Authors : M.C. Ogbonna , G.N. Asumugha , H.N. Anyaegbunam , B.C. Okoye , J. Onwumere and O.A. Akinpelu
Abstract: Cassava processing business is an important enterprise, which provides income and employment to greater proportion of rural population of Nigeria. But the quality of the products from processing is very low. The method employed is very tedious resulting perhaps from inefficient use of techniques and lower management at processors� level. To investigate into the fact, the study was conducted at processors� level in two areas in Abia State with a sample of 72 small-scale processors by applying Cobb Douglas production function model. The functional results showed that some technological inputs such as grater machine and other inputs were over utilized whereas expenditures on some others like presser and miller machines, diesel (fuel), human labour and repairs were under utilized. Results of the study also indicates that the small scale cassava processors although economically more rational in some cases, were not using resources at an optimum level. Despite these few cases, the business resulted in an increasing return to scale, as the sum of production coefficient was more than unity. It was therefore ,suggested that small-scale cassava processors could have to reallocate their resources like grater machine and other inputs by reducing expenditures while increasing more of diesel.
M.C. Ogbonna , G.N. Asumugha , H.N. Anyaegbunam , B.C. Okoye , J. Onwumere and O.A. Akinpelu , 2007. Resource Use Efficiency in Cassava Processing in Two Selected Areas of Abia State, Nigeria . Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 4: 778-781.