ABSTRACT
Cassava processing produces waste, which could be detrimental to the environment if not properly disposed of. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate processors’ assessment of the environmental effect of cassava processing in Egor Local Government Area of Edo state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of cassava processors, identified the products derived from processing cassava and their extent of involvement, identified and documented the various cassava processing activities undertaken by the processors, identified the wastes generated from cassava processing, examined the extent to which sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in cassava processing are used, examined processors’ perception of the effect of cassava processing wastes on the inhabitants around processing environment, and identified the constraints to processors use of sustainable practices for waste management.
Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 116 cassava processors in the study area. Data were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire to the respondents, and were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, percentage and frequency counts while the hypotheses were tested using inferential statistics (regression and correlation). Results from the study showed that the average age of the processors was 45 years, majority (65%) of them were women, 82% were married, the mean household size was 7 persons, the mean farming experience was 15 years, an average of 3.6 tons were processed annually, earning an average income of ₦530, 159. Most of the tubers were processed into garri (100%) and fufu (59%). The extent of waste generated from peels showed (x̅ = 3.6), effluents (x̅ = 2.8) and pulp (x̅ = 1.5). For waste disposal, use for manure (x̅ = 1.49), usage as animal feed (x̅ = 1.47) and production of biogas (x̅ = 1.45) were the most practiced methods. Odour (x̅ = 3.77) and effluent (x̅ = 3.59) were received as detriment of processing on the environment. The major constraints to the usage of environmentally friendly practices were low access to government funding/grants (x̅ = 3.52). The correlation coefficient showed that years of cassava-processing experience (r = 0.420 and p = 0.043), which indicates that processors with more years of processing experience are more likely to adopt sustainable practices,quantity of cassava tubers processed (r = 0.517 and p = 0.002), thus, they were all significant.It was concluded that majority of the processors recognize the detrimental effects of improper disposal of cassava waste, and perceived the benefits of proper waste disposal but are faced with constraints’.
It is recommended that government at local and state levels and communities should invest capital to assist the processors with construction of modern processing centres with effective disposal, in the study area.
