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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences - Vol. 11, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/dafs.113.14568.
Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End
Uses. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on
Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses
Kumba Yannah Karim
Crop Science Department,
School of Agricultural and Food Sciences,
Njala University, Sierra Leone Tel + 23279877815
Prince Emmanuel Norman
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0150-8610
Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI),
Tower Hill, Freetown PMB 1313, Sierra Leone Tel. +23276618454
ABSTRACT
This study assessed end users’ perceptions about preferred traits for various end
uses, constraints, and varietal preferences using Participatory Rural Appraisal
(PRA). A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify value chain actors. A
total of 360 questionnaires were administered to 120 producers, 72 processors, 72
consumers and 96 traders. The study revealed that, 89.2% of the respondents grow
cassava only whilst 82.5% grow and process in the three study districts. Farmers
commonly select cassava varieties with focus on high yield, root size, root taste,
early maturity period and inner color. Mean rank of studied traits were significantly
(p ≤ 0.0001) differed among cassava producers and processors. In Bo district, high
root yield (1st), root size (2nd), dry matter content (3rd) and starch content (4th), were
the most important traits. In Bombali district, high root yield (1st), root taste (2st),
dry matter content (3rd) and poundability (4th) were the most desired. In Kenema
district, high root yield (1st), root taste (2st), maturity period (3rd), and poundability
(4th), were the most desired. The overall ranking based on producers’ selection
criteria revealed that starch content, dry matter content, root size and ease of
peeling as the top key traits considered for cassava processing. Results suggest that
participatory variety selection and participatory plant breeding techniques should
be explored to promote collaborations between stakeholders and breeders for
development of new cassava varieties with desired traits including high dry matter
content, high root yield, high starch content and other desired key quality traits.
Keywords: Value chain actors, Selection criteria, SWOT analysis, Desired traits, Cassava.
INTRODUCTION
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a root crop cultivated by more than 800 million people
in the tropics [1]. Cassava is the third most important source of calories in the tropics after rice
and maize [2] and is currently a food source for more than 800 million people in Africa, Asia
and Latin America [3,4]. The crop possesses useful agronomic attributes such as tolerance to
minimal inputs under marginal soil conditions and can also thrive in regions prone to drought
[4]. Cassava is mainly cultivated for its starchy roots and nutrient-dense cassava leaves that are
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 3, June- 2023
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
consumed as vegetables in many regions of Africa [5]. Starch constitutes the main component
of the cassava root [6] and thus plays an important role in the use of cassava as a food and
industrial crop. The economic value for cassava products for end users emanates from the dry
matter content and starch content. The performance of cassava starch and dry matter in food,
feed and other industrial applications varies according to variety from which the product was
obtained [7,8].
In Sierra Leone, cassava is one of the most important food crops widely consumed by a large
number of the population as a staple food especially during the rainy season [9]. Several
cultivars are grown and most of the cassava produced are consumed in various forms such as
boiled, roasted, and are mainly processed into gari, fufu and tho. According to Okogbenin and
Fregene [10], dry matter content and starch are important requirements for the transition of
cassava from a traditional to an industrial crop. End-use quality significantly affects the
acceptance of cassava varieties by farmers and consumers [9]. The success of newly developed
varieties is contingent upon the agronomic attributes and acceptability by end users including
consumers in terms of sensory and utilization characteristics [11]. Cassava storage roots have
diverse uses due to wide variability in storage roots traits, organoleptic, culinary and
nutritional properties, making some varieties more appropriate for certain types of food
preparation than others.
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools have been used to determine end users’ preferences
in many crop varieties. Manu-Aduening et al. [12] used the PRA technique to describe the
characteristics needed for cassava varieties in Ghana and reported that farmers preferred
cassava varieties that have early growth and vigor to suppress weeds, early maturing, high
yield, good cooking quality for making fufu and suitability for intercropping. Participatory plant
breeding approaches such as surveys and focus group discussions have been deemed necessary
to elicit such vital information on what is needed by farmers [9,13, 16,15]. With the increase in
commercialization of cassava and cassava products, the demand for higher quality varieties
with high dry matter and starch contents that meet various needs will become the next obvious
challenge.
However, there is dearth of information in Sierra Leone on preferences of cassava farmers,
processors, traders and consumers; selection criteria for cassava cultivars, and information on
the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for cassava farmers and processors. This
makes a study in this area very necessary because every successful breeding program should
be based on distinct identification of constraints and preferences of end users. Farmers are
mostly reluctant to accept technologies which are not in line with their preference and
consumer expectation [16]. Cassava cultivars that are selected for the market, should,
therefore, meet most of these qualities if farmers and processors have to stay competitive in
the market and increase income from cassava. The combination of desired traits that meet their
culinary, agronomic and other needs are based on local knowledge which is translated into their
everyday cultivar selection strategies and practices. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
permits the inclusion of farmers, processors and other relevant value chain actors in research
decision making, in planning the generation of new technologies, and also serves as a non- formal approach for detailed data collection [17]. The incorporation of vital information
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
obtained from the PRA in cassava breeding programmes would contribute to increased
adoption of newly developed and improved cassava genotypes.
