work to do.

6.3 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY

The present study was an empirical assessment on usage of cassava flour

in the product of bread and other confectionery products in Enugu State.

It was an exploratory task which used the survey research approach.

This same study could be replicated using other states in Nigeria.

APPENDIX I

PARAMETRIC DATA FOR NORMAL DISTRIBUTION ON CASSAVA

FLOUR STUDY IN ENUGU STATE

104

APPENDIX II

NORMAL CURVE TEST STATISTICS

S/N PARAMETERS NUMERICS

1

Mean X1

15.14

2 Mean X2 5.5

3 Standard Error of Mean

(SEm X1 d

√n =

4.92 or 5%

4 Standard Deviation

(X1d)

12.3

5 Standard Deviation

(X2.d)

6.1

6

7

n

√ n

6

2.5

8 Standard Error mean

(SEM = SX2 = d

√n

2.48

105

0.4875 0.4875

2½ 2½

-1.96 0 +1.96

APPENDIX VII

Institute for Development

Studies

University of Nigeria,

106

Enugu Campus

13th September, 2009

Dear Sir/Madam,

QUESTIONNAIRES

May I solicit your assistance in completing the attached questionnaire. The

questionnaire is designed for a study on the “An Empirical Assessment of the

Presidential Initiative on Cassava Crop Production and Use as Substitute in

Bread Production in Enugu State”

Please note that any information provided, by way of your opinion, shall be

applied strictly for academic purposes.

Thanking you for prompt attention

Yours sincerely,

Okeleke, Paul, A.

APPENDIX VIII

QUESTIONNAIRE

Instructions

107

Please( ) in the box your appropriate choice and you may have to write

down some answers as may be necessary.

SECTION 1: SOCIAL/DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND

1. Sex Male female

2. Age:

(a) Under 18

(b) 18-30

(c) 31-40

(d) 41-50

3. Marital Status

(a) Single

(b) Married

4. Educational Attainment

(a) Primary Education (FSLC)

(b) Secondary Education WAEC/GCE/SSCE/NECO

(c) Post Secondary Education

5. Occupation:

(a) Farming

(b) Trading

(c) Teaching

108

(d) Miller

6. Income bracket

(a) N8500-N1000

(b) N11000-N20000

© N21,000-N40,000

(d) N41000-N80,000

(e) N81,000-N99,000

(f) N100000 and above

SECTION 2: CASSAVA FARMERS

7. Is Enugu State the largest or second producer of cassava in the south

east?

Largest

Second Largest

Average

No idea

8. What factors accounted for the bumper harvest of Cassava in Enugu

State?

Government Support

Favourable Climate

Research Institutions

109

All of the Above

9. Are some of the cassava crops harvested in Enugu State prepared for

export?

Yes

No

No Idea

10. Who are the notable exporters of cassava in Enugu State?

Answer:……………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

11. Cassava can be processed into many products. True or False?

True

False

12. Are there some notable processors of cassava flour in Enugu State? If

yes, state their names below:

Answer:……………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………….…

……………………………………………………………………………

13. Are you aware whether bread bakers and biscuit producers use cassava

flour in Enugu State?

110

Very many of them

Many of them

Not at All

14. Do you think some consumers have fears in the consumption of bread and

confectionary products made from cassava flour?

Yes

No

No Idea

15. Is the shelf-life of bread reduced or affected by the use of cassava flour in

baker?

Yes

No

In your opinion, do Nigerians have confidence or patronize made in Nigeria

products?

Yes

No

17. Do you think some Nigerians consider cassava as inferior foods to be

used in bakery products?

Yes

111

No

If yes, state your reasons:

……………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………

18. To the best of your knowledge, is cassava flour presently being used in

bakery and confectionary products in Enugu?

Yes

No

19. Are you aware of the many varieties of snacks food recipes that can be

made from cassava?

Yes

No

20. Do you think the government has adequately popularized the use of

cassava flour for bakery and confectionery product?

Yes

No