Evaluation of introduced cassava processing technologies on production and consumption using goal programming approach
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Date
2009
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study which evaluates the introduced cassava processing technologies on production
and consumption using goal programming approach was conducted in Tongwe village
(Muheza district) in Tanga region and Mikongeni village (Kibaha district) in Pwani region.
Data for the study were collected from a sample of 120 households, 2 focus group
discussions and by experimentation. The results of the study show that, the introduced
cassava processing technologies are both technically and economically efficient. The
machines such as engine powered chipper and grater consume 5 litres of fuel (petrol) to
process about 1- 1.2 tonnes of fresh cassava. To process 5 kg of fresh cassava the machines
take 3 minutes. Moreover, it takes about 1-3 days to obtain a final product (cassava flour)
whereas traditional processing technology (sun-drying) takes about 6 days and wet and
solid-state fermentation takes about 12 days. Analysis of the partial budget revealed that
mechanized processing technologies generate an average profit of TZS 316.43 per
kilogram dry weight compared to traditional processing technologies. Analysis of the
consumer’s preferences with respect to processing methods by probit regression analysis,
factors such as quality of the products, household size, quantity consumed per year and
price of those products were significant at α = 0.05 level, suggesting that there is an
increase in consumption behaviour. To estimate future trend of demand and hence
production for processed cassava flour using goal programming approach indicated that
about 128 571.4 tonnes can be produced in the two districts, if farmers use the said
technology in full scale. The study concluded that, the use of mechanized processing
technologies is more profitable. Therefore, the study recommended that, the farmers do
adopt manual chipping machine for small-scale farming, moreover engine powered chipper
and cassava grater for large-scale farming rather than using traditional processing
technologies.
Description
Keywords
cassava processing, Tongwe village, Mikongeni village, cassava processing technologies
Citation
Meda T(2010 ). EValuation of introduced cassava processing technologies on production and consumption using goal programming approach .Morogor;okoine university of agriculture.