INTRODUCTION
Cassava production is vital to the economy of Nigeria as the country is the world’s largest producer of the commodity. The crop is produced in 24 of the country’s 36 states. Cassava is a tropical, shrubby, perennial plant with an edible root, serving as a major source of carbohydrate in human diet. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558. Cassava has been cultivated for centuries in the Americas, initially for human consumption and more recently cultivated for the production of dry chips (used as animal feed), ethanol and starch. With cassava viewed as a food security crop and therefore poorly commercialized, the changes along the Cassava Value Chain have been minimal. However, since the advent of cassava usage in production and processing of animal feed, Asia and Latin America have witnessed rapid changes in the value chain system.
Other contributing factors include new government policies promoting the use of cassava-based products, improvements in cassava processing technology and the emerging importance of cassava as an effective industrial raw material for starch, animal feed and ethanol industries. Cassava is grown for its edible tubers, which serve as a staple food in many tropical countries and are also the source of an important starch.
Importance of Cassava
Africa depends much on root and tuber crops more than all continents in feeding its population.
Some of the importance of cassava includes:
- Cassava is processed into several forms such as Garri (for making eba a popular food in Nigeria), Fufu, Tapioca. The cassava plant gives the third-highest yield of carbohydrates per cultivated area among crop plants, after sugarcane and sugar beets[1].
- Cassava is drought tolerant, which means it also does reasonably well in poor soils with low rainfalls, hence, can be a reserve product in times of farming. It has an extensive root system that makes it access nutrients other crops can’t.
- Due to the above, its economic value rarely diminishes. This is why over the years it has become a priority for the Nigerian government to aid the production of cassava.
- Cassava can be dried and used to make starch and feed animals.
- Cassava is a flexible crop as it can serve as subsistence or cash crops. So, while poor farmers can use it as a food crop, entrepreneurs can also use it as a cash crop.
- Cassava products are used for starch, flour, chips, ethanol, glucose syrup, and bread.
- The cassava plant is a good source of energy. It is rich in carbs, calories, fibre, vitamins, minerals and smaller amounts of fats and protein.
- Cassava plays a particularly important role in agriculture in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, because it does well on poor soils and with low rainfall, and because it is a perennial that can be harvested as required. Its wide harvesting window allows it to act as a famine reserve and is invaluable in managing labor schedules. It offers flexibility to resource-poor farmers because it serves as either subsistence or a cash crop[2].
- Recent developmental researches confirm the use of cassava as an ethanol biofuel feedstock. As a result, cassava (tapioca) chips have gradually become a major source for ethanol production.[4]
- Cassava is used worldwide for animal feed. Cassava hay contains high protein (20–27% crude protein) and condensed tannins (1.5–4% CP). It is used as a good roughage source for dairy or beef cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep by either direct feeding or as a protein source in the concentrate mixtures.[5]
- According to Acta Scientific, despite being the highest producers of cassava in the world, Nigeria has a mediocre total export of 1.25 million dollars compared to Thailand which has the highest export value of 1.19 billion dollars in 2017. This provides an amazing opportunity in the export market for entrepreneurs.
CULTIVATION OF CASSAVA
Depending on soil type and drainage, the field may be prepared as mounds, ridges, flat-tilled, or zero-tilled. Where mechanization is available, the land is ploughed and harrowed to a depth of 25cm. However, planting on flat soil requires cuttings directly into the land.
Cassava has the ability to grow on poor soils majorly because it has an extensive root system and uses plant nutrients which are not easily accessible to other crops. In traditional farming, without fertilizers, farmers can obtain yields of 5-6 t/ha on soils that would not support other crops.
However, for good growth and yields, cassava requires friable, light-textured and well-drained soils containing sufficient moisture and a balanced amount of plant nutrients. Under such conditions, yields of 40-60 t/ha are possible[6].
PESTS AND DISEASES OF CASSAVA
Disease such as Cassava mosaic disease, Cassava bacteria blight, Anthracnose, brown leaf spot, and rot root are known to affect crop production. The cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) and cassava green mite (Mononychellus tanajoa) can cause up to 80% crop loss, which is extremely detrimental to the production of subsistence farmers.
Pest of cassava includes: Termite, Cassava mealybug, cassava green mite, grass cutter. A wide range of plant-parasitic nematodes has been reported associated with cassava worldwide. These include Pratylenchus brachyurus., Rotylenchulus reniformis, Helicotylenchus spp. and Meloidogyne spp., of which Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica are the most widely reported and economically important.[7]
Currently, the use of tolerant and resistant varieties is the most practical and sustainable management method for these pests and diseases.
