Before we get to where Cassava came from, let's learn about the crop that has saved a lot of life.

CASSAVA 101
Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates after rice and maize, Cassava is a major
staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils. Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of cassava starch.

Cassava can be found in the tropical regions around the world today. It grows on fertile, well-drained, moist soil in areas that are frost-free. Cassava is cultivated because of its edible root (tuber). Other than that, cassava has application in the industry of fuels and can be used as animal feed.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CASSAVA

1) Cassava has hand-shaped leaves, composed of 3 to 7 narrow lobes. Leaves are dark green-colored on the upper side and bluish-green on the underside.

2) Root of cassava can be used for the production of ethanol that is used as biofuel. China and Brazil are the greatest manufacturers of cassava-based biofuel today.

3) Starch extracted from the root can be used to soften the fabric and facilitate ironing.

4) Nigeria is the greatest manufacturer, while Thailand is the greatest exporter of cassava in the world.

5) It can be stored for two years in the ground without rotting!

FOOD GOTTEN FROM CASSAVA

1. Garri – Fried Cassava
This form of cassava food is processed by grinding and squeezing out the starchy content. The residue is left for three day to ferment (Ijebu Garri) thereafter, it is fried with into sand-like grains and the quality is determined by the dryness. That is, the drier the better. Other types like the popular Bendel Garri is fried immediately after grinding and squeezing out the water without leaving it to ferment.

2. The Cassava Tuber As Food
Cassava tubers could be cooked and enjoyed with varieties of stews also, it could be pounded and enjoyed like the usual pounded yam. But not all variety of cassava can be eaten that way as many are known to be highly toxic when eaten in such form.

3. Starch
The starch is usually a by-product in the garri process. Apart from being useful in other domestic application the cassava starch is a favorite food among the Urhobo people of Delta State. And they eat it just like Amala and Garri.

4. Amala
Cassava is processed into amala first by cutting it into pieces, soak it for two or three days, drying and grinding it into flour, the flour is then prepared similar to fufu and enjoyed with the popular Yoruba’s Ewedu soup.

5. Fufu
Fufu is obtained by soaking the tuber into water for between four to five day to get it softened, then manually remove the chaff. The Cassava preparation follows similar process to garri but instead of frying, it is cooked and pounded into a pulp of various hardness and eaten with Nigerian soups such as the popular Igbo’s Egusi soup.

6. Abacha
This is obtained by boiling the cassava tuber, peel off the back and cut the remaining into tiny pieces. Thereafter, it is soaked in a clean water over the night to get the starch out, the slippy deposit is washed off the actual food which then cooked as a local salad.

7. Cassava Bread
Recently, the baked version of the cassava foods was introduced into the Nigerian cassava food staples.

8. Cassava Vegetable
The cassava leafs is used to prepare vegetable soup by some in Nigeria. However, it must be cooked properly to detoxify before eating.

If you know any cassava food that is not mentioned here ? Let me know by commenting.

NOW WHERE DID CASSAVA ORIGINATE FROM

It originated from PERU south America

https://cdn-af.feednews.com/news/detail/cf7d1574a3aadbbfc736fa8b594a82dd

When it gets down the stomach, the stomach doesn't ask where it came from.... Worry less.

Nice info

Nice info.....but i could'nt help but notice how our bad government has affected our country so much, Nigeria is the highest PRODUCER While Thailand is the largest EXPORTER....Bottom line, the largest producers are not the highest Exporters

Nice piece...kudos to the OP

Vulcanheph:
Nice info.....but i could'nt help but notice how our bad government has affected our country so much, Nigeria is the highest PRODUCER While Thailand is the largest EXPORTER....Bottom line, the largest producers are not the highest Exporters

Maybe local demand for the product has also contributed to dwindling exports.

It's irrelevant where it came from so far the tummy doesn't reject it

spartan117:

Maybe local demand for the product has also contributed to dwindling exports.

I know about the high local demand, but if our agricultural sector was properly developed we as largest producers will have also been on the list as highest exporters

Vulcanheph:

I know about the high local demand, but if our agricultural sector was properly developed we as largest producers will have also been on the list as highest exporters

Very true sir

You started by giving us irrelevant story about cassava and when it came for you to explain how cassava originated you suddenly stopped. Next time, you should do better. Nonsense and Buhari.

forgot cassava chips and flakes for food .... I saw that one day in ekiti state

How can those that produce less export more and vice versa... Where do we store this product since we export less? I need an answer..

igbarasdynasty:
When it gets down the stomach, the stomach doesn't ask where it came from.... Worry less.

Go and be eating lizard and frog like the Chinese because the stomach doesn’t ask where it comes from.
Na that day you go know say old mama to.to just old ni, e sweet like young girl own before.

rex444:
forgot cassava chips and flakes for food .... I saw that one day in ekiti state

He also forgot cassava flour (as in “LAFUN”)

So, where does it come from? Smh

Randy100:
You started by giving us irrelevant story about cassava and when it came for you to explain how cassava originated you suddenly stopped. Next time, you should do better. Nonsense and Buhari.

Because I want you to click on the link

rex444:
forgot cassava chips and flakes for food .... I saw that one day in ekiti state

Yes that true. Have you tasted any?

owprint:
So, where does it come from? Smh

Click on the link

profuk7:

Because I want you to click on the link

I am not clicking anything.

profuk7:


Yes that true. Have you tasted any?

hahahahahaa common ,how can I do cassava chips when potato chips never finish

FengChui:


He also forgot cassava flour (as in “LAFUN”)

oh yea

Garri does not have adverts but it sells far more than every other product in Nigeria

Thanks to the guys who brought it to nigeria
Guys can't stay a week without swallowing casava

In my place, we use cassava to prepare cake. You grate the root, drain the water,add ingredients like salt,red oil, onion,pepper, fried cowpeas/beans of your choice, then tie into raps/balls and boil at least 30 minutes. Food Don done!
You add enough red oil to disgrace the starch
The fried cake: grate the root, add salt, pepper and onion then pour red oil into pan and fry.
Cassava have helped us in this country. In my place they always remember the one time Ambassador to USA who told them to farm cassava more than yam, at 1st he was insulted now that he's late, they praise him for the idea

Cassava is a wonderful crop






Thanks to it
It has been saving life since Adam keeping bodies and souls together

It is Now our crop.

Period!

There is what we call "The principle of adoption".