Nigeria: Why Nigeria is not yet sufficient in cassava production

Published 2021년 6월 23일

Tridge summary

Cassava is a key staple food crop in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, with production reaching over 278 million tonnes worldwide and 170 million tonnes in Africa in 2018, primarily in Nigeria which accounts for 21% of global production. Despite challenges such as soil depletion and erosion, cassava cultivation is expanding due to its suitability for marginal lands and its increasing demand in the industrial sector. However, Nigeria's cassava production is inefficient and could be improved to meet demand and support economic growth. The article emphasizes the need for increased private sector investment, supportive policies, and targeted infrastructure to transform the cassava value chain, including mechanization, quality control, and financial support for smallholder farmers. It also highlights the potential for cassava to replace imported commodities like wheat, starch, and ethanol, and the benefits for food security, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. The article calls for collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, donors, processors, and farmers, to address capacity development needs and promote the industrialization of cassava.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a perennial woody shrub that has an edible root that was first cultivated in South America and introduced to Nigeria in the sixteenth century. Cassava is considered a source of food for the poor and has been widely criticized for its propensity to deplete soil nutrients and opens the farmland to erosion. Based on the aforementioned, a large proportion of cassava crops are grown on marginal lands (bad topography) that are usually not competitive (not too good for other crops) and some others are not tractor friendly. Another complication around cassava production is that the type of land tenure system in Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa does not allow for large farm holdings suitable for mechanisation. Most cassava farmers cultivate small farm areas, which are not conducive or economical for mechanisation. Despite these challenges, cassava is one of the fastest expanding staple food crops in cassava-consuming countries and has ...

Source: All Africa