Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) – the University of Greenwich open access repository http://gala.gre.ac.uk __________________________________________________________________________________________ Citation: Anaglo, Jonathan Nicholas (2011) Understanding the influence of livelihood features on cassava value chains. PhD thesis, University of Greenwich. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Please note that the full text version provided on GALA is the final published version awarded by the university. “I certify that this work has not been accepted in substance for any degree, and is not concurrently being submitted for any degree other than that of (name of research degree) being studied at the University of Greenwich. I also declare that this work is the result of my own investigations except where otherwise identified by references and that I have not plagiarised the work of others”. Anaglo, Jonathan Nicholas (2011) Understanding the influence of livelihood features on cassava value chains. ##thesis _type## , ##institution## Available at: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/9098/ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Contact: [email protected] Understanding the Influence of Livelihood Features on Cassava Value Chains Jonathan Nicholas Anaglo A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Greenwich for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy APRIL 2011 DECLARATION “I certify that this work has not been accepted in substance for any degree, and is not concurrently being submitted for any degree other than that of the PhD being studied at the University of Greenwich. I also declare that this work is the result of my own investigations except where otherwise identified by references and that I have not plagiarised anothers work”. ---------------------------- Jonathan Nicholas Anaglo (Student) -------------------------- Professor John Morton (Supervisor) -------------------------- Professor Andrew Westby (Supervisor) -------------------------- Dr. Paschal B. Atengdem (Supervisor) ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks go to the Almighty God for taking me through such an exciting exercise for this number of years. I am very grateful to Professor Andrew Westby who was very instrumental in bringing out the idea that I carry out the PhD at the Natural Resources Institute. To my main supervisor, Professor John Morton for carrying out the major supervisory work, giving useful guidance until the final work was completed, I say Ayekoo. The same goes to Dr. P. B. Atengdem, my Ghanaian supervisor. My first supervisor, Mike Morris, did a marvellous job at the beginning of the thesis, without which I could not have reached this level. Funding for the thesis was provided by the EU project “Development of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Sector Producing Cassava Based Products to Meet Emerging Urban Demand in West Africa” {INCO-DEV (ICA4-CT2002-10006)}, the Natural Resources Foundation International and the Office of Research Innovation and Development, University of Ghana, Legon. I am very grateful to all of them. The contributions of the staff of the NRI and collaborators on the Cassava SME Project cannot be forgotten. I am also greatly indebted to Dr. Kolawole Adebayo for his socio-economic contributions. My colleagues in the Department of Agricultural Extension of the University of Ghana – Dr. E. E. Ackah-Nyamike, Jnr., Dr. O. Sakyi-Dawson, Dr. (Mrs) Freeman and Dr. S. D. Boateng, have contributed in diverse ways to the realisation of this dream. The efforts of Mr. Siabi Mensah, Mr. John Owusu, Dr. A.A. Agordoh, Mr. Mark Logo, Mr. Peters Gakpo, Mr. Annor Puplampu, Nana Yaw Darkey-Sekpey, Mr. John Tsikata, Mr. Sylvanus Wormenor, Mr. Alvin Amoah, Mr. Prince Boakye and Mrs. Regina Anaglo (my wife) and the entire Anaglo family are all recognised. To those who have contributed in diverse ways but cannot see their names here, I say a very big thank you. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my mother, Adzo Womekalewodzio. iv ABSTRACT More than 70% of Ghanaian farmers depend on cassava farming and processing as part of their livelihood activities. The study sought to identify the actors in the cassava value chains, how their livelihood features influence upgrading in the value chains and also, factors that farmers consider in deciding whether to sell fresh cassava roots to intermediate processors or to process the roots themselves and sell. The study was conducted in locations in six districts in Ghana. It combined the Value Chain Approach and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach using qualitative and quantitative data. A stakeholder workshop was held to identify the main actors and their functions in the fufu, kokonte and cassava flour value chains. Livelihood analysis