Awareness and Willingness to Pay for Cassava Leaves as Livestock Feed Ingredient among Livestock Farmers in Osun State

Purpose: This study described the nutritional benefit of cassava leaf, assessed its level of cyanide content; examined respondents’ awareness and perception; and analysed the factors determining livestock farmers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for cassava leaves as a livestock feed ingredient.

 

Research Method: Multistage sampling method was employed to select 160 livestock farmers in Osun state and semi –structured interview method was used for data collection which were analysed using logistic regression model.

 

Findings: Results showed that larger percentages of the respondents are not aware of the nutritional benefit of the cassava leaf with 83% of the respondents willing to buy cassava leaves as feed. In addition, age, perception, business purpose, herd size, awareness and income seem to have an effect on farmers’ WTP.

 

Research Limitation: Recommended safe cyanogen level in livestock feed has not been ascertained in literature; a knowledge gap for further research validation.

 

Originality/Value: Awareness, WTP and adoption of cassava leaf as a livestock feed ingredient could be made a generalized and sustainable economic development in animal feed sector if awareness could be increased.