The research questions that prompted this study included the following: (i) What are the
variations among cassava farmers, processors, traders and consumers’ preferences for dry
matter and starch contents? (ii) What are the variations among cassava farmers and processors’
selection criteria for elite cassava genotypes? and (iii) What are the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats that exist for cassava farmers and processors? Thus, the objectives of
this study were to (i) assess the preferences of cassava farmers, processors, traders and
consumers; and (ii) determine farmers’ cassava selection criteria for cassava cultivars; and (iii)
determine SWOT analysis for cassava farmers and processors.
METHODOLOGY
Study Area
The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) study was conducted in the Northern, Eastern and
Southern regions located in the coastal belt agroecological zones of Sierra Leone (Fig 1). The
climate is tropical, hot all year round, with a dry season and a rainy season, due to the African
monsoon, which runs from May to November in the north, from April to November in the east,
and May to October in the south. The annual rainfall varies from 2,000 to 3,000 mm, with a
maximum rainfall in the coastal area.
Figure 1. Map of Sierra Leone showing the three study districts: Bombali, Kambia and Bo
Source: https://www.mapsofworld.com/sierra-leone/
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Sampling Procedure and Research Design
A purposive sampling procedure was used to identify region, villages, farmers, processors,
traders and consumers. Three regions, Northern, Eastern and Southern, were selected for this
study. The regions were selected based on their potential for cassava production. Farmers,
processors, traders and consumers that were involved in the formal and informal interviews
were randomly selected from the village with the help of village hamlet leaders and Agricultural
Extension Officers. Four chiefdoms were selected from each district. Four research designs
were selected for the study:
a. A mixed-method research design that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches
was applied.
b. Qualitative Approach: Focus group discussion (FGD).
c. Quantitative Approach: Individual interviews with structured questionnaires
d. A multistage sampling was used to arrive at 360 sampling units that were then distributed
among producers, processors, traders and consumers.
Cochran [18] sampling method was adopted to determine the sample size as following:
n =
z
2pq
d2
(1)
Where: n= sample size; Z = 1.96; P = population (0.5 proportion); q = is a weighting variable
computed as 1 – p; d = margin of error.
One (1) community per chiefdom was randomly selected for the focus group discussion. The
summary of sample procedure and research design in the study areas is presented in
Supplementary 1.
Data Collection
Data collection was based on focus group discussion and questionnaires administration. In each
village, a focus group discussion was conducted with groups of 12 representatives. A checklist
was prepared to guide the discussion. Ranking technique was employed to complement semi- structured interviews. A total of 360 questionnaires were administered to 120 producers, 72
processors, 72 consumers and 96 traders. The questionnaires were first pre-tested to validate
the importance of the variables and the possible responses in addressing the objectives.
Data Analysis
The qualitative and quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social
Scientists (SPSS), 16th version [19]. The results were presented using descriptive statistics
such as frequencies and percentages. Data on ranking of constraints of fish farmers was
analysed using Kendall Concordance analysis [20]. The Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance
statistical procedure was used to identify and rank a given set of constraints and farmer
preference, from the most to the least influential, as well as measure the degree of agreement
or concordance among the respondents on the ranking of constraints and preferences. The
identified preferences were ranked from the most preferred to the least preferred using
numerals, (1, 2, 3, 4... N), called a Likert. The mean rank score for each preferred character or
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
constraint was computed and the factor with the least score was ranked as the most preferred
or the highest constraint, whilst the highest score was ranked as the least preferred. The total
rank score computed was then used to calculate the coefficient of concordance (W), which
measures the degree of agreement among the respondents in the rankings [21]. The coefficient
of concordance was estimated using the relation:
W =
12[∑ T
2−
(∑ T)
2
n
]
nm2(n2−1)
(Kendall and Smith [20] ) (2)
Where T = Sum of rank of factors being ranked; m = number of respondents (farmers); n =
number of factors being ranked; W = coefficient of concordance. The W was tested for
significance in terms of the F distribution.
The F-ratio is given by
F =
(m−n)×(1−W)
(1−W)
(Kendall and Smith [20]) (3)
with numerator and denominator degrees of freedom being (n − 1) − (
2
m
) and m − 1[(n −
1) − (
2
m
)], respectively. The null and alternative hypotheses of this study were stated as; H0:
There was no agreement between the respondents on the ranking of the factors; H1: There is
agreement between the respondents on the ranking of the factors.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Socio-Economic Characteristics of Cassava Farmers
The socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers are shown in Supplementary 2. Three
age groups were identified for each of the three districts with the adult group having the highest
average percentage of 59.5% of the respondents followed by the youths (31.1%). Findings
indicate that agricultural knowledge could be transferred from the older generation to the
younger generation. The gender structure of the respondents shows that the male had the
highest percentage respondents with an average percentage of 93.2%. Most of the respondents
exhibited no formal education (with 34.7% having none and 20.3% of them Koranic), while
18.0%, 19.1%, 5.2% and 2.6% of respondents only had primary, junior secondary school, senior
secondary school and tertiary education, respectively. The marital status of the respondents in
the three districts shows that, the married group had the highest average percentage of 86.9%.
