The food security effect of a biomass value web concept among smallholder cassava households in Edo State Nigeria

Although cassava economic and development significance is gaining ground in Nigeria, the smallholding nature of production, processing, marketing and utilization persists. The smallholding and subsistence nature of most agricultural households in Nigeria means that welfare attributes may not be achieved. Operating within the concept of an economic based biomass value web is expected to increase both the productive capacity and food security outcome of the smallholders in the cassava web. The study examined the extent to which smallholders in the cassava system are involved in its biomass value web using a sample of 260 cassava smallholder households selected through a multistage sampling procedure in Edo state, Nigeria. The extent of participation in the value web was done using the composite score method; food security status of households was determined using the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke framework and covariates of food security determined through a probit regression. The results showed only about 28% of the smallholders are high level participants in the value web. While about 84% of the respondents are food insecure; food insecurity level is lowest among high level of participation in the value web. The probit regression shows that increasing levels of participation in the value web, education, and high monthly income increases food security, while household size, marital status and male headed household headship reduces food security. Policy implications suggests provision of infrastructure that help promote multiple involvement in the cassava value web.