Citation: Manganyi, B.; Lubinga, M.H.; Zondo, B.; Tempia, N. Factors Influencing Cassava Sales and Income Generation among Cassava Producers in South Africa. Sustainability 2023, 15, 14366. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su151914366 Academic Editors: Victor Shi and Xiding Chen Received: 5 August 2023 Revised: 17 September 2023 Accepted: 26 September 2023 Published: 29 September 2023 Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). sustainability Article Factors Influencing Cassava Sales and Income Generation among Cassava Producers in South Africa Bernard Manganyi, Moses Herbert Lubinga * , Bhekani Zondo and Ndiadivha Tempia Markets and Economic Research Centre, National Agricultural Marketing Council, Private Bag X935, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; bmanganyi@namc.co.za (B.M.) * Correspondence: moseslubinga@yahoo.co.uk Abstract: Assessing the factors influencing cassava sales and income generation among South African cassava farmers is critical for informed decision-making, policy formulation, targeted interventions, and the long-term growth of the cassava value chain. By recognizing these elements, stakehold- ers can improve market efficiency, increase income opportunities, reduce poverty, promote rural development, and nurture a sustainable and inclusive cassava value chain. This study examines factors that influence cassava sales and positive income generation along the cassava value chain. Using a simple sample method, we collected data from 240 farmers in the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. A logistic regression was used to investigate the impact of explanatory variables on the probability of selling cassava and earning a positive income. Findings show that having access to output markets, owning livestock, being a female, and having sizable land under cassava production enhances the possibility of cassava sales and generating a positive income. In contrast, age has a detrimental influence on cassava sales, while access to exten- sion services and harvesting for household food consumption exhibited no substantial effects. The findings underline the importance of market access, gender equality, integrating livestock farming among cassava farmers, support for elderly farmers, and sustainable agricultural practices. To ensure the long-term positive generation of income by farmers and the sustainability of the cassava value chain, policymakers and stakeholders must collaborate and execute policies and interventions that address these essential concerns. Keywords: cassava value chain; gender equity; income generation; logit regression; market access 1. Introduction Cassava, a tropical plant, originated in South America and is now found in many parts of the world, particularly in subtropical and tropical climates [1]. As a result, cassava has become a staple food for more than 800 million people worldwide [2]. According to [3], Nigeria was the world’s leading cassava producer in 2021 with an average of 63.03 million metric tons (MT) produced, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (45.67 million MT), Thailand (30.11 million MT), Ghana (22.68 million MT), and Brazil (18.1 million MT), among others. In South Africa, cassava is grown by smallholder farmers as a secondary crop and is used to produce starch, among other uses [4,5]. It is cultivated in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and northern KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with significant production areas in Limpopo [1,5]. Cassava is well-known for its adaptability to various agroecological conditions and its capacity to grow in harsh environmental conditions [6,7]. One of the reasons why cassava is seen as beneficial for smallholder farmers is the fact that, in comparison to other crops, it has a comparatively low cost of inputs since its cultivation requires only a small initial expenditure in terms of land preparation and the construction of infrastructure. Cultivating it in various soil types, including marginal and less fertile soils, reduces the amount of agro-inputs required. Stem cuttings are commonly used to reproduce it, thereby eliminating Sustainability 2023, 15, 14366. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914366 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability