Relevance Of Agricultural Policy Implementation And Institutional Roles In Enhancing Cassava Based Entrepreneurship In Imo State, Nigeria.

The study examined the cassava value chain in Imo State in view of the crop; vital role in food security, industrial use and rural livelihoods in Nigeria. This is with the intuition of investigating the reasons for the persistence of the challenges in maximizing the potentials of cassava enterprises notwithstanding the government policy intervention and the various institutional frameworks set-up to support the cassava-based entrepreneurship. Specifically, the study examined the relevance of Agricultural policy implementation and institutional roles in improving cassava-based businesses in the state. A multiple sample technique was employed in the selection of 120 Value Chain Actors (VCAs) in the three Agricultural Zones in Imo State, namely; Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. Using a mixed-method approach involving surveys, key Value Chain Actor interviews, policy document analyses and descriptive statistics, the study identified and highlighted policy gaps and institutional inefficiencies in the value chain broad spectrum of the cassava enterprise in respect to the existing policy and institutional frameworks of government. The study also highlighted that poor awareness of the existing policies and the frameworks, allied to poor project coordination and implementation; inadequate funding formed major set-backs which synergistically hinder their effectiveness. The study therefore recommended improved policy monitoring creation of awareness, improved capacity building, financing and efficient domestic and foreign markets for the cassava entrepreneurs.