More than 60 international top-level scientists from the cassava world have urged African governments to increase public funding for the cassava sector. In the long-expected event “Productivity, Processes and People: Adding Value to Cassava” organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on 16 July 2013 at the 6th African Agricultural Science Week in Accra, disease control, technology development in cassava processing, and women’s participation in cassava research were identified as priorities for boosting the sector’s impact on food security in Africa.
“Increasing funding for cassava research and processing across the value chain by including women in decision making roles is necessary for the future of the continent. It contributes to the creation of jobs for the youth, better livelihoods for smallholder farmers, reduction in hunger and poverty, and food security for all ”, says Dr Elizabeth Parkes from IITA.
Cassava in Africa is threatened by two devastating diseases, Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) and Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD), leading to potential losses in food security and livelihoods of 135 million people in East Africa alone, and the 300 million cassava consumers in Africa as a whole.
Both diseases are caused by viruses and transmitted by small insects called whiteflies. New, super-abundant whiteflies have emerged in Ug anda, spreading south and west, and are now present as far south as Zambia and as far west as Cameroon. The diseases are also spread by stem cuttings taken from infected plants. The international movement of these cuttings is increasing rapidly—within and beyond Africa—the diseases could spread to the rest of Africa and, possibly, the rest of the cassava-producing world. If CBSD reaches Nigeria—the world’s biggest producer and consumer of cassava—it could cause a human catastrophe of unforeseen magnitude.
Proper management of the crisis would allow cassava to develop its full potential for improving food security in Africa, not only as a subsistence crop, but also for generating income. “If Africa takes advantage of cassava and supports favorable policy frameworks and tax policies for the processing and marketing cassava and other crops, then we will more effectively tackle many problems in food security for the continent ,” Dr Parkes explained.
“Although cassava is generally considered as a traditional subsistence crop, the recent introduction of new varieties, such as the (CMD resistant) TMS varieties of IITA, has transformed its importance from that of a low-yielding famine reserve crop to a high-yielding cash crop,” states the Food- and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. With the aid of mechanical processing machines, cassava is increasingly being produced and processed as a cash crop for multiple uses beyond its traditional uses such as gari and fufu. It also can be used for baking, cereals and snacks, soups, beverage emulsifiers, powdered non-dairy creamers and confectionery. Cassava starch is also used in the industrial sectors, such as in paper manufacturing, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The development of effective machines and tools at many different scales reduce processing time, labor, and production losses of more than 70% will have a positive impact on women working in the cassava sector. On the other h and, the role of women in decision-making is still lacking much-needed political and research support. When large proportions of the products are intended for sale, household decisions are often taken by the male head, who usually dictates how the cash earned will be used. Women are allowed to control only small cassava sales, the proceeds of which are used to buy necessities for the family.
“Targeted policies with regard to credit, gender-sensitive extension services, and technological and institutional changes geared towards women would further advance productivity in this sector. The empowerment of women is the key to success in the cassava economy.” says gender expert Dr Holger Kirscht from IITA.
IITA is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. Its award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries. IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 in Nigeria and governed by a Board of Trustees. IITA works on the following crops: cowpea, soybean, banana/plantain, yam, cassava, and maize. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.
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For more information, please contact: Andrea Gros, a.gros@cgiar.org or Dr Elizabeth Parkes, e.parkes@cgiar.org
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