![]() 2002), necessitating greater gender analysis of cassava production, processing and in particular commercialization to ensure new interventions are gender equitable (Forsythe et al. For example, as commercialization of cassava increases, men’s participation in production and processing increases (Nweke et al. ![]() As such, cassava is often defined as a “woman’s crop” (Forsythe et al. In particular women perform the majority of cassava processing in Nigeria (Curran et al. 2002), and provide much of the labor associated with cassava production. Women play a central role in Nigerian cassava production, processing and marketing (Enete et al. However, these roles vary by ethnic groups and regions (FAO 2011). In most parts of rural Nigeria, division of labor for agricultural production is gender-specific and varies by age (Mohammed and Abdulquadri 2012). Differential trait preferences also follow gender divisions of labor and market access, observed across multiple crops in sub-Saharan Africa (Christinck et al. Studies of farmers’ preferences for crop variety traits of food crops, many of which are economically important, show that such preferences are not uniform but vary in relation to the agronomic, technical, and socio-cultural context of the modes of production and processing (Smale et al. This joint small-scale farming and processing represents by far the largest cassava food product production in Nigeria (Forsythe et al. Most of these cassava food products are made by farmers themselves, who process and consume the crop (IITA 2012). Major cassava based food products consumed in Nigeria are gari, fufu and lafun. Cassava storage roots provide an efficient source of carbohydrate food energy, cultivated widely for its ability to withstand harsh environmental and agronomic conditions as well as to its utilization as raw material for many uses and food products (Akoroda 1995). Patterns of access to stem sources were determined more by region and religion than gender.Ĭassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a major staple crop in Nigeria, engaging over four million farmers in production and providing food for over 100 million persons (FAOSTAT 2016). Trait preference patterns differed significantly between the Southeast and Southwest, and showed differentiation based on gender. High yield, early maturity, and root size were most important traits across both regions, while traits women and men preferred followed gender roles: women prioritized product quality/cooking traits, while men placed higher priority on agronomic traits. Fifty-five variety names were recorded from the communities demonstrating high genetic diversity maintained by growers, especially in the Southeast. Women and men had significantly different patterns of cassava use in the Southwest. Men and women in eight communities in Southwest and Southeast Nigeria were consulted using mixed methods. This paper aims to inform breeding priority setting, by examining trait and varietal preferences of men and women cassava farmer/processors. This approach has been successful, but cassava adoption rates are less than expected, with room for improvement by integrating traits in demand by farmers and processors. Cassava breeding programs prioritize “common denominator” traits in setting breeding agendas, to impact the largest possible number of people through improved varieties. Nigeria is the world’s largest cassava producer, hosting a diverse array of cassava farmers and processors.
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