Stressors and Resilience within the Cassava Value Chain in Nigeria: Preferred Cassava Variety Traits and Response Strategies of Men and Women to Inform Breeding

Olamide Olaosebikan (), Abolore Bello, Obaiya Utoblo, Benjamin Okoye, Nathaniel Olutegbe, Elisabeth Garner, Béla Teeken, Elizabeth Bryan, Lora Forsythe, Steven Cole, Peter Kulakow, Chiedozie Egesi, Hale Tufan and Tessy Madu ()
Additional contact information
Olamide Olaosebikan: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Abolore Bello: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Obaiya Utoblo: Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Jos, Jos 930105, Nigeria
Benjamin Okoye: National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Umudike 440109, Nigeria
Nathaniel Olutegbe: Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200132, Nigeria
Elisabeth Garner: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry, Bogor 16115, Indonesia
Béla Teeken: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Lora Forsythe: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, London SE10 9LS, UK
Steven Cole: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dar es Salaam 34441, Tanzania
Peter Kulakow: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Chiedozie Egesi: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Hale Tufan: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Tessy Madu: National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Umudike 440109, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: This study investigated the trait preferences for cassava in the context of climate change and conflict stressors among value-chain actors in Nigeria to strengthen social inclusion and the community-resilience outcomes from breeding programs. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used to select and interview male and female value-chain participants in the Osun, Benue and Abia States. The results indicated that farmers preferred cassava traits such as drought tolerance, early bulking, multiple-product use and in-ground storability to strengthen resilience. Climate change and challenges related to social change shaped the response strategies from both genders, and influenced trait preferences, including the early re-emergence of cassava leaves, stems that had ratooning potential, and especially the root milking that was important among female respondents. The major response strategies employed by men included frequent farm visits to prevent theft and engaging in non-agricultural livelihoods. Those employed by women included backyard farming, early harvesting, having preferences for food with fewer processing steps, and depending on remittances. The resilience capacity was higher for men than for women due to their better access to assets, as well as their abilities to relocate their farms and out-migrate in search of other livelihoods. Considering gendered cassava traits, and enhancing their resilience and response strategies, can complement efforts to make breeding more socially inclusive, resilient, and anticipatory to future challenges created by climate and related social changes.

Keywords: breeding; cassava; climate change; conflict; trait preferences; response strategies; gender disparity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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