Regional Markets

3 Cases
feedstock for processing in the HQCF VC benefit more because they can sell larger
volumes. Also by having some of the processing done at the smallholder level, the
direct financial returns to smallholders were increased (from estimated return to
labour of USD 2.43 per day for fresh cassava to USD 3.42 per day for farmer processors
producing wet cake). Processing at village-level thus helps to reduce poverty in
rural areas. By 2015, 1,000 smallholders are expected to benefit from the sun-dried
HQCF VC, and another 6,000 are anticipated as beneficiaries in the artificially dried
HQCF VC (see Table 3.1 and 3.2). In 2010, the five sun-drying processing sites had a
total area of 860 m 2 , and produced a total of 18.6 tons of HQCF. Although increased
volumes are expected over the next years, the processing capacity of the sites is limited
by the drying area and the length of the dry season. Artificial flash dryers, on the
other hand, can produce 2 tons of HQCF per day year-round. It is unlikely that individual
smallholders of farmer groups will be able to invest in artificial dryers, because
of limited access to capital. In order to maximise the scope of the intervention, and
thus the number of beneficiaries reached, the project actively involved the private sector
to secure their investments in processing sites with artificial dryers. Even though
part of the value addition will go to the private sector, this approach helps guarantee a
durable outlet for cassava growers.
Gender
Women play an important role in cassava processing, as they manage most of the
activities and decisions after the crop has been planted (Kaitano and Martin 2009).
However, it is not uncommon for both women and men of the household to jointly
decide on the final sale of their product. Women producers feel that they could benefit
more from cassava cultivation if they are organised, thus improving their market
bargaining power, scale of production, and access to credit and agricultural equipment
(Lamboll et al. 2009).
Food security
C:AVA facilitated the distribution of improved planting materials to villages within a
45 km radius of the project location, allowing another 40 hectares to be planted with
cassava. The increased production area and the improved quality of the planted crops
translate into more income for smallholders. Their additional income improves the
households’ ability to secure adequate nutrition throughout the year (especially through
savings to be used in the dry season when direct farming incomes are lower). On the
rural food market, composite flour (mixed HQCF and wheat flour) is a competitive
alternative to wheat flour, which has to be imported and is highly vulnerable to market
and exchange rates fluctuations. Various rural entrepreneurs are successfully selling
composite flour (20% HQCF and 80% wheat) for mandazi. The introduction of flour
based on locally sourced feedstock helps stabilise—or even reduce—flour prices on the
rural markets, and increases accessibility of flour and flour products (biscuits) for rural
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