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Factors Affecting Cassava Adoption  
in Southern Province of Zambia:  
A Case Study of Mazabuka District 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tionenji Phiri 
 
2011 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
Factors Affecting Cassava Adoption  
in Southern Province of Zambia:  
A Case Study of Mazabuka District 
 
 
 
 
 
A thesis prepared in partial fulfilment of the requirements  
for the degree of Master of App lied Science in Agri-Commerce  
at Massey University, New Zealand  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tionenji Phiri 
 
2011 
 
  i
Abstract 
 
Southern Province of Zambia is a drought pron e area and the main crop that is grown 
is maize which requires a high amount of ra infall. As a result maize does not do well 
in the area and there are frequent f ood shortages. The Government and Non- 
Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been promoting cassava technology which 
is drought tolerant to improve the food security in the area. However, the adoption of 
cassava technologies has been low. The findings of this study will inform the 
development of more effective strategies to improve food security in southern 
province of Zambia and it has done this  by exploring the cassava promotion 
programme. 
 
 A single case study was used to investigate the factors that affect cassava adoption in 
Mazabuka district. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select 
participants for interviews and observations. 40 farmers w ho included opinion leaders 
and 6 key informants were interviewed. The data was analysed using qualitative data 
methods. 
 
The results of the study indicated that although a small number of farmers continue to 
grow cassava, the cassava promotion progr amme was a flawed programme because 
cassava did not meet the needs of the majo rity of the farmers. There was a mix of 
complex and interrelated factor s that affected the adoption of cassava. These included 
internal and external fact ors to the farm and farm household and those related 
specifically to the characteristics of cassava relative to the farmers’ existing crop of 
maize. Cassava is a substitute crop to maize.  
 
The result of the study indicated that the farmers’ adopt ion decision was based on the 
fact that they wanted a crop that would not only meet their food needs but also 
income. Cassava is a substitute crop and the farmers compared it with maize, an 
existing crop, which provided them with bot h food and income. Processing facilities 
and a market supported by government policy existed for maize and not for cassava. 
Land tenure was the internal f actor, but not as a result of the length of time the lease 
   
ii 
was held, but because of the conditions impos ed on the leasers in terms of crops they 
were able to grow. 
 
The most important factors were external  factors and these included government 
policy and an aspect of extension servic e delivery. A competitive government policy 
that supported processing and marketing faci lities for maize, undermined cassava, for 
which there was no processing facilities and only a small local market. Lack of 
training and knowledge amongst the local government agricultural extension 
personnel as to how to grow and process cassava impacted also on farmers’ 
knowledge and hence adoption of cassava. Although the inputs for growing cassava 
were provided for free, they  were supplied at the wrong time and this impacted also 
on farmers’ willingness to grow the crop. 
 
The research highlights the importance of using bottom-up and not top down 
approaches in food security programmes. The results suggest that it is important for 
food security policy and development interventions to understand the needs of farmers 
in terms of food, inco me and livelihoods. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  iii
Acknowledgements 
 
Firstly, I would like to th ank God who guided and protect ed me during my study and 
stay in New Zealand. Even when things were  hard and difficult, he was with me.   
 
I would like to thank the New Zealand Govern ment for offering me the scholarship to 
further my studies at Massey University. Many thanks also go to the International 
Student Support office, especially Sylvia and Olive for their support during my study.  
 
I would like to thank my major supervisor Ms Janet Reid for her valuable advice, 
insight and guidance throughout the research work. I am again thankful to my second 
supervisor, Dr. David Gray for his valu able guidance, constructive comments and 
support throughout my research work. Both have  worked hard to keep me on the right 
track and complete my study. 
 
I am also grateful to the lecturers and sta ff of the Institute of Natural Resources and 
the Institute of Animal Food and Nutrition fo r their support. I would also like to thank 
my friends and course mates for their support during my study and stay in New 
Zealand. Special thanks go to Mr Bornwell Mupeyo who informed me about the 
scholarship and encouraged me to apply for it.  
 
