Biofortified Cassava Adoption, Poverty Reduction, and Household Welfare in Nigeria: Distributional Effects and Productivity Pathways

ABSTRACT

This study examines the association between the intensity of adoption of biofortified yellow cassava (BFYC) and per capita consumption expenditure, poverty incidence, the poverty gap, and poverty severity. Using cross‐sectional data from 1738 farm households and 2937 cassava plots, we employ instrumental variable two‐stage least squares (IV‐2SLS), Lewbel 2SLS, and control function approaches to address potential endogeneity. The results consistently show that greater area under BFYC adoption is associated with higher per capita consumption expenditure and lower poverty incidence, depth, and severity. Mediation analysis indicates that agricultural productivity accounts for a substantial share of the observed adoption–welfare association, suggesting productivity as an important potential pathway linking BFYC adoption intensity to household welfare. The associations are heterogeneous across household groups, with female‐ and youth‐headed households exhibiting comparatively larger welfare gains. Distributional analysis further shows stronger positive associations with consumption expenditure among households at the upper end of the expenditure distribution, while poverty‐reducing associations are more pronounced across the lower‐to‐middle range of the poverty‐gap distribution. These findings highlight the broader welfare relevance of BFYC beyond its nutritional benefits and suggest its potential role in integrated agricultural and poverty‐reduction strategies. Policies that strengthen access to biofortified planting materials, extension services, productivity‐enhancing inputs, and gender‐responsive support could help expand adoption and promote more inclusive welfare gains.