ABSTRACT

 This study examined the impact of SPDC cassava processing projects on the livelihood of host communities in Tmo State. Data were collected between June and November, 2002 with structured and validated questionnaire from 120 randomly selected respondents comprising 60 SPDC cassava processing project beneficiaries and 60 non-beneficiaries from Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs of Imo State, and analyzed using frequency tables, Z-stati stics and multiple regression techniques. Results show that SPDC provided lake-oil grant and periodic rehabilitation of the factory. Majority (80%) of resondents did not directly benefit from employment opportunity directly provided by the project. The project beneficiaries earned higher net returns (N1094.22) than non- beneficiaries (W 506.64). The difference in the net income levels of project beneficiaries and non- beneficiaries was statistically significant at 0.01 level. The net income of SPDC project beneficiaries was significantly related to costs of processing, annual output of tubers, health status, household labour, occupation, number of dependanis in school and years of processing experience while age and distance to selling market were not significantly related. Also, the net income of non-beneficiaries was significantly related to the number of dependants in school, costs of processing, distance to selling market, years of processing experience, annual output of tubers and household labour, while age, occupation and health status were not significantly related. There is need for more credit facilities for cassava producers and processors an(l more processing plants should be sited in the area and located at centralized places to improve the accessibility of the factory to the people. Regular training programmes and workshops should be mounted for cassava producers and processors as well as youth programmes to engage the highly volatile youth who are usually very restive in these areas so as to achieve the desired positive change in the standard of living of these communities and win the co-operation of the community members.