DETERMINANTS OF MARKET PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALLHOLDER CASSAVA PRODUCTION AGRIPRENEURS IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the determinants and performance of smallholder cassava production agripreneurs market participation in Abia State, Nigeria. The study determined their level of market participation, estimated the determinants of cassava production agripreneurs’ market participation, examined their performance, and the challenges faced by these cassava production agripreneurs. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 120 respondents for the study. Data collected using well-structured questionnaire administered to the respondents was analyzed with descriptive statistics (mean, frequency and percentage), market participation index, multiple regression, and net return analysis. The result showed that the market participation index was 97.78%.The determinants of market participation were labour, education, technology, credit, and market information which were all directly related to market participation and significant at 1%. Experience, selling price and capital were positively signed, and significant at 5%, while gender and income were negatively signed with 5% and 10% levels of significant respectively. The net-return analysis result showed that on the average, a cassava production agripreneur makes ₦997,158.63k profit for a production season. Using a mean score of 2.50, the mean rating from the four-point likert scale result indicated that lack of infrastructure (2.58), lack of suitable planting equipment (2.68), low capital base (2.65), lack of technical expertise (2.71), and lack of mechanization/power (2.63) were accepted as a major challenge faced by the cassava production agripreneurs. The study concluded that there is a high level of market participation by the cassava agripreneurs in the study area which will inevitably unlock their full potential, contribute to local economic development, and play a vital role in driving the growth of the cassava industry on a broader scale. Also, the cassava production enterprise is a profitable venture. It is therefore recommended that with the high level of cassava commercialization in the study area, youths and households are encouraged to actively participate in cassava production as it can create employment opportunities and generate income for individuals and communities, as well as being a pathway to international trade and global export market.