EFFECT OF CASSAVA GRANULES (GARRI) PRODUCTION AND MARKETING ON THE PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN BENUE SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
This study examined the effect of cassava granules (garri) production and marketing on the performance of women entrepreneurs among rural women in Benue South Senatorial District, Benue State, Nigeria. The study was anchored on the increasing importance of cassava-based enterprises as a pathway for enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting women’s economic empowerment, improving household welfare, and supporting sustainable rural development. Specifically, the study assessed the contribution of garri production and marketing activities to the entrepreneurial performance of rural women engaged in cassava enterprises. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, with primary data collected through structured questionnaires administered to 384 women entrepreneurs involved in garri production and marketing across selected Local Government Areas in Benue South Senatorial District. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal regression analysis. The findings revealed that garri production and marketing had a significant positive effect on women entrepreneurship performance at a 5% level of significance. The results further showed that garri marketing enhanced income generation, household food security, women’s economic empowerment, employment creation, access to market opportunities, and enterprise development. The study also established that improved market linkages, access to financial resources, entrepreneurial skills, and participation in women associations contributed significantly to business growth and sustainability. However, inadequate access to finance, poor transportation infrastructure, limited processing facilities, weak market information systems, and restricted access to wider markets remain major challenges affecting women-owned garri enterprises. The study concludes that strengthening garri production and marketing systems through improved financial support, modern processing technologies, entrepreneurship development, cooperative strengthening, and efficient market infrastructure is essential for enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of rural women entrepreneurs. The study recommends that government agencies, financial institutions, and development organizations should implement targeted interventions that improve access to affordable credit, strengthen women’s cooperatives, promote value addition, and establish sustainable market networks for cassava-based enterprises.
Keywords: Cassava Granules (Garri), Marketing, Women Entrepreneurship Performance, Rural Women, Value Addition, Benue South Senatorial District.