It was also established that majority of the respondents (86.9%) were married, while 9.7% and
0.9% were single and widow or widower, respectively.
Cassava Production Systems
The study revealed that, in the Bo district 89.19% of farmers grow only cassava, while 10.81%
grow and process cassava. In the Bombali district, 51.28% of farmers grow only cassava, while
48.72% grow and process cassava. In the Kenema district 82.50% farmers grow cassava only,
while 17.5% grow and process cassava (Fig 2).
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 3, June- 2023
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Fig 2: Percentage distribution of type cassava growers in the three study districts
The percentage distribution of type of cassava growers and processors across the three study
districts revealed that, in the Bo district, 10.81% farmers cultivated only cassava, while 89.19%
cultivated and processed. In Bombali district, 48.72% cultivated only cassava, 51.28%
cultivated and processed and in Kenema district, 82.50% farmers cultivated cassava while,
17.5% cultivated and processed (Fig 3).
Fig 3: Percentage distribution of respondents to Cassava products consumer across the three- study district
Farmers’ Preference for Dry Matter and Starch Contents in Cassava
Percentage distribution of farmers’ preference for dry matter content in cassava across the
three study districts revealed that 80.7% of the respondents in the Bo district considered high
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
dry matter content in cassava;79.9% in Bombali district while 67.6% in the Kenema district
also considered high dry matter content in cassava. Determining the level of dry matter content
in cassava roots shows that, in Bo district 80.7% of the respondents determined the level of dry
matter content required in varieties grown, 74.4% in Bombali districts and 97.3% in Kenema
district, respectively. Farmers that grow cassava varieties with high dry matter content shows
that, 83.8% of the respondents in Bo district cultivated cassava with high dry matter content,
95.0% in the Bombali district and 92.5% in Kenema District. However, 91.6% said they did not
have easy access to cuttings of cassava varieties with high dry matter content in the three-study
area. In the Bo district, 95.5% of the respondent said they were willing to pay high price for
cassava cuttings of varieties with high dry matter content, 96.4% in Bombali district with 96.6%
in Kenema district, respectively (Table 1)
Table 1: Percentage distribution of farmers’ preferences for dry matter in cassava
District (%)
Farmers’ preference Response Bo Bombali Kenema Mean
1. Consider dry matter content for selecting
cassava varieties for cultivation
Yes 80.7 79.5 67.6 75.9
No 19.4 20.5 32.4 24.1
2. Level of dry matter content preferred in
cassava roots
High 80.7 74.4 97.3 84.1
Moderate 19.4 25.6 2.7 15.9
Low 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
3. Grow cassava varieties with high dry
matter content
Yes 83.8 95.0 92.5 90.4
No 16.2 5.0 7.5 9.6
4. Have easy access to cuttings of cassava
varieties with dry content
Yes 5.0 5.1 15.0 8.4
No 95.0 94.9 85.0 91.6
5. Willing to pay high price for cassava roots
with high dry matter content
Yes 95.5 96.4 90.8 94.2
No 4.5 3.6 9.2 15.8
The percentage distribution of farmers’ preference for starch content in cassava across the
three study districts is presented in Table 2. In the Bo district, 80.7% considered starch content
in selecting cassava varieties for cultivation while 19.4% did not consider starch content in
selecting cassava varieties for cultivation. In Bombali district, 79.5% considered starch content
in selecting cassava varieties while 20.5% did not consider starch in selecting cassava varieties.
In Kenema district, 67.6% considered starch in selecting cassava varieties and 24.1% did not
consider starch content in selection of cassava varieties. A total of 80.7% of the respondents
preferred high starch content in the cassava varieties used for cultivation in Bo district while
19.4% preferred moderate starch in the cassava varieties used for cultivation. In Bombali
district, 74.4% preferred high starch content in the cassava varieties used for cultivation while
in Kenema district, 97.3% preferred high starch content in the cassava varieties used for
cultivation. In the Bo district, 83.8% had cultivated cassava varieties with high starch content,
95.0% in the Bombali district and 92.5% in Kenema district cultivated cassava varieties with
high starch content. 13.4% of the farmers in the three districts said they had easy access to
cutting of cassava varieties with high starch content. Over 80.0% within the three districts (Bo,
Kenema and Bombali) said they are willing to pay high price for cassava roots with high starch
content.