HARVESTING OF CASSAVA
Harvest should be done as soon as tuberous roots have accumulated a sufficient amount of starch, but not too late when tuberous roots become woody or fibrous. Maturity differs from one variety to another. For food, the tubers can be harvested at almost any age around 12 months. Cassavas are due for harvesting when the leaves start turning yellow and when they start falling off. This usually happens 8-10 months after planting for early maturing variety. It can be harvested by cutting the stem off, leaving the part close to the ground so you can grab and pull out the roots.
Manual harvesting involves cutting the stems a few centimeters above the ground, and then loosens the soil around the tuberous roots, and pulls the stub of the stem to lift out the root.
Mechanical harvesters are available to uproot tuberous roots, which are then picked by hand.
Harvesting is easier when the soil is moist or when planting is on ridges rather than on the flat ground.
If the above practices are followed to the latter, the yield can be up to 25 tons per hectare and up to 60 ton/ha for hybrid varieties. With this, you can tap into a thriving market.
CONSTRAINTS
Nigeria produces more than 45 million metric tons (MT) of cassava, making it the world’s largest producer. In spite of this volume, the full yield potential has not been realized since smallholder production rarely exceeds 11 MT per hectare. Less than one percent of total cassava production is processed commercially primarily due to the high cost of transport and a lack of adequate agro-processing capacity.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Cassava Production
The production of cassava is concentrated in the hands of numerous smallholder farmers located primarily in the south and central regions of Nigeria. A significant population of cassava growers in Nigeria has made the transition from traditional production systems to the use of high-yielding varieties and mechanization of processing activities (Nweke et al, 2002)[9]. Below is the map of Cassava-growing regions in Nigeria, 2004
Cassava Growing Regions in Nigeria
Current Status of Cassava in Nigeria
Nigerian cassava production is by far the largest in the world; a third more than production in Brazil and almost double the production of Indonesia and Thailand. Cassava production in other African countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda appears small in comparison to Nigeria’s substantial output.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as of 2018, world cassava production stood at about 278 million tonnes; Africa total production was about 170 million tonnes (about 56% of world production) (FAOSTAT, 2019). At the same period, Nigeria produced about 60 million tonnes (FAOSTAT, 2019).
The economic potential of Cassava production
Nigeria is one of the leading cassava producers and exporters in the world. Nigeria contributes 24% of the total cassava production globally. However, cassava supply is still too low to meet the demand; this is attributed to the ever-rising population. It is estimated that Nigeria needs 28.3 tons of cassava planted on 1.2 million hectares of land to meet the country’s market and demand for the cash crop.
The cost of cassava production per hectare is 85,350 naira, and cost analyses have shown that the profit realized off one hectare of cassava is 157,800 naira. This shows that cassava production is a highly feasible investment, from an economic perspective.
Overall, from the total output of 59.5 million metric tonnes of cassava produced in the country based on 2018 estimates, Nigeria has the economic potential to generate revenues of $427.3 million from domestic value-addition and derive income of $2.98 billion in agricultural exports of cassava
Presently, cassava is primarily produced for food especially in the form of gari, lafun and fufu with little or no use in the agribusiness sector as an industrial raw material. However, the crop can be processed into several secondary products of industrial market value. These products include chips, pellets, flour, adhesives, alcohol, and starch, which are vital raw materials in the livestock feed, alcohol/ethanol, textile, confectionery, wood, food, and soft drinks industries. Moreover, these products are tradable in the international market.
Global trade in Cassava
In 2019, the global cassava market increased by 0.4% to $164.1B (IndexBox estimates), rising for the third consecutive year after two years of decline. Overall, consumption continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 with an increase of 7.8% y-o-y. As a result, consumption attained a peak level of $172.1B. From 2015 to 2019, the growth of the global market remained at a somewhat lower figure.
The countries with the highest volumes of cassava consumption in 2019 were Nigeria (61M tonnes), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (32M tonnes) and Thailand (32M tonnes), with a combined 42% share of global consumption. Ghana, Brazil, Indonesia, Angola, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Mozambique, China, and Malawi lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 37%.
The countries with the highest levels of cassava per capita consumption in 2019 were Ghana (646 kg per person), Cambodia (572 kg per person), and Angola (494 kg per person).
From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of cassava per capita consumption, amongst the leading consuming countries, was attained by Mozambique, while cassava per capita consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Since cassava constitutes a well-established product in tropical countries of Africa and South America, as well as in some countries of South-Eastern Asia, the patterns of cassava consumption and the overall market demand should remain stable. Therefore, the growth of the population of tropical countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and, consequently, the demand for food products will remain the key driver of the market in the medium term.
As cassava is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on poor soils, it is less sensitive to the risk of adverse weather conditions as many other crops. Accordingly, political instability in African countries, which hampers economic development, remains the main constraint on market growth.
Moreover, in early 2020, the global economy entered a period of the crisis caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to battle the spread of the virus, most countries in the world implemented quarantine measures that put on halt production and transport activity. The combination of those factors hampers economic growth heavily throughout the world and disrupts the international supply chains. The result will be a drop in GDP relative to previous years which is to cut consumer spending.
