Cassava, with scientific name Manihot esculenta, is a major food and industrial crop in many countries of the world.


SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/12/25/did-you-know-nigeria-is-a-global-powerhouse-of-cassava-production/

However, the greatest producer of cassava is (by far) the West African nation of Nigeria.

The country alone accounts for about 26% of the world’s cassava production.



SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/12/25/did-you-know-nigeria-is-a-global-powerhouse-of-cassava-production/

How did Nigeria become such a global power in cassava production? Here is the

BACKSTORY

Cassava originated in South America, and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558, circa the beginning of the slave trade.

HISTORY
In the first two decades post Nigeria's independence, the new government focused on crops like wheat / rice, subsidizing their production and import via farmer support programs.

However, cassava, was majorly excluded from such government subsidies.

In the 1980s, a global glut drove down crude oil prices, reducing Nigeria's export earnings.

In response, the federal government placed tariffs and restrictions on imports, including agricultural goods.

Hehehehe


We all know.

The myopic ones will start saying cassava Garri ewa now

THE BACKSTORY cont'd

In 1987 the FG placed a ban on wheat imports, which was not lifted until 1991.

The import restrictions drove up cassava demand and production, which then increased 36% in the period between 1980 -1990.

This massive 36% growth helped Nigeria leapfrog Brazil as the world's cassava top producer..

Manihot esculenta is now Nigeria’s largest crop in terms of quantity, and the 2nd largest in terms of value.

The table below shows the data as of Year 2019...

HISTORY cont'd...
PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE ON CASSAVA

The Presidential Initiative on Cassava, which ran from 2002-2007, was also a major factor that contributed to an increase in yields.

The main goals of the initiative were to:

1. Enhance productivity / production of cassava by increasing area cultivated to 5 million ha, with hope of harvesting 150 million tonnes fresh cassava tubers annually.

2. Produce 37.5 million tonnes of processed cassava products for local and export markets.

3. Organize export of cassava and processed cassava products as a revenue-generating project.

4. Generate about 5 billion dollars annually from exporting value-added cassava products.

NIGERIA'S CASSAVA PRODUCTS

About 70% Nigeria’s cassava harvest is processed into garri, which is a grain flour primarily used to make mashed meals like fufu, akpu or eba.

NIGERIA'S LOCAL NAMES FOR CASSAVA
Manihot esculenta, known in English as Cassava, Manioc, or Tapioca, has the following appellations in Nigerian languages:

Ibo: Akpu, Abacha or Jigbo.
Hausa: Rogo, Karaza, Agiginra or Gangigara
Yoruba: Ẹ̀gẹ́, Gbágùúdá or Pákí

Visit:

www.naijaphilia.com/blog

NaijaphiliaBlog:
However, the greatest producer of cassava is (by far) the West African nation of Nigeria.

The country alone accounts for about 26% of the world’s cassava production.



SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/12/25/did-you-know-nigeria-is-a-global-powerhouse-of-cassava-production/

The price of cassava is still high despite our wuruwuru number one producer status. One cup shouldn't be more than N30-N35 but is around N100. Being the highest producer means nothing if potential isn't explored to the fullest. We are a cocoa powerhouse too but buy chocolate at 2 or 3 times what others get them for.

SOME HEALTH BENEFITS OF CASSAVA

Health Benefits of Cassava include

1. Rich in Vitamin C.
2. Good source of Resistant Starch.
3. Serves as Energy Fuel.
4. Protects Against Liver Cancer.
5. Low in Sugar.
6. Repairs Kidney Damage.
etc

RepoMan007:
The price of cassava is still high despite our wuruwuru number one producer status. One cup shouldn't be more than N30-N35 but is around N100. Being the highest producer means nothing if potential isn't explored to the fullest. We are a cocoa powerhouse too but buy chocolate at 2 or 3 times what others get them for.

It is not wuruwuru. It's a fact and has been so for over 2 decades. Besides price of goods is not the evidence of production....
Although Nigeria is a net importer of cassava and or its derivatives. So I agree that we should improve its value chain so it can create value for the farmers and the nation at large.
IITA tried for our improved cassava and maize production sha.

NaijaphiliaBlog:
Cassava, with scientific name Manihot esculenta, is a major food and industrial crop in many countries of the world.


SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2023/12/25/did-you-know-nigeria-is-a-global-powerhouse-of-cassava-production/

Because no other country takes cassava production seriously

Our yeild per ton is still one of the lowest

mrvitalis:

Because no other country takes cassava production seriously

Our yeild per ton is still one of the lowest

Are you from Anambra, Abia or Imo?

Ikaeniyan0:
Are you from Anambra, Abia or Imo?

What does that have to do with facts?

NIGERIA'S CASSAVA VARIETIES

There are 2 main categories of cassava varieties produced in Nigeria:

Manihot palmata (bitter cassava), and

Manihot aipi (sweet cassava).

Buccalcavity2:

It is not wuruwuru. It's a fact and has been so for over 2 decades. Besides price of goods is not the evidence of production....
Although Nigeria is a net importer of cassava and or its derivatives. So I agree that we should improve its value chain so it can create value for the farmers and the nation at large.
IITA tried for our improved cassava and maize production sha.