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 3, June- 2023
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Processors’ Preference for Dry matter and Starch Content in Cassava
Analysis of processors’ preference in cassava starch in the three districts indicated that 94.7%
of respondents have access to process cassava roots with high starch content in Bo district,
95.0% and 94.0% have access to process cassava roots with high starch content in Bombali and
Kenema districts, respectively (Table 3). About 94.4% of respondents in Bo district, 75.0% in
Bombali district and 83.3% in Kenema district have easy access to cassava roots with high
starch content. Processors who consider starch content in selecting cassava roots used for
processing showed 83.3% in Bo district, 90.0% in Bombali district and 83.3% in Kenema
district. In the Bo district, 44.4% of the respondents prefer high starch content in the cassava
roots used for processing, 80.0% in Bombali and 58.3% in Kenema districts. For the dry matter
content, 89.5% of the processors in Bo, 92.0% in Bombali and 91.7% in Kenema districts said
they have access to process cassava roots with high dry matter content. About 94.1%, 90.0%
and 90.9% of the respondents have easy access to cassava roots with high dry matter content
in Bo, Bombali and Kenema districts, respectively. Processors who consider dry matter content
in selecting cassava roots used for processing showed 94.1% in Bo district, 90.0% in Bombali
district and 90.9% in Kenema district. Processors who prefer high dry matter content in the
cassava roots used for processing showed 47.1% in Bo district, 80.0% in Bombali and 81.8% in
Kenema district.
Table 2: Percentage distribution of farmers’ preferences for starch content in cassava
Farmer’s preferences District (%)
Bo Bombali Kenema Mean
1. 1.Consider starch content for selecting
cassava varieties for cultivation
Yes 80.7 79.5 67.6 75.9
No 19.4 20.5 32.4 24.1
2. 2. Level of starch content preferred in cassava
roots
High 80.7 74.4 97.3 84.1
Moderate 19.4 25.6 2.7 15.9
Low 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
3. 3. Grow cassava varieties with high starch
content
Yes 83.8 100.0 92.5 92.1
No 16.2 0.0 7.5 7.9
4. 4. Have easy access to cuttings of cassava
varieties with high starch content
Yes 15.0 5.1 20.0 13.4
No 85.0 94.9 80.0 86.6
5. 5. Willing to pay high price for cassava roots
with high starch content
Yes 89.5 92.4 80.8 87.7
No 10.5 7.6 19.2 12.3
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
Table 3: Percentage distribution of cassava processors’ preference for cassava roots
with starch content and dry matter content
Trait Response Bo
(%)
Bombali
(%)
Kenema
(%)
Starch
content
i. Have access to process cassava roots with high
starch content
94.7 95.0 94.0
ii. Have easy access to cassava roots with high
starch content
94.4 75.0 83.3
iii. Consider starch content in selecting the
cassava roots used for processing
83.3 90.0 83.3
iv. Prefer high starch content in the cassava roots
used for processing
44.4 80.0 58.3
Dry matter
content
i. Have access to process cassava roots with high
dry matter content
89.5 92.0 91.7
ii. Have easy access to cassava roots with high dry
matter content
94.1 75.0 81.8
iii. Consider dry matter content in selecting the
cassava roots used for processing
94.1 90.0 90.9
iv. Prefer high dry matter content in the cassava
roots used for processing
47.1 80.0 81.8
Traders’ Preferences for Starch and Dry Matter Content in Cassava Products
Study of traders’ preference in cassava starch in the three districts indicated that 88.9% of
respondents sold cassava products with high starch content in Bo district, whereas for Bombali
and Keema districts, 100.0% and 81.8% of the respondents sold cassava products with high
starch content, respectively. About 87.5% of respondents have easy access to cassava products
with high starch content in Bo district, 100.0% in Bombali district and 100.0% in Kenema
district. Traders who consider starch content in selecting cassava products sold showed 81.3%
in Bo district, 95.8% in Bombali district and 100.0% in Kenema district. In the Bo district 43.8%
of the respondents prefers high starch content in the cassava products sold, 29.2% in Bombali
and 22.2% in Kenema districts. However, 61.1% of the traders in Bo district said they have sold
cassava products with high dry matter content, while 87.5% in the Bombali district and 95.5%
in Kenema district have sold cassava products with high dry matter content. All traders in the
Bo and Bombali districts have easy access to cassava product with high dry matter content and
consider dry matter content in selecting the cassava products sold, whereas 95.2% of
respondents in Kenema district opined to these suggestions (Table 4).
