Cassava Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

This paper evaluates the determinants of decision making in relation to the production of four crops (banana, cassava, potato and sweet potato). Understanding the division of labour and decision-making in crop management may lead to... more

This paper evaluates the determinants of decision making in relation to the production of four crops (banana, cassava, potato and sweet potato). Understanding the division of labour and decision-making in crop management may lead to designing better interventions targeted at improving efficiency in smallholder agriculture. A household quantitative survey with heads of households involving 261 women and 144 men in Burundi and 184 women and 222 men in Rwanda was conducted in 2014. Most of the decisions and labour provision during production of both cash crops (potato and banana) and food crops (sweet potato and cassava) were done jointly by men and women in male-headed households. Higher values for ‘credit access’, ‘land size’ and ‘farming as the main occupation of the household head’ increased the frequency of joint decision-making in male-headed households. A decline in the amount of farm income reduced the participation of men as decision makers....

ABSTRACT: Cassava is one of the most important food crops in Africa. Meristem culture is an effective method of eliminating viruses and other systemic diseases spread through the vegetative propagation of stems. However, in semi-arid... more

ABSTRACT: Cassava is one of the most important food crops in Africa. Meristem culture is an effective method of eliminating viruses and other systemic diseases spread through the vegetative propagation of stems. However, in semi-arid conditions, survival of ex vitro plants in the field is often disappointing. When an increasing range of light regimes in vitro was provided, the fresh and dry masses more than doubled their values between 29 and 369 mmol s−1 m−2 PPFDs. Increases in numbers of senescent leaves and stem thickness were also recorded with increasing PPFD. However, PPFD above 101 mmol s−1 m−2 resulted in 30–70% reduction in plant survival, with the thin plants with the smallest fresh and dry masses being the ones with highest survival rates. High light and temperature levels in the greenhouse were also found to be critical for plant survival. It was also shown that transpirational loss from detached leaves and epicuticular wax deposits were not good indicators for predicting survival of ex vitro cassava plantlets during acclimatisation.

Nigeria is a nation who abandoned agriculture for oil earnings. This action resulted in food exports and thus food insecurity in the country. Agriculture has been the main source of foreign earnings for the nation before the discovery of... more

Nigeria is a nation who abandoned agriculture for oil earnings. This action resulted in food exports and thus food insecurity in the country. Agriculture has been the main source of foreign earnings for the nation before the discovery of oil, and can still be if enough attention is paid to the sector. One of the crops that can eradicate food insecurity in Nigeria and also earn foreign exchange is cassava. Cassava is the most consumed crop in Nigeria, and a crop whose products can be exported for foreign earnings. The Obasanjo government revived agriculture in Nigeria and especially paid attention to cassava cultivation for both national and international consumption; it also initiated and promoted the importance of space technology to economic development. NigeriaSat-1, a Nigeriansatellite has a lot of application areas, one of which is precision agriculture. As part of the effort to increase cassava production in Nigeria, the use of space tools (use of NigeriaSat-1 images and other satellite images) has been considered and adopted. This paper is on predicting cassava yield using NigeriaSat-1 images to create a land use/cover map on an eight hectares cassava farm in Kwali local government of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.

The exploitation of cassava tubers (Manihot utilissima) for various industrial, medicinal and food products requires the removal of the cortex, which is commonly carried out manually. Mechanization of this process has the potential of... more

The exploitation of cassava tubers (Manihot utilissima) for various industrial, medicinal and food products requires the removal of the cortex, which is commonly carried out manually. Mechanization of this process has the potential of driving increased cultivation of cassava and generating products with high hygienic standard, product quality, processing efficiency, minimum loss of tubers and increased processing rate. The difficulty in achieving an acceptable peeling efficiency can be attributed to: the irregular shape of the tubers, the non uniformity of the cortex thickness and unavailability of technical data on parameters of design. This paper presents the solution to the cassava peeling problems and the development of a new machine capable of peeling cassava tubers with over 90 % efficiency. Cassava tubers have been classified according to their varieties. The varieties have been characterized. The relationship between tuber diameter and cortex thickness is established. These