👎

NIGERIA'S CASSAVA PRODUCING REGIONS

As illustrated in the figure below, the highest cassava producing states are located in the South West, followed by the South East and interior sections.

Only negligible quantities are produced in the North of the country (apart from Kogi and Benue States).

RepoMan007:
The price of cassava is still high despite our wuruwuru number one producer status. One cup shouldn't be more than N30-N35 but is around N100. Being the highest producer means nothing if potential isn't explored to the fullest. We are a cocoa powerhouse too but buy chocolate at 2 or 3 times what others get them for.

Part of the reason for this thread is to create awareness about the immense potential wealth just waiting to be unlocked in the cassava value chain.

Cassava alone can turn tens of thousands of Nigerians into millionaires - in dollars!

You want to know how?

Read on!

I didn't know

ManOfMan:
I didn't know

We all learn everyday, and there's still more information to come.

In spite of our superlative 26% share of global cassava production, we are not the largest exporters.

In fact, our commercial/ industrial exploitation of cassava is very negligible.

Why is this? What can we do to take advantage of this situation and thereby unlock the untapped wealth in Cassava?

Read on!

Raw cassava naturally contains hydrogen cyanide, which is a poisonous chemical substance.

That is why cassava must NOT be eaten raw, and why it should be properly processed before consumption.

Bitter cassava is more resistant to bacterial and fungal pests but has a much higher hydrogen cyanide content.

NaijaphiliaBlog:
NIGERIA'S CASSAVA VARIETIES

There are 2 main categories of cassava varieties produced in Nigeria:

Manihot palmata (bitter cassava), and

Manihot aipi (sweet cassava).

HYDROGEN CYANIDE CONTENT OF SWEET VS BITTER CASSAVA

A. Roots of Sweet Cassava manihot aipi = less than 50 mg hydrogen cyanide per kg cassava on fresh weight basis

B. Roots of Bitter Cassava Manihot palmata = Up to 400 mg per kg.

Traditional African foods such as garri and fufu are processed by grating, dewatering, fermenting, and roasting.

During these various stages 80 to 95% of the poisonous hydrogen cyanide is removed, making them perfectly safe to eat.

NaijaphiliaBlog:
Raw cassava naturally contains hydrogen cyanide, which is a poisonous chemical substance.

That is why cassava must NOT be eaten raw, and why it should be properly processed before consumption.

Bitter cassava is more resistant to bacterial and fungal pests but has a much higher hydrogen cyanide content.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVtlR4cwqRs?si=csWtbQQwL5c00lZ2

Cassava-to-sorbitol factory, Oyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTFOyUgvRDM?si=cdxZK8jxMqylRLcp

Cassava-to-ethanol refinery, Edo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNmsiBlUGyE?si=R-L0CHgVaGRBU_6H

CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN - USES OF MANIHOT ESCULENTA


A. TYPES OF FOOD THAT CAN BE MADE FROM CASSAVA

-- Bread, which can contain only cassava flour or both cassava and wheat flour.
-- French fries.
-- Mashed cassava (e.g. fufu, eba, akpu).
-- Cassava chips.
-- Cassava bread soaked in coconut milk.
-- Cassava cake.
-- Cassava in coconut sauce.
-- Yuca con mojo, a Cuban dish that combines cassava with a sauce comprising citrus juices, garlic, onion, cilantro, cumin, and oregano.
-- Tapioca desserts (e.g. the coconut-tapioca pudding shown in photo below).
-- Starch and flour products, which can be used to make gluten-free bread.

To improve texture, taste, and nutritional profile, most products use a combination of cassava and a cereal grain.

B. COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL USES OF CASSAVA
-- Animal feed.
-- Medicines.
-- Fabrics.
-- Paper.
-- Building materials such as plywood.
-- Bioethanol for fuel.
-- Industrial starch.
-- Sweeteners

CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN - OPPORTUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Despite being the world’s largest cassava producer, Nigeria is actually also one of the top importers of cassava by-products like edible starch, sweeteners and ethanol.

Why is this?

It is because the country has not taken advantage of its prodigious cassava production!

Every year, Nigeria spends millions of dollars to import these by-products, consistently contributing to the pressure on our ForEx reserves.

Insightful thread.

Thanks for this NaijaphiliaBlog

OkCornel:
Insightful thread.

Thanks for this NaijaphiliaBlog

You are very welcome!

There is more to come o...

GLOBAL TONNAGE OF CASSAVA

Worldwide cassava production in Year 2021 was circa 308 million tonnes total.

Continent-wise:

AFRICA = c. 203 million tonnes (approx 56% of global tonnage).

ASIA = c. 84 million tonnes

THE AMERICAS = 26 million tonnes.

In that year, Nigeria produced c. 60 million tonnes.

CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN - GLOBAL MARKET VALUE


A. RAW CASSAVA
The size of the worldwide Cassava market reached USD 3.65 Billion in the year 2022.

Expansion is expected to occur at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.46%.

The global Cassava market is expected to reach USD 4.2 Billion by year 2030.


B. CASSAVA STARCH
Cassava Starch market reached USD 4.2 Billion in the year 2022.

Expansion is expected to occur at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.5%.

Global Cassava Starch market is expected to reach USD 6.4 Billion by year 2030.