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Table 4: Percentage distribution of traders’ preferences for starch and dry matter in
cassava products in the three study districts
Trait Response Bo (%) Bombali
(%)
Kenema
(%)
Starch content i. Have sold cassava products with
high starch content
88.9 100.0 81.8
ii. Have easy access to cassava
products with high starch content
87.5 100.0 100.0
iii. Consider starch content in
selecting the cassava products sold
81.3 95.8 100.0
iv. Prefer high starch content in the
cassava products sold
43.8 29.2 22.2
Dry matter
content
i. Have sold cassava products with
high dry matter content
61.1 87.5 95.5
ii. Have easy access to cassava
products with high dry matter content
100.0 100.0 95.2
iii. Consider dry matter content in
selecting the cassava products sold
100.0 100.0 95.2
Consumers’ Preferences for Cassava Starch and Dry Matter Contents in Cassava
The study revealed that, in the Bo district 88.5% of the respondents had eaten cassava products
with high starch content as compared to 100.0% in Bombali district and 84.4% in Kenema
district. 100.0% had easy access to cassava products with high starch content in the Bo district,
83.3% in Bombali district and 96.3% in Kenema district. 87.0% considered starch content in
selecting the cassava products eaten in Bo district while in Bombali and Kenema districts,
86.7% and 96.3% consider starch content, respectively. In Bo district, 52.2% of the respondents
preferred high starch content in the cassava products eaten, 10.0% in Bombali district and
25.9% in the Kenema district.
The study also showed that, 96.2% of the respondents in Bo district had eaten cassava products
with high dry matter content, 100.0% in Bombali and Kenema district. About 92.0% had easy
access to cassava products with high dry matter content in the Bo district, 86.7% in Bombali
district and 96.9% in Kenema district. About 100.0% consider dry matter content in selecting
cassava products eaten in Bo and Kenema districts and 80.0% in the Bombali district. In Bo
district, 84.0% preferred high dry matter content in the cassava products they eat, 93.3% in
Bombali district and 93.8% in Kenema district (Table 5).
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
Table 5: Percentage distribution of consumers’ preferences for starch and dry matter in
cassava products across the three study districts
Trait Response Bo
(%)
Bombali
(%)
Kenema
(%)
Starch content 1. i. Have eaten cassava products with high
starch content
88.5 100.0 84.4
2. ii. Have easy access to cassava products
with high starch content
100.0 83.3 96.3
3. iii. Consider starch content in selecting
the cassava products eaten
87.0 86.7 96.3
4. iv. Prefer high starch content in the
cassava products eaten
52.2 10.0 25.9
Dry matter
content
5. i. Have eaten cassava products with high
dry matter content
96.2 100.0 100.0
6. ii. Have easy access to cassava products
with high dry matter content
92.0 86.7 96.9
7. iii. Consider dry matter content in
selecting the cassava products eaten
100.0 80.0 100.0
8. iv Prefer high dry matter content in the
cassava products eaten
84.0 93.3 93.8
Cassava Products and Selection Criteria for Cassava Cultivars
The study showed that gari, fufu, cassava roots and tho were highly consumed in the three study
districts at 100%. On the other hand, cassava flour was only consumed in Kenema district with
a high average percentage of 100%, while in Bo and Bombali districts, consumption rates
ranged between 3.85% and 6.67 %, respectively (Fig 4).
Fig 4: Percentage distribution of type of cassava growers and processors across the three study
districts
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The mean rank of preferred traits ranked by farmers across the three study districts is
presented in Table 6. The preferred traits significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) differed among farmers
with medium Kendall’s coefficient value of 0.433. The overall means ranged from 2.8 for high
root yield to 8.5 for resistance to disease. This indicates that high root yield is the most desirable
trait farmers want to be incorporated into cassava breeding programs followed by root size and
root taste. However, in each district, the ranking of desirable traits to be incorporated in cassava
breeding program varied. In the Bo district, high yield (1st), root size (2nd), dry matter content
(3rd) and starch content (4th), were the most important traits. In the Bombali district, high root
yield (1st), root taste (2st), dry matter content (3rd) and poundability (4th) were the most
desired. In the Kenema district, high root yield (1st), root taste (2st), maturity period (3rd), and
poundability (4th), were the most desired traits.
Table 6: Mean rank of cassava traits by farmers across the three study districts in
Sierra Leone
Bo Bombali Kenema Overall
Trait Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean Rank
High root yield 2.4 1 3.7 1 2.3 1 2.8 1
Outer skin colour 5.9 7 6.2 8 7.7 8 6.6 8
Root size 3.4 2 4.7 4 4.4 5 4.2 2
Starch content 5.1 4 5.0 6 6.1 6 5.4 6
Dry matter content 4.9 3 4.3 3 6.5 7 5.2 5
Root taste 5.6 5 4.3 2 3.0 2 4.3 3
Resistance to pests 7.1 8 8.1 9 8.7 9 8.0 9
Resistance to disease 7.5 9 8.9 10 9.1 10 8.5 10
Poundability 7.7 10 4.7 4 4.1 4 5.5 7
Maturity period 5.6 5 5.1 7 3.2 3 4.6 4
P value <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001
Kendall’s W 0.321 0.322 0.655 0.433
Kendall’s W: Kendall’s coefficient of concordance
The preferred traits significantly (p ≤ 0.0001) differed among processors with medium
Kendall’s coefficient value of 0.331. The overall means ranged from 2.7 for starch and dry
matter contents to 5.8 for fibre content. This indicates that high starch and dry matter contents
are the most desirable traits processors want to be incorporated into cassava breeding
programs followed by root size, ease of peeling and inner flesh color. However, in each districts
the ranking of desirable traits to be incorporated in cassava breeding programme varied: In Bo
the district: dry matter (1st), starch content (2nd), root size (3rd) and inner flesh color (4st), were
the most important. In the Bombali districts: starch content (1st), dry matter content (2nd), root
size (3rd) and PPD (4th) were the most desired. In the Kenema districts: starch content (1st), dry
matter content (2nd), and root size (3rd) and ease of peeling (4th) were preferred (Table 7).
