Cassava was first introduced to the Africa continent, close to the mouth of the Congo River by Portuguese explorers and traders from Brazil, South America in the course of the 16th and 17th centuries. From there it was diffused by Africans, to many parts of sub-Saharan Africa over a period of two to three hundred years. In the course of its spreading across the continent, cassava has replaced traditional staples such as millet and yam, and has been successfully incorporated into many farming systems. It was initially adopted as a famine reserve crop as it provided a more reliable source of food during drought, locust attacks and the hungry season, the period before seasonal food crops are ready for harvesting.
At present, approximately half of the world production of cassava is in Africa where it is cultivated in around 40 countries, stretching through a wide belt from Madagascar in the southeast to Senegal and Cape Verde in the northwest. Approximately 75 percent of Africa's cassava output is harvested in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique. Cassava is grown by millions of poor African farmers, many of them women, often on marginal land. For these people, the crop is vital for both food security and income generation.
On the basis of current projections, it is expected that by 2020, over 60 percent of global cassava production will be in sub-Saharan Africa, where economic growth will be slow but population growth fast. Cassava, therefore, will be a favoured source of cheap carbohydrates in the countryside and will also continue to serve as a food security crop. Furthermore, as urbanization continues in the continent, more people in cities and towns will purchase their food rather than grow it themselves. This will continue to give small farmers a source of cash income from cassava; some of it will reach the market in a processed form. The resulting gain in poverty reduction and greater food security will depend in part on an integrated set of research and development outputs that include higher-yielding, pest-resistant varieties; improved crop management and integrated protection measures as well as processing equipment and procedures; better linkages among producers, processors, and consumers through capacity-building in market analysis and enterprise development; and improved policies that facilitate the development and adoption of these innovations.
The vision for cassava in Africa is that if the cassava food system is improved, it will enhance rural industrial development and raise incomes for producers, processors and traders. Cassava will contribute more to the food security status of its producing and consuming households, and will become an even more important cash crop that can promote rural development.
To achieve this vision, the Global Cassava Development Strategy was formulated with the participation of a large number of stakeholders and with support from FAO and IFAD. The essence of the Strategy is to use a demand/market-driven and commodity chain approach to promote and develop cassava-based industries with the assistance of a coalition of stakeholders including cassava producers and their organizations, governments and policy-makers, donors, technical and research institutions and their networks, NGOs and the private sector. The Strategy recognizes the need to support NEPAD's Pan-African Initiative, which is in support of the existing National and “Presidential” Initiatives, and public-private partnerships and multidonors' programmes on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa.
As a contribution to the development of the Global Cassava Strategy, IFAD's generous financial assistance supported the preparation of the Africa Regional Review on Cassava, the Country Case Studies on Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Bening, and the Report of the Africa Consultations on the Global Cassava Development Strategy. These were presented at the Validation Forum that was jointly organized by FAO and IFAD in FAO headquarters, Rome, April 2000.
The Crop and Grassland Service of the FAO Plant Production and Protection Division has compiled these documents and is now pleased to publish the Proceedings in order to disseminate the information to stakeholders, cassava producers and their organizations, governments and policy-makers, donors, technical and research institutions and their networks, NGOs and their networks, the private sector - as well as to scholars, experts and interested individuals.
It is hoped that this information will help to strengthen institutional and technical capacity in support of sustainable development and management of the cassava sub-sector, and value-added agro-enterprise enhancement, in order to contribute to increased food availability, poverty reduction, employment, better economic opportunities and wealth creation for improved livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable population of Africa.
Mahmoud B. Solh
Director
Plant Production and Protection
Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The FAO Crop and Grassland Service would like to acknowledge the contribution of the following authors: Felix Nweke for the paper on cassava transformation in Africa; Dunstan Spencer and associates for the cassava overview on Africa; Adeoye Adeniji, Lawrence Ega, Malachy Akoroda, A.A. Adeniyi and Boniface Ugwu for the case study on Nigeria; Francis Ofori, E.V. Doku, Ramanatu Al-Hassan, J.J. Afuakwa, D. Pessey, R.K. Noamesi and W. Amoa-Amwuah for the case study on Ghana; Regina Kapinga, January Mafuru, Simon Jeremiah, Elizabeth Rwiza, Ruth Kamala, Fredrick Mashamba and Nicholas Mlingi for the case study on Tanzania; G.W. Otim-Nape, A. Bua, G. Ssemakula, G. Acola, Y. Baguma, S. Ogwal and R. Van der Grift for the case study on Uganda and N. Maroya, G. Houngnibo, C. Medenou, A. Lagbadohossou, S.F. Djogbenou, B. Soude and J. Monhouanou for the case study on Benin.
