Originally published on cgiar.org by:International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Jan 29, 2009
A USAID-funded project is seeking to further increase cassava production in farmers' fields by 30 per cent in seven sub-Saharan African countries. The project, themed "Unleashing the Power of Cassava in response to the food price crisis (UPoCA)," aims to maximize the utilization of cassava to address food price crisis in Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. IITA and its national partners across the seven countries will implement the US$5.3m project which has a time frame of two years.
"About 267,000 farmers of which 125,000 are extremely vulnerable are expected to benefit from the project," Dr Richardson Okechukwu, Assistant Project Manager, says. "The beneficiary-farmers are currently harvesting between 7 and 12 tons per hectare across the seven countries but the project aims to raise yield to between 12 and 30 tons per hectare."
"The specific objectives of this project include rapid mass propagation of improved varieties of cassava with on-farm yield potential which is at least 30 per cent greater than those of existing varieties; promotion of farm gate processing to increase the shelf life of cassava and building the capacity of farmers in improved cassava production and farm gate processing techniques," says Dr Braima James, Project Manager. He adds that the project's overall goal is to enhance food security in farming communities of Africa in the face of a global food price crisis.
"The project will help ensure adequate supply of cassava products at economically-affordable prices in the participating countries by making readily available improved cassava varieties, production processes and farm gate processing."
In Africa, cassava provides a basic daily source of dietary energy. The roots are processed into a wide variety of products such as starch, chips, gari and high quality flour among others, or consumed freshly boiled or raw. In most cassava-growing countries in Africa, the leaves are also consumed as a green vegetable, which provides protein and vitamins A and B.
It is envisioned that through the project's interventions and activities, diverse stakeholder groups would take up the technologies for improved cassava production, crop management, product development and trade.
James says the primary focus of the project is to expand and sustain on-farm productivity and profitability of cassava.
He explains that this will be achieved through the distribution of elite varieties and related inputs; dissemination of appropriate integrated crop management techniques to ensure at least 30 per cent increase in root yields in holdings; and the promotion of entrepreneurship in cassava planting material supply.
Dr Robert Asiedu, IITA Director, underscored the importance of the project, saying that "given the agricultural assets and opportunities in Africa, the continent should not be a 'victim' of the food crisis but rather a provider of solutions to it. "This project is another important step in realizing food security for the people of Africa," he adds.
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For more information, please contact:
Dr Braima James, b.james@cgiar.org
Entomologist/ UPoCA Project Manager
IITA - Benin
BP 08 0932
Cotonou, Republic of Benin
Dr Richardson Okechukwu, r.okechukwu@cgiar.org
Database/Statistics Manager/ UPoCA Asst Project Manager
IITA - Headquarters
Ibadan, Nigeria
Jeffrey T. Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (International)
Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa)
Communication Office
IITA - Headquarters
Ibadan, Nigeria
About IITA
Africa has complex problems that plague agriculture and people's lives. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty. Our award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is an international non-profit R4D organization since 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the CGIAR.