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ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of cassava transformation initiative on the profitability of Micro-Scale Cassava Processing Enterprises (MSCPEs) in Southwest Nigeria. The study assessed the profitability of the MSCPEs before and after the initiative, using survey design and multi-stage sampling technique (purposive sampling, and proportionate stratified sampling technique) to select respondents. The sample size for the study was 292 respondents. Structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents with only 86% (251) retrieved. The data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics (percentages, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and Gross Margin Analysis (GMA). Hypothesis was tested with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The study revealed that, the Cassava Transformation Initiative (CTI) had a significant effect on the profitability (with p-values of gross margin and profit being .005 and .000 respectively) of the Micro-scale cassava processing enterprises in the study area. The study, therefore, recommended that the government and all stakeholders in the cassava industry in Nigeria should assist in providing enabling environment for the industry to strive and extend the processing of cassava as a substitute for imported cassava products, use cassava as a source of poverty alleviation as well as earn foreign exchange from its
processing.

Keywords: Cassava Transformation Initiative; Profitability; Micro-scale; Cassava Processing Enterprises

JoST. 2021. 11(1): 38-49
Accepted for Publication, April 30, 2021