IITA and Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture collaborate to boost cassava commercialization

Cassava is the second crop in production volume with an average production of 6.3 million metric tons, and the third most important staple food crop after maize and rice in Tanzania. About 1.9 million stakeholders are involved in business throughout the cassava value chain. The crop’s position signifies the need for strengthening the opportunities for its commercialization for increased government revenue, in line with addressing key constraints such as the use of poor quality seed of low-yielding varieties and agronomic practices, less use of improved technologies along the value chain; low levels of investment in cassava sub-sector; inadequate and volatile price for the cassava produces, limited and fragmented market information amongst the stakeholders.

In response to streamlining cassava commercialization, IITA–CGIAR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, led by Dr Stephen Nindi, the Deputy Permanent Secretary, convened on 18 August to discuss strategic plans for cassava commercialization in Tanzania.

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