Researchers and key partners working under the Support for Agricultural Research and Development for Strategic Crops (SARD-SC) have kicked off activities to improve the productivity of cassava by at least 20 per cent in project sites, increase household incomes and food security, and make the root crop work for the poor.

Four countries namely DR Congo, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zambia, are the main beneficiaries of the cassava component but the project allows neighbouring countries to tap from technologies that would be generated.

“About 500,000 farmers are to directly benefit from the crop with more than 2 million indirect beneficiaries,” said the Project Coordinator for the SARD-SC, Dr. Chrys Akem, at the launch of the cassava component of the project in DR Congo.

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Experts have identified cassava as a multi-purpose crop that could serve not only as food but as raw material for manufacturing.

They say that cassava is an important component for the production of adhesives, wall paper, bio-fuel, stain remover and drugs, among others.

Aware of the economic importance of the crop, research institutes have been collaborating to develop pest-resistant, high yielding and early maturing cassava species.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, and the Nigerian Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia, recently released two improved cassava varieties which they jointly developed.

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) said it has earmarked $150 million to support rice value chain under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government.

Chief Operations Officer of the Bank Dr. Patrick Agboma disclosed this at the opening of a 2-day stakeholder’s workshop on AfDB Pre-Appraisal Mission on the Bank’s Rice Value Chain Development Programme (RVCDP) in Abuja.

He explained that AfDB in 2012 pledged $500 million to support Rice, Cassava, Aquaculture and Sorghum of the ATA.

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Arusha — FARMERS in Tanzania should shift from planting maize to growing cassava, since the latter will soon overtake the former’s demand on the continent.

Scientists meeting here have pointed out that cassava is on the verge of replacing maize as the main staple for the nearly one billion residents of the African continent and that the ‘roots’ value is clocking to over two billion US dollars per year, it was observed here yesterday.

“Cassava is currently the most drought resistant crop which can also thrive in lownutrient soil and scientists have come up with new varieties that are resilient to diseases,” explained Dr Nteranya Sangina, the Director General for the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

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he federal government has approved the release of N180 million for the purchase of foundation seeds from wheat farmers at the Bakalori irrigation site in Zamfara.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development announced while distributing fertiliser and improved rice seeds to the farmers.

Adesina, represented by the Minister of State, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, said that the federal government had directed the registration of 8,000 farmers, who participated in the production of the foundation seeds but were not captured under the ministry’s programmes.

According to him, the wheat seeds will be distributed to the farmers for use during the 2013 irrigation season.

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