Mechanization of Cassava for Value Addition and Wealth Creation by the Rural Poor of Nigeria

摘要

In Africa, cassava (Manihot escu-lenta) is the second most important food staple, after maize, in terms of calories consumed. Cassava is a major source of calories for roughly two out of every five Africans. In some countries, cassava is consumed daily and sometimes more than once a day. Nigeria is among the three largest cassava producing countries in Africa. In 2002, Nigeria recorded an unsatisfactory growth rate of 1.2 %, However, Nigeria's economic performance rebounded, averaging growth at 7.3 % between 2002 and 2007. The pressing challenge for the nation lies in maintaining and improving current economic growth indicators and translating these recent gains into improved standard of living for the majority of its citizens. Poverty within Nigeria remains staggeringly high, averaging 50 % and 70 % of its general and rural population, respectively, living on less than US$ 1.00 a day. Similarly, though Nigeria is often cited as one of the largest oil exporting countries, agriculture still remains the dominant employer of labour of over 70 % and accounting for about 31 % of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Cassava is the chief source of dietary food energy for majority of the people living in the lowland tropics, and much of the sub-humid tropics of West and Cen- tral Africa. To maintain cassava's competitiveness in world markets, further research is required to increase yields, reduce production costs, broaden the range of starch functional properties and increase the starch content or nutritional value of its root. In addition, processing efficiency needs to be improved, new processes and products developed, and new markets for cassava-based products identified. This can only be achieved by the integration of production, processing and marketing, through active collaboration of the various institutions involved, and through an effective partnership between the public and private sectors. Therefore, its production and utilization must be given prime attention in food policy. This paper aims at presenting an overview of mechanization of cassava in Nigeria and measures to take in promoting its production and processing for value addition and wealth creation.