Cassava, however, features among staple food products which are rather tolerant to crisis periods in terms of consumption. Given the fact that cassava is largely consumed in countries with low incomes and where it constitutes an affordable and important diet item, it is not expected that the COVID crisis will lead to a deep decrease in cassava consumption. It is more likely that people would cut the consumption of more expensive food items on the backdrop of lower incomes but keep the main diet element. In the medium term, therefore, population growth will continue to stimulate growth in demand for cassava.
Driven by increasing demand for cassava in major consuming countries, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance, however, is forecast to expand with an anticipated CAGR of +0.8% for the period from 2019 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 326M tonnes by the end of 2030.
Cassava demand and supply projection
Tropical Countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America Remain the Largest Producers of Cassava
The countries with the highest volumes of cassava production in 2019 were Nigeria (61M tonnes), Thailand (32M tonnes), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (32M tonnes), with a combined 42% share of global production. Ghana, Brazil, Indonesia, Angola, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Mozambique, Malawi, and Cote d’Ivoire lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 37%.
From 2013 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Cote d’Ivoire, while cassava production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In 2019, the total area harvested in terms of cassava production worldwide rose to 26M ha, increasing by 3.3% on the previous year’s figure. Over the period under review, the harvested area, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The global harvested area peaked at 26M ha in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2019, the harvested area failed to regain the momentum.
In 2019, the global average cassava yield dropped slightly to 12 tonnes per ha, leveling off at the previous year’s figure. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% over the period from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 with an increase of 6.4% year-to-year. Over the period under review, the average cassava yield hit record highs at 12 tonnes per ha in 2018 and then dropped in the following year.
China, Thailand and Viet Nam Constitute the Largest Importers of Cassava
In 2019, the amount of cassava imported worldwide reduced to 6.6M tonnes, declining by -14.9% against the previous year. Overall, imports recorded a pronounced descent. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 when imports increased by 15% y-o-y. Global imports peaked at 10M tonnes in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2019, imports failed to regain momentum. In value terms, cassava imports dropped significantly to $1.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.
The purchases of the three major importers of cassava, namely China, Thailand, and Viet Nam, represented more than two-thirds of total imports. South Korea (239K tonnes) took a relatively small share of total imports.
From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the key importing countries, was attained by Thailand, while imports for the other global leaders experienced mixed trends in the import figures.
In value terms, China ($531M), Viet Nam ($285M), and Thailand ($267M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2019, together accounting for 83% of global imports.
In terms of the main importing countries, Thailand saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other global leaders experienced mixed trends in the import figures.
The average cassava import price stood at $198 per tonne in 2019, which is down by -11.4% against the previous year. Overall, the import price recorded a pronounced curtailment. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the average import price increased by 2.9% against the previous year. Over the period under review, average import prices attained the peak figure at $270 per tonne in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2019, import prices remained at a lower figure.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was China ($219 per tonne), while Thailand ($124 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Korea, while the other global leaders experienced a decline in the import price figures.
For more information on the varieties of cassava CLICK HERE
For RICE Production guide, CLICK HERE
References
[1] Nutrition per Hectare for Staple Crops, https://www.gardeningplaces.com/articles/nutrition-per-hectare1.htm
[2] ^ Stone, G. D. (2002). “Both Sides Now”. Current Anthropology 43 (4): 611–630.doi:10.1086/341532
[3] Ene, L.S.O. (1992). Prospects for Processing and Utilization of Root and Tuber Crops. In National Root Crops Promotion of Root Crop-Based Industries.Pp. 7-11.
[4] Stuart’s Brasil: Aipim, Mandioca, Manioc, Pão-de-pobre, Cassava(Manihot esculenta)
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava
[6] Curtsey: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
[7] Mc Sorley, R., Ohair, S. K. and Parrado, J.L. 1983. Nematodes of Cassava. Manihot esculentaCrantz. Nematropica 13:261-287
[8] Curtsey: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
[9] Nweke, F.I. D.S.C., Spender and J.Lynam (2002)The Cassava Transformation: Africa’s Best Kept Secret. Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.A.
[10] Culled from www.fao.org Corporate Document Repository (A Cassava Industrial Revolution in Nigeria)
[11] Courtsey www.eucord.org “Cassava Master Plan: A strategic Action Plan for the development of the Nigerian Cassava Industry”. Kormawa, P. and M.O. Akoroda (2003). Cassava Supply Chain Arrangement for Industrial Utilization in Nigeria.
[12] https://www.xtremereturns.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-cassava-farming/
[13]https://www.globaltrademag.com/global-cassava-market-is-expected-to-successfully-resist-the-covid-pandemic/
Disclaimer
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. agriculture nigeria.com makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