My deepest thanks also go to all my family  particularly my father Mr Lazarus Phiri 
my brothers, Kabvinira, Raphael, Shadreck, Ju stin and my sister Falesi for being the 
pillar for my academic progress. Sincere th anks go to the farmers who volunteered to 
be interviewed. Without sacrif icing their valuable time to answer the questions, this 
study would not have been possible. I am grat eful to the Ministry  of Agricultural and 
Cooperatives in Mazabuka district, Plan Za mbia and PAM for their assistance and 
guidance during my data collection. 
  
Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my husband, Ishmael, for his 
love, care and patience. Ishmael, you were my  pillar of strength and your support and 
encouragement gave me a reason to look to wards my goals. For these, I cannot thank 
you enough. 
  
   
iv 
  
  v
Dedication 
 
This thesis is dedicated to Ishmael and the boys; Luundu and Nduba for the support 
and patience during the time I was studying and working on the thesis. I dedicate the 
thesis to my Dad, brothers and sister fo r their continued support and encouragement 
the time I was far away from home, without  forgetting my late mother who made me 
realise the value of education at an early age. 
 
 
  
   
vi 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  vii
Table of Contents 
Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 1
Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... iii 
Dedication .................................................................................................................... .. v 
Table of contents ..........................................................................................................vii 
List of tables ................................................................................................................ ... x
List of figures ............................................................................................................... . xi 
List of Acronyms a nd Abbreviations ...........................................................................xii 
List of Appendices ..................................................................................................... xiii 
Chapter 1:     INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Problem statement ................................................................................................ 7
1.3 Research Question ............................................................................................... 7
1.4 Objectives ............................................................................................................ 7
1.5 Thesis structure .................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 2:     LITERATURE REVI EW ......................................................................... 9
2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Food security strategies ........................................................................................ 9
2.2 Role of agriculture exte nsion in food security ................................................... 11
2.3 Types of technologies associ ated with food security ......................................... 11
2.4  Technology adoption and food security ............................................................. 12
2.5 Technology adoption ......................................................................................... 13
2.6 Factors affecting adoption .................................................................................. 19
2.6.1 The Characteristics of a technology ............................................................ 21
2.6.2 Internal factors ............................................................................................ 24
2.6.3 External factors ........................................................................................... 33
2.7 Summary/Conclusion ......................................................................................... 47
CHAPTER 3:     RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..................................................... 48
3.1 Research Strategy ............................................................................................... 48
3.2 Case study design ............................................................................................... 49
3.3 Case Selection .................................................................................................... 50
3.4  Sampling ........................................................................................................... 50
3.5  Data collection .................................................................................................. 52
   
viii 
3.6  Data analysis ..................................................................................................... 53
3.7  Ethical considerations ....................................................................................... 56
3.8  Summary ........................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 4:     CASE DESCRIPTION ..................................................................... 58
4.1  Introduction ........................................................................................................... 5 8 
4.2 Climate ............................................................................................................... 59
4.3 Ethnicity/poverty/literacy .................................................................................. 59
4.4 Livelihoods ........................................................................................................ 59
4.5 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 60
4.6 Non-Governmental Organisations in Mazabuka distric t ................................... 64
4.7 Government cassava program in Mazabuka ...................................................... 64
4.8 History of Maize ................................................................................................ 65
4.8.1 Uses for maize ............................................................................................. 68
4.9 History of Cassava ............................................................................................. 68
4.9.1 Policies affecting Cassava ........................................................................... 69
4.9.2 Uses of cassava ........................................................................................... 70
4.9.3 Storage of cassava ....................................................................................... 72
4.10  Seasonal Calendar ........................................................................................... 73
4.11 Comparing maize and cassava ......................................................................... 74
4.12 Summary .......................................................................................................... 75
CHAPTER 5:     FACTORS A FFECTING CASSAVA ADOPTION ........................ 76
5.1 Over view of adoption ....................................................................................... 76
5.2 Non- adopters of cassava ................................................................................... 77
5.2.1 Characteristics of the cassava technology ................................................... 77
5.2.2 Internal factors ............................................................................................ 79
5.2.3 External factors ........................................................................................... 80
5.3 Adopters of Cassava technology ........................................................................ 85
5.3.1 Characteristics of the technology ................................................................ 85
5.3.2  Internal factors ........................................................................................... 87
5.3.4  External factors .......................................................................................... 88
5.4 Summary ............................................................................................................ 89
  