Felix Nweke, Adeoye Adeniji, Lawrence Ega, Boniface Ugwu, Malachy Akoroda, Francis Ofori, Regina Kapinga, January Mafuru, Simon Jeremiah, Elizabeth Rwiza, Otim-Nape, Anton Bua, Norbert Maroya and Adrianna Gabrielli are thanked for editing and Rita Ashton for preparing the camera-ready text.
Special acknowledgements are due to NeBambi Lutaladio (Agricultural Officer, Crop and Grassland Service, FAO) who has patiently coordinated, guided and made possible the release of this publication within the framework of the Global Cassava Development Strategy.
Eric A. Kueneman
Chief
Crop and Grassland Service
FAO Plant Production and Protection Division
Acola, G. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Adeniji, A.A. | Federal Department of Agriculture, Ijebu-Ife, Nigeria |
Adeniyi, A.A. | Federal Agricultural Coordinating Unit, Abuja, Nigeria |
Afuakwa, J.J. | Crop Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana |
Akoroda, M.O. | University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria |
Al-Hassan, R. | University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana |
Amoa-Awuah, W. | Food Research Institute, Accra, Ghana |
Baguma, Y. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Balogun, de A. | Ogun State Agricultural Development Project, Abeokuta, Nigeria |
Bua, A. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Djogbenou, S.F. | Direction de l'agriculture, Cotonou, Bénin |
Doku, E.V. | University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana |
Ega, L.A. | Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria |
Houngnibo, G. | Centre d'actions rurales pour le développement régional, Ouémé, Bénin |
Jeremiah, S. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Kamala, R. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Kapinga, R. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Lagbadohossou, A. | Ministère du développement rural, Cotonou, Bénin |
Mafuru, J. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Maroya, N. | Institut national des recherches agricoles du Bénin, Cotonou, Bénin, |
Mashamba, F. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Medenou, C. | Minister du développement rural, Cotonou, Bénin |
Mlingi, N. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Monhouanou, J. | Institut national des recherches agricoles du Bénin, Niaouli, Bénin |
Noamesi, R.k. | Glucosett GhanaLtd., Accra, Ghana |
Nweke, F.I. | Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA |
Ofori, F. | Crop Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana |
Ogwal, S. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Otim-Nape, G.W. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Pessey, D. | Transport and commodity General, Donkokrom, Ghana |
Rwiza, E. | Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Tanzania |
Ssemakula, G. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
Soude, B. | Programme d'interventions locales pour la sécuritéalimentaire, Bénin |
Spencer, D.S.C. | Dunstan Spencer and Associates, Sierra Leone |
Ugwu, B.O. | National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria |
Van der Grift, R. | Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute, Uganda |
ACMD | African Cassava Mosaic Disease |
ADP | Agricultural Development Project |
AGDIV | Agricultural Diversification Project |
AGDP | Agricultural Gross Domestic Product |
APMEU | Agricultural Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Unit |
ASARECA, | Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa |
ASIP | Agricultural Sector Investments Project |
BEA | Block Extension Agent |
BLP | Better Life Programme |
BS | Breeder Seeds |
CAD | Cassava Anthracnose Disease |
CARDER | Centre d'actions rurales pour le développement régional |
CBB | Cassava Bacterial Blight |
CEDMA | Centre départemental de matériels agricoles |
CENAP | Centre National d'Agro Pédologie |
CGIAR | Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research |
CGM | Cassava Green Might |
CGSM | Cassava Green Spider Mite |
CIAT | Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical |
CIRAD | Centre de cooperation internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement |
CM | Cassava Mealybug |
CMD | Cassava Mosaic Disease |
CMP | Cassava Multiplication Project |
CMP-CU | Cassava Multiplication Project-Coordinating Unit |
