Young women, real markets: what three cassava processors in Nigeria taught us
Nigeria produces about 63 million tonnes of cassava annually, yet low yields, post-harvest losses and limited industrial processing prevent the country from capturing more of its value. For processors, securing a reliable supply remains a challenge. For young women farmers, access to land, inputs, finance and dependable markets can determine whether cassava farming is worthwhile.
Through the Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) programme, IDH, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, works across Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa to strengthen agricultural value chains and create dignified work and income opportunities for young people, particularly women. A key part of this approach is working with businesses to connect farmer livelihoods with real market demand.
To understand whether these models can work for both farmers and businesses, IDH conducted Inclusive Business Analysis (IBAs) with three Nigerian cassava processors: Cato Foods, IfGreen Industries and Psaltry International . Each analysis examined the commercial case for the business alongside the economics of farming for young women.
What the analysis reveals
- Direct sourcing can benefit businesses. Working more closely with farmers can help processors strengthen supply reliability, improve traceability and reduce dependence on intermediaries. For IfGreen, the analysis projects that direct sourcing through ingrowers could reduce sourcing costs and help the company utilise its planned processing capacity more fully.
- First-season support matters, but what happens next matters more. Starter packs can help young women overcome the initial cost of establishing their farms. However, the transition to a larger farm and the end of subsidised support can bring higher production costs. The analyses show that higher yields alone may not guarantee profitability, particularly when cassava prices are low.
- A sustainable model must work for both sides. Businesses need sufficient, reliable volumes at a viable cost. Farmers need returns that justify their investment and allow them to continue producing. If the economics work for only one side, the sourcing model may struggle to last beyond programme support.
What needs to happen next?
The findings point to several priorities: improve access to affordable finance as farmers expand; explore pricing and offtake arrangements that reduce farmers’ exposure to price fluctuations; support productivity and cost efficiency; encourage income diversification; and align farmer numbers and production plans with processors’ actual sourcing needs.
The wider lesson is that inclusive sourcing is about more than connecting farmers to buyers. It requires business models that make commercial sense while creating a realistic pathway for young women to sustain and grow their farming enterprises.
Read the full reports
Explore the three IBA reports to learn more about the business models, financial analysis and recommendations for Cato Foods, IfGreen and Psaltry.
[Download the Cato Foods report]
For more insights visit www.farmfitinsightshub.org