  ix
CHAPTER 6:     DISCUSSION ................................................................................... 91
6.1 Classification of the case ................................................................................... 91
6.2  Agriculture extension, food security programmes and food security  
strategies ........................................................................................................... 95
6.3  Dual role of food crops ..................................................................................... 95
6.4 Appropriateness of the cassava technology ....................................................... 96
6.5  Over view of adoption ...................................................................................... 97
6.6 Adoption process ............................................................................................... 98
6.7  Factors affecting adoption ................................................................................. 99
6.7.1  Characteristics of the cassava technology .................................................. 99
6.7.2 Internal and external factors .......................................................................... 103
6.7.2.1  Internal factors ...................................................................................... 104
6.7.2.2  External factors ..................................................................................... 106
6.8  Summary ......................................................................................................... 111
CHAPTER 7:     SUMMA RY AND CONCLUSI ON ............................................... 113
7.1   Main research findings ................................................................................... 113
7.2   Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 114
7.3 Policy Implications .......................................................................................... 116
7.4   Evaluation of the research methodology ........................................................ 117
7.4   Further Research ............................................................................................ 119
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 120
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
x 
List of Tables 
Table 3.1 Conditions for selecting a ppropriate research strategy. ............................. 48  
Table 3.2 Unordered response to th e open ended question. What are the 
reasons why you do not grow cassava? ..................................................... 55  
Table 3.3 Categorisation of responses  to the open ended question. What 
are the reasons why you do not grow cassava? .......................................... 55  
Table 4.1 Cassava Varieties ....................................................................................... 69  
Table 4.2 Seasonal calendar for maize ....................................................................... 73  
Table 4.3 Seasonal calendar of cassava ..................................................................... 74 
 
Table 6.1 Farmer and farm characteristics ................................................................. 92  
Table 6.2 District characteristics ................................................................................ 93  
Table 6.3 Characteristics of maize and cassava ......................................................... 94  
Table 7.1 Factors influencing the adoption of cassava technology. ........................ 114  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  xi
List of Figures 
Figure 1.2 Zambia’s Agro Ecological Zones ............................................................. 3  
Figure 2.1 Rogers adopti on/ innovation curve ......................................................... 16  
Figure 3.1 The data analysis Spiral  (Dey, 1993:53; Creswell, 1998:143) ............... 54  
Figure 4.1 Map of southern province of  Zambia showing the study area. ............... 58  
Figure 4. 2 Fresh cassava roots and peeling .............................................................. 61  
Figure 4.3 Cassava being washed and cleaned ........................................................ 61  
Figure 4.4 Cassava soaked in a dish ......................................................................... 62  
Figure 4.5 Cassava being grated .............................................................................. 62  
Figure 4.6 Cassava being dried on a reed mat ......................................................... 63  
Figure 4.7 A man pounding cassava ........................................................................ 63  
Figure 4.8 Cassava field in Mazabuka ..................................................................... 69  
Figure 4.9 Cassava leaves ........................................................................................ 70  
Figure 4.10 Fresh cassava tubers. .............................................................................. 71  
Figure 4.11 Cassava chips .......................................................................................... 71  
Figure 4.12 Packaged cassava meal ........................................................................... 72  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
xii 
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 
ACF Agriculture Consultative Forum 
CSO Central Statistics Office 
DFID Department for International Development 
DMEWU Database Management and Early Warning Unit  
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation 
FRA Food Reserve Agency 
FoDis Food Crop Diversif ication Support Project 
GDP Gross Domestic Product 
JAICAF Japan Association for Internationa l Collaboration of Agriculture and     
Forestry 
MACO Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives  
MAFF Ministry of Agricu lture, Food and Fisheries 
MCB Maize Control Board  
MOFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Development 
 NGO Non-Governmental Organisation  
RTIP Root and Tuber Improvement Program  
PAM Program Against Malnutrition  
SAP Structural Adjustment Program  
WTO World Trade Organisation  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  xiii
List of Appendices 
Appendix 1 Interview Guide ...................................................................................... 141  
Appendix 2 Ethics Approval Letter ........................................................................... 143