This study examined socio-economic and ecological factors influencing cassava farming, various products and benefits of cassava farming, challenges facing cassava farming, and governmental interventions geared toward promoting cassava farming in Nigerian rural context. Descriptive explanatory research design was adopted to collect primary data from cassava farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select study sample, using semi-structured questionnaire and indepth interview guide as research instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results demonstrated that various socio-economic and ecological factors influenced cassava farming in the study location. Also, findings showed that there were several final products and bi-products of cassava that served various socio-economic benefits. Lastly, the findings revealed that majority of the cassava farmers had not received any government intervention. Among the minority who had received government interventions, it was gathered that financial support, amenities and equipment, as well as seeds and new species were the major assistance rendered by the government. The study concluded that there were various socio-economic factors influencing cassava farming in the study location and recommended that soft loans, access to land, basic amenities and farm implements, small scale investment in cassava farming and favourable policies should be considered for cassava farmers especially in Nigerian rural areas.

Highlights

• Cassava serves various socio-economic benefits.
• There are social, economic and ecological factors influencing cassava farming in rural areas.
• Rural cassava farmers experience various challenges.
• Financial support, amenities and equipment, seeds and new cassava species were the main assistance rendered by the government to few rural cassava farmers.