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
Table 7: Cassava traits ranking by processors across the study districts
Bo Bombali Kenema Overall
Trait Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean Rank Mean Rank
Root size 3.8 3 3.8 3 3.7 3 3.8 3
Starch content 3.1 2 1.8 1 3.3 1 2.7 1
Dry matter content 2.4 1 2.2 2 3.5 2 2.7 2
Ease of peeling 5.1 5 5.2 5 4.0 4 4.8 4
Postharvest physiological
deterioration
5.6 7 4.8 4 5.6 6 5.3 6
Fibre content 5.4 6 6.3 7 5.8 7 5.8 8
Age of tuber 6.3 8 6.5 8 4.5 5 5.7 7
Inner flesh color 4.4 4 5.5 6 5.8 7 5.2 5
P value <0.0001 <0.0001 0.029 <0.0001
Kendall’s W 0.296 0.512 0.186 0.331
Kendall’s W: Kendall’s coefficient of concordance
Preferred Varieties for Different Cassava Products and SWOT Analysis of Farmers and
Processors
The most preferred cassava varieties for different cassava products in the three study districts
are shown in Supplementary 3. SLICASS 4 and 3 MONTH were preferred for processing gari,
SLICASS 4, ROCASS and 8 MONTHS for starch processing, CARE, ROCASS and KABBAY for fufu,
SLICASS 6 and WARIMA for cassava flour and CARE, WARIMA and BUTTER for processing tho.
The SWOT analysis for cassava farmers across the three study areas revealed that, farmers
strength ranged from 2.6% -100.0%, weakness 2.6% - 94.6%, opportunities 2.5% - 94.9% and
threats ranging from 2.6% -95.0% (Table 8). The study showed that across the study areas, the
processors strengths ranged from 8.3% - 95.0%, weaknesses from 25.0%-33.3%, opportunities
10.5% - 95.0% and threats ranged from 8.3%-94.7%, respectively (Table 9).
Table 8: SWOT analysis for cassava farmers in the three study districts
SWOT Analysis Bo (%) Bombali (%) Kenema
(%)
Strength
i. Agricultural land 97.3 100.0 100.0
ii. Improve planting materials 83.8 87.2 95.0
iii. Family labour 62.2 97.4 90.0
iv. Finance 35.1 0.0 15.0
v. Membership in FBO 18.9 2.6 0.0
vi. Process cassava products 21.6 12.8 0.0
Weakness
i. Lack of finance 94.6 92.3 85.0
ii. Lack of improve varieties 40.5 59.0 27.5
iii. Lack of labour 35.1 20.5 22.5
iv. Lack of training on improved agricultural practice 56.8 5.1 97.5
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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 11, Issue 3, June- 2023
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v. Lack of agro chemicals 64.9 94.9 67.5
vi. Difficult access to land 8.1 2.6 0.0
Opportunities
i. Development of improved cassava varieties 67.6 89.7 82.5
ii. Support from MAFFS 21.6 10.3 7.5
iii. Availability of markets 70.3 94.9 90.0
iv. Availability of processing centers 48.7 2.6 90.0
v. Microfinance 13.5 35.9 22.5
vi. Support from NGOs 40.5 35.9 5.0
vii. Strong link with research institutions 37.8 30.8 2.5
Threats
i. Thieves 24.3 17.9 12.5
ii. Grasshoppers 83.8 89.8 92.5
iii. Vertebrate pests 78.4 87.2 95.0
iv. High transportation cost 81.1 48.7 92.5
v. Strong market competition 2.7 2.6 7.5
vi. Fire outbreak 2.7 15.4 0.0
vii. Land tenure 16.2 38.5 0.0
Table 9: SWOT analysis for cassava processors in the three study districts
SWOT Analysis Bo
(%)
Bombali
(%)
Kenema
(%)
Strengths
i. Strong knowledge and experience in cassava processing 94.7 95.0 91.7
ii. Have access to labour for processing activities 94.7 75.0 91.7
iii. Have access to credit and finance 26.3 0.0 8.3
iv. Have access to Market and storage facilities for products 21.1 30.0 25.0
v. Strong linkages with farmers for tubers 26.3 80.0 50.0
vi. Have access to processing equipment 36.8 20.0 33.3
Weakness
i. Have limited access to market 52.6 60.0 66.7
ii. Have limited access finance and credit facilities 89.5 100.0 58.3
iii. Use of local processing equipment 73.7 70.0 75.0
iv. Lack of training on quality gari production 36.8 25.0 33.3
v. Inability to pay high transport fare for raw materials 47.4 45.0 66.7
Opportunities
i. Availability of improved cassava varieties 89.5 95.0 100.0
ii. Strong linkages with value chain actors 42.1 85.0 66.7
iii. High demand for gari in local markets 84.2 85.0 75.0
iv. Provision of training by NGO’s 15.8 10.0 25.0
v. Availability of processing centers with modern equipment
facilities
10.5 25.0 33.3
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
vi. Increase in labour costs for gari activities 94.7 75.0 91.7
vii. High cost for accessing improved processing equipment and
inputs
84.2 65.0 91.7
viii. Inadequate supply of raw materials 10.5 45.0 25.0
ix. Theft 5.3 15.0 8.3
x. High interest rates on loans 47.4 40.0 16.7
xi. Market diversity and competition with other food items 57.9 60.0 66.7
This study established stakeholders’ preference for starch content and dry matter content for
different cassava varieties. The study shows high proportions of illiteracy and married people
