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…… @ WUFAS AGRONET, . — We don’t know more than Food.—- ( Earner ” FAO TOP FAN Badge ” )

CASSAVA YIELD .
The low root yeild of Cassava per hectare in Africa is unacceptable. Africa account for 55% of global production yet Africa’s yield per hectare is the lowest in the world about 10metric tons per hectare compared with Asia’s yield of 21metric tons per hectare doubling Africa’s.

WAY OUT:
Reversing the current trajectory on cassava low yield would demand deliberate steps including
— Investment on research and innovation,
— Favourable policy framework,
— Accessibility of loans to farmers at single digits rate and
— Mechanisation.

■ DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CASSAVA VARIETIES
Concerted R&D (IITA) efforts are yielding the desired results as “Next Gen Project” has come up with two varieties of cassava known as Baba 70 and Game changer. At demonstration farms in Kogi/Benue states The new species yielded more than the local varieties producing more than 30t/hre with large size and number of roots instead of average yield of 8 -11t/hre. The Game Changer produces 30t/h while Baba 70 produced 38t/h both are drought tolerance and resistance to virus diseases of cassava. In addition to high yield and stress tolerance , they’re equally suitable for several agro- ecologies , To the farmets the high yielding and stress tolerant had the right food properties that will raise the livelihood of farmers with high profit and make huge contribution to Food Security as compared more favourably against TME 419.
CASSAVA VITAMIN A ( TME 419 ) .
● Hitherto, Vit. A enriched (TME 419 code 07/0593) This cassava contains high level of Beta carotene a precursor of Vit A.
— Cassava contains about 80% Carbohydrates (on table) if not properly complimented with other nutrients it’s excessive consumption may result in impaired vision or blindness and other terminal sicknesses.
—-Cassava is raw material for processed food, animal feed and other industrial cassava value chain . It’s used as adjunct with wheat flour for bread and other pasteries. In human consumption, it produces over 500 calories fairly making it important Food security crops.

MECHANISATION:
It is rather sad that Nigeria is not in the league of mechanized farming Nation. Presently, tractor usage is below 50 unit per 1000km of farm land as against 300 unit per 1000 km per farmland in developed economy nations . More statistically placed, Nigeria is one of the least mechanised farming nation in the world, with tractor density estimated at 0.27 hp/hectare far below FAO recommended tractor density of 1.5 hp/ hectare. Nigeria is 132nd out of 188 countries worldwide (FAO /UN tractors evaluation ) This is the reason why farming has been on subsistence level rather than commercial. Nigeria need $3 trillion to bridge the huge infrastructural gap as reported by Global Rating Agency -(Moody investors services ).
However, the Federal government of Nigeria recently (February 2021) reduced vehicles tariff (including tractors ) by 30%. This may cushion the effects of inflation currently at about 25.7% and improve the tractors density.
Africa needs to scale out proven technologies which include
■ The recommendation on weed control as developed by cassava weed management control project,
■ Improved cassava varieties and the best bet agronomy practices such as appropriate fertilizer application,
■ Also there need to be a synergy between the policy makers and cassava scientists to be aware of existing technologies to transform cassava to an enviable economic crop and create environment for exchange of technical, scientific agricultural, industrial and economic information on cassava among the stakeholders like scientists , farmers, processors, end users , the private sector and donor agencies .
● It is important to maintain the policy initiative with sustainable institutional framework to avoid the problem of policy summersault .
■ Activities of cassava research and development will unlock the potentials of cassava in food security and create wealth for Processors, Transporters, Marketers and Packaging enterprises , and sustainable Food security.

-■- As Nigeria grapples with current scarcity of wheat, As a stakeholder in Food Security (@Wufasagronet), this could be averted if cassava production supply is able to meet the huge demand.
However, scarcity of cassava tuber remains a challenge . Production of cassava is principally in the hands of smallholder farmers producing for home consumption and unable to meet huge demand . For instance to produce cassava bread takes cassava of 20% as an adjunct to wheat flour this local demand could not be achieved.
Government need to map out support to farmers on fertilizer amongst others.
● While the apathy to cassava bread can be assuaged by continuous education to sustain acceptability.
The lesson learnt from the above is the effective use of Science Technology / Innovation STI to ensure that our self sufficiency is ensured and territorial integrity is protected.

CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT.
Amongst many other operators, Industrial applications of Starch include : Pharmaceutical, textiles, bakeries, beverages, distilleries and other food sector operators depends on cassava value chain such as Starch, sweeteners ethanol, bakers yeast, caramel, HQCF ( high quality cassava flour)
Presently as it stand, which is very unacceptable,
Nigeria is importing.
— 96% of 600,00mt of starch. ,applications includes adjunct for wheat flour in pastries.
— 100% of 200,000mt. of Sweetners
— 88% of 504000mt of HQCF.(Pharmaceuticals ).
— 98% Ethanol. (Potable and Industrial. )
— 100% of Bakers yeast imported.
While domestic application as Food takes about 60% of African menu eg: Garri, Fufu, Cassada, Starch Others include Livestock feed etc
● A do nothing approach on cassava value chain left fully untapped is dangerous , as mentioned above .
The policy makers, Scientists, processors. must synergize to create the great wealth cassava is presenting us in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

AT WUFAS AGRONET – WE ARE FOOD PROCESSORS INTO HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANCY.

At : WUFAS AGR0Net We are processors who are vast and experienced in Saccharification./ Hyrolyses process which is breaking down of polysaccharides into mono and disaccharide with further processing can produce like ethanol, sweetener ,glucose syrup etc.
While cassava flour can also be gotten through flash dryer these and lot more are what we want to disseminate to teeming entrepreneurs.
At WUFAS AGR0Net we are Competent and Reliable Food Processing Technologists into Human Capital Development Consultancy in Food Processing Technology enhancing Global Competitiveness and International Best Practices for the teeming youthful population and other Food handlers.
Contact us today 08034064270, 08157784430 email -wufasagronet@gmail.com Fb WUFAS AGRONET.