CMVD | Cassava Mosaic Virus Disease |
COOPROMA | Coopérative des producteurs de Manioc |
CORAF | (Conférence des responsables de recherche agronomique africains |
COSCA | Collaborative Study on Cassava in Africa |
CPDU | Cassava Processing Demonstration Unit |
CRI | Crops Research Institute |
CS | Certified Seeds |
DAGRI | Direction de l'agriculture, Bénin |
DAPS | Direction de l'analyse, de la prévision et de la synthèse |
EARRNET | Africa Root Crops Research Network |
EPHTA | Ecoregional Programme for the Humid and Subhumid Tropics of Sub-Saharan Africa |
ESCaPP | Environmentally Sustainable Cassava Plant Protection |
EU | European Union |
FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
FDA | Federal Department of Agriculture |
FFA | Framework for Action |
FGN | Federal Government of Nigeria |
FIIRO | Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos |
FIIRO | Federal Institute of Industrial Research |
FMANR | Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources |
FRI | Food Research Institute |
FS | Foundation Seeds |
FSA | Faculté des Sciences Agronomique |
GCDS | Global Cassava Development Strategy |
GS | Global Strategy for Cassava Development |
GSM | Green Spider Mite |
ha | Hectare |
HST | Humid and Subhumid Tropics |
IARC | International Agricultural Research Centre |
IBRD | International Bank for Reconstruction and Development |
IDA | International Development Association |
IDESSA | Institut des Savannes |
IFAD | International Fund for Agricultural Development |
IITA | International Institute of Tropical Agriculture |
INRAB | Institut national des recherches agricoles du Bénin |
INSAH | Institut du Sahel |
IPM | Integrated Pest Management |
ISTRC-AB | International Society for Tropical Root Crops - Africa Branch |
Kcal | Kilocalories |
km | Kilometres |
LGA | Local Government Areas |
LGB | Larger Grain Border |
MDR | Ministére du dèveloppement rural, Bénin |
MOFA | Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana |
MSADP | Multi-State ADP |
MSADP | Multi-State Agricultural Development Projects |
MTADP | Medium-Term Agricultural Development Programme |
NAEP | National agricultural Extension Project |
NAFCON | National Fertilizer Company |
NAFPP | National Accelerated Food Production Programme |
NARIS | National Agricultural Research Institutes |
NARO | National Agricultural Research Organization |
NARP | National Agricultural Research Project |
NARS | National Agricultural Research System |
NCRP | Nationally Coordinated Research Programme |
NCWS | National Council of Women Societies |
NGO | Non-Governmental Organization |
NIYAMCO | Nigerian Yeast and Alcohol Manufacturing Company |
NRCRI | National Root Crops Research Institute |
NRI | National Resources Institute |
NRTCIP | National Root and Tuber Crops Improvement project |
NSPRI | National Stored Products Research Institute |
NSS | National Seed Service |
NTRCIP | National Root and Tuber Crops Improvement Project |
OFAR | On-Farm Adaptive Research |
OFN | Operation Feed the Nation |
ONASA | Office National d'Appui à la Sécurité Alimentaire |
ORSTOM | Institut de recherches scientifiques pour le développement en coopération |
PADSA | Programme d'appui au développement du secteur agricole |
PADSE | Projet d'Appui à la diversification des systèmes d'exploitation |
PILSA | Programme d'interventions locales pour la sécurité alimentaire, Bénin |
PISEA | Projet d'insertion des sans emploi dans l'Agriculture |
PRODA | Product Development Agency |
PROMIC | Projet de micro-finances et de commercialisation |
PRONAM | Programme national du manioc |
RAIDS | Rural Agro-Industrial Development Scheme |
REFILS | Research-Extension-Farmers-Linkage-System |
RMRDC | Raw Materials Research and Development Council |
RRA | Rapid Rural Appraisal |
RRPMC | Regional Research Project on Maize and Cassava |
SACCAR | Southern African Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Training |
SAP | Structural Adjustment Programme |
SARRNET | Southern Africa Root Crops Research Network |
SDC | Swiss Development Corporation |
SPAT | Small Plot Adaptive Trial tonne |
SRDP | Smallholder Rehabilitation and Development Programme |
SSA | Sub-Saharan Africa |
T&V | Training and Visit |
TMS | Tropical Manioc Selection |
USS | United States dollar |
WATI | World Agricultural Trade Indicators |
WIA | Women-in-Agriculture |