amongst the respondents. Bala et al. [22] opined that illiteracy is a key hindrance to institutional
support towards agriculture, while Nyagaka et al. [23] revealed that education had positive
relationship with agricultural efficiency and production. Findings are also in concurrence with
the suggestion that education influences agricultural efficiency and production [23, 24]. The
study also reveals that majority of the farmers are male and are dominated by married people
in the three study districts. This could be due to the fact that majority of the rural people are
challenged with the responsibility of early marriage to increase in household size labor. The
high marriage proportion of the respondents obtained in this study indicates that majority of
the respondents are stable and could command societal respect. Being married could mean that
the respondents are responsible. In a farming household, all members of the household assist
each other with farming activities and other household chores. This is more the reason why
marriage is paramount among the farming communities, because most farmers depend on their
families as primary source of labor. About 89.2% of the respondents grow cassava only whilst
82.5% grow and process the crop in the three study districts. This could be attributed to high
level of cassava consumption in the districts as it serves as an important staple food crop which
can be processed into various cassava-based products including boiled storage roots, gari,
starch and cassava bread (very thin, small, and flat, round pieces) traded mainly in Sierra Leone
[25]. Farmers commonly select cassava varieties with focus on high yield, root size, root taste,
early maturity period and inner color. These selection criteria reflected the importance of
farmers’ needs, priorities, as well as the type of farming systems they practice. High yield, root
taste and inner color were selected because farmers believed that high yield cultivars generate
income. Similar results were reported by Ntumngia [26] indicating that marketable roots, root
size shape and color of the skin, which determine the demand and price for different cassava
cultivars in the market. Farmers, however, preferred varieties that are resistance to pest and
disease as a way of ensuring food security for their households.
However, processors’ selection criteria are based on starch content and dry matter content.
This selection criteria indicates that, cultivars with high dry matter and starch content are good
in making cultivars quality cassava-based products (fufu, gari, tho and flour) and are more
marketable. Cassava cultivars that are selected for the market, should, therefore, meet most of
these qualities if farmers and processors have to stay competitive in the market and increase
income from cassava. The combination of desired traits that meet their culinary, agronomic and
other needs are based on local knowledge which is translated into their everyday cultivar
selection strategies and practices.
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Preference for the different cassava products in the study districts is high for all the different
products (cassava roots, gari, fufu, and tho) except for cassava flour that is low in the Bo and
Bombali districts due to lack of market facilities in the districts. Several cassava cultivars were
grown by farmers, with more than three cultivars identified in each of the surveyed districts.
Each cultivar was selected for its special attributes preferred by processors. Strength,
weakness, opportunity and threats faced by the farmers and processors were cross-cutting.
These major cross-cutting issues identified by farmers as strength include agricultural land,
improved planting materials and family labor. The weaknesses identified are: lack of finance,
lack of training on improved agricultural practices and lack of agro-chemical. The opportunities
catalogued include development and availability of improved cassava varieties and markets.
The threats are grasshopper attack, high transportation cost and vertebrate pest.
The strengths identified by the processors include: knowledge and experience in cassava
processing, easy access to labor for processing and strong linkages with the farmers for storage
root. Their identified weaknesses covered limited access to market, limited access to finance
and credit facilities and use of local equipment. The opportunities are: availability of improved
cassava varieties, high demand for cassava products in local market and strong linkages with
value chain actors. Finally, the threats identified are: increase in labor cost for gari producing
activities, high cost for improved processing equipment and inputs).
