Willingness to Diversify to Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) Production among Cassava Farmers: A Proposition for a Resilient, Post-COVID-19 Future

The study assessed the willingness of cassava farmers to diversify into orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) production for a resilient post-COVID-19 future. Data collected from 120 cassava farmers in Anambra Agricultural zone of Anambra State were analysed with descriptive statistics and Logistic regression. The result revealed that majority of the farmers were male, married, educated and with mean farming experience of 19 years. The average household size was 6 persons while their main source of capital was personal saving. The average income from cassava production was N428,911/ha/season. Labour, sales and profit were the most affected during the pandemic. The cassava farmers were willing to diversify to OFSP because it is edible, high yielding and requires low input. 51% of the farmers were willing to combine cassava and OFSP farming while 11.67% of them preferred to diversify entirely into OFSP farming. The determinants of the farmers’ willingness to diversify to OFSP were marital status, Farm Size, Cassava crop failure, COVID effect on cassava farming activities, income from cassava, expected Income from OFSP, wide adaptation and perception of OFSP. The study concludes that there is potential for increased diversification to OFSP (in the form of mixed cropping) in the area if farmers’ awareness and perception of OFSP is improved through intensified dissemination of awareness creation activities by the Government and provision of incentives for diversification.