Mechanization of Cassava Processing in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the different cassava processing machinery available, the most acceptable machine, effect of machines cost on the acceptability of mechanisation, cost of maintenance and services of the machines in Iwo Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. The survey was undertaken using structured questionnaires administered through a participatory learning technique. The local government was divided into four zones and four processing centres were chosen from each zone to give a total of 16 processing centres. A total of 160 machines were recorded. Grating machines, 75 (46.9%), pressing machine, 59 (36.9%), sifting machines, 3 (1.8%), milling machines, 33 (14.4%) in all the processing centres. Peeling, washing, slicing, chipping, drying and frying operations were predominantly done manually. Sources of power of the machines are: diesel (84.7%), petrol (9.4%), electricity (5.9%). The diesel engine was widely utilised due to the ruggedness of the processing operations. High cost of most of the machines, cost of maintenance and services were constraint to acquisition of the already available machines in the market. Maintenance and service culture of most of the processors were poor and this affected the durability of the machines. This study revealed that certain cassava processing operations were met for a particular sex. Grating, dewatery, milling operations were predominantly for men while peeling, washing, drying and frying operations were common among women.