In countries with improved cassava value chains, various end users utilize improved
technologies for production, processing, drying and storage of cassava roots for value addition
and prevention or minimization of deterioration of storage roots [27]. Processing equipment
such as mechanical peelers, cassava graters and chippers, motorised sieves, flash dryers, solar
dryers, hydraulic pressers, and hammer mills are utilized in well-developed cassava value
chains [27-29]. Improved storage boxes lined with moist sawdust, polypropylene bags (plastic
film wraps), use of waxy coatings and refrigeration have been noted to improve shelf life of
cassava products [27,29,30]. These technologies could be exploited for adaptation in Sierra
Leone to boost the transformative drive of the cassava value chain from small-scale production
to large-scale production, market-driven and product-oriented productivity sector.
CONCLUSION
The findings of the PRA conducted in Sierra Leone showed that farmers generally rank high
yielding cassava varieties as the highest priority in selecting cassava varieties followed by, root
size, root taste and maturity period. Processors rank starch content as the highest selection
criteria followed by dry matter content, root size and ease of peeling. Several factors limiting
cassava production and processing in the surveyed districts were also identified, key of which
were cassava mosaic disease, grasshopper, lack of finance, and high transportation cost. Their
criteria for cassava-based products were also identified. To, therefore, bridge the gap between
stakeholders and breeders, participatory variety selection and participatory plant breeding
should be conducted to promote collaborations between stakeholders and breeders for
development of new cassava varieties with desired key traits for production, processing,
marketing and consumption.
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
This study established the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as end
users’ varietal preferences for key traits considered in a market-driven and product-oriented
cassava sub-sector. Based on the findings, the following are recommended:
1. Provision of training and awareness campaigns targeted at mitigating threats and
weaknesses faced by end users to increase cassava productivity and value addition based
on market-driven and product-oriented paradigm.
2. Inclusion of introduced improved low-cost technologies to improve production and
processing of cassava roots based on market-driven and product-oriented paradigm
targeted at improving the livelihoods and improving the income levels of the various end- users.
3. Application of modern breeding tools to exploit existing variability in local and introduced
cassava genotypes for development of elite genotypes with desired end-user traits.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the cassava breeding teams at the Sierra Leone Agricultural
Research Institute (SLARI), International Institute of Tropical Agricultural (IITA) for their
technical support during the course of this study.
Declarations
Authors' Contributions
The authors were involved in experimentation, data collection, management and writing of the
paper as well as reading and approval of the manuscript prior to its submission.
Competing Interests
Both authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Availability of Data and Material
Data available on request.
Funding
This research was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) under the
IDRC/CORAF-WECARD/IITA sub-grant agreement for developing capacity for Agricultural
Research in Sub-Saharan Africa (PJ-2126) to pursue PhD in Plant Breeding at the West African
Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana; and the West Africa Agricultural
Productivity Program Sierra Leone (WAAPP 1C SL) Grant Number: IDA Grant H654-SL and
Japan PHRD TF099510-SL.
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SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary 1: Sampling procedure and research design
Stage Category Sampling method Sample size
1 3 regions (east, north and south) Purposive 360 actors
2 3 districts (Bo, Bombali and Kenema) Simple random 120 actors per district
3 12 chiefdoms Simple random 30 actors per chiefdom
4 12 chiefdoms
Producers Systematic 10 producers per chiefdom
Consumers Systematic 6 consumers per chiefdom
Traders Simple random 8 traders per chiefdom
Processors Simple random 6 processors per chiefdom
Supplementary 2: Percentage distributions of cassava farmers across the three-study
district
Socioeconomic characteristics Districts (%)
Bo Bombali Kenema Mean
Age group
Youth (18 – 35 years) 35.1 30.8 27.5 31.1
Adult (35 – 60 years) 62.2 56.4 60.0 59.5
Aged (above 60 years) 2.7 12.8 12.5 9.3
Gender
Female 2.7 7.7 10.0 6.8
Male 97.3 92.3 90.0 93.2
Educational level
None 37.8 51.3 15.0 34.7
Koranic 10.8 5.1 45.0 20.3
Primary 16.2 12.8 25.0 18.0
Junior Secondary School 24.3 23.1 10.0 19.1
Senior Secondary School 8.1 2.6 5.0 5.2
Tertiary 2.7 5.1 0.0 2.6
Marital status
Single 16.2 12.8 0.0 9.7
Married 81.1 79.5 100.0 86.9
Divorced 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Widow / widower 0.0 2.6 0.0 0.9
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Karim, K. Y., & Norman, P. E. (2023). Perceived Knowledge of Cassava Value Chain Actors on Varietal Preferences for Various End Uses. Discoveries
in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 11(3). 01-21.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.113.14568
Supplementary 3: Preferred cassava varieties for different cassava products in the
three study districts
Bo Bombali Kenema
Product Variety % Variety % Variety %
Gari SLICASS 4 64.7 3 MONTH 30.0 SLICASS 4 40.0
Fufu CARE 50.0 ROCASS 35.7 KABBAY 30.0
Starch SLICASS 4 100.0 ROCASS 50.0 8 MONTH 100.0
HQCF SLICASS 6 100.0 WARIMA 50.0
Tho CARE 66.7 WARIMA 20.0 BUTTER 50.0
HQCF=high quality cassava flour