was conducted in two parts. First, it was carried out on eighty (80) households in the pounded fufu and kokonte value chains and the second aspect involved an intermediary flour processor – Amasa Agro Processing Company Limited and 43 individual farmers who supplied cassava roots to the Company. A cost benefit analysis was also carried out to determine whether selling of cassava roots is more profitable than processing the roots into shelf-stable products for sale. It was observed that farmers and processors, who are the main actors in the identified value chains, did not have adequate access to physical, social, natural, financial and human capital. Livelihood features that enhanced prospects for upgrading in the fufu value chain were increased access to energy, water and sanitation, group membership, access to information, and a vibrant enabling environment. Three livelihood constraints, poor access to credit, labour shortage and inadequate transport facilities have however, been found to create circumstances favourable to adoption of the new technology in the fufu value chain. In the kokonte value chain, it was observed that access to health facilities, improved transportation, group membership, access to information and an enabling environment enhanced prospects for upgrading. It was also observed that farmers made more profit when they processed their cassava and sold it than when they sell the cassava roots to the intermediary processor. Among the processed products, profits from grits were found to be the highest, followed by agbelima and gari. However, farmers indicated that they are more comfortable selling cassava roots and grits to the intermediary HQCF processor than v middlemen and other buyers because in addition to bulk and prompt payment, they have their fields ploughed for them on credit basis and also get free cassava planting materials. To promote the adoption of new cassava-processing technologies in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, strategies recommended were the provision of financial assistance, improving access to information through extension services, development of manual and cheaper kokonte slicing machines and legislation on the use of a percentage of High Quality Cassava Flour as a substitute to wheat flour in the baking industry. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title Page i Declaration ii Acknowledgements iii Dedication iv Abstract v Table of Contents vii List of Tables xii List of Figures xiv List of Plates xv List of Boxes xvi Exchange Rate xvii Acronyms xviii Chapter 1: Background 1 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Cassava and its Characteristics 1 1.2 World Production of Cassava 5 1.3 The Cassava SME Project in West Africa 6 1.3.1 Background to the Project 6 1.3.2 The Researchers Participation 7 1.4 Statement of the Problem 8 1.5 Objectives of the Study 15 1.6 Research Questions 16 1.7 Thesis Structure 19 Chapter 2: Cassava Production and Processing in Ghana 20 2.0 Introduction 20 2.1 Origin and Spread of Cassava 20 2.2 Cassava Production in Ghana 21 2.3 Agronomy of Cassava 23 2.3.1 Environmental Requirements for Cassava Production 23 2.3.2 Development of Improved Varieties 24 2.3.3 Cassava Cultivation 27 2.3.4 Pests and Diseases 29 2.3.5 Harvesting 29 2.3.6 Storage 29 2.4 Processing 30 2.5 Marketing and Utilization 33 2.6 Policy and Support for Cassava 34 2.6.1 The National Root and Tuber Crops Improvement Project 35 2.6.2 The Root and Tuber Improvement Programme 35 2.6.3 The Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme 39 2.6.4 The Presidential Special Initiative on Cassava 40 2.7 Summary 42 Chapter 3: Sustainable Livelihoods 44 3.0 Introduction 44 vii 3.1 The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach 44 3.1.1 Definition of Livelihoods 45 3.1.2 Principles of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach 45 3.2 The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 46 3.2.1 Livelihood Assets 48 3.2.2 Vulnerability 63 3.2.3 Policies, Institutions and Processes (PIPs) 65 3.2.4 Livelihood Strategies 68 3.2.5 Livelihood Objectives and Outcomes 72 3.3 Technology and Sustainable Livelihoods 76 3.3.1 Influence of Livelihood Assets and PIPs on Technology Adoption 77 3.4 Concerns Regarding the use of the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach 80 3.5 The SLA: Lessons Learnt 81 3.6 The SLA: Current Status 83 3.7 Summary 83 Chapter 4: The Value Chain Framework 85 4.0 Introduction 85 4.1 The Evolution of Value Chains 85 4.2 Agricultural Value Chains 87 4.3 A Simple Cassava Value Chain 88 4.4 Globalisation and Value Chains 91 4.5 Governance in Value Chains 93 4.5.1 Why Value Chains are Governed 93 4.5.2 Types of Governance 95 4.5.3 Relationships in Chain Governance 96 4.6 Upgrading in the Value Chain 97 4.6.1 Why Firms Upgrade 97 4.6.2 Types of Upgrading 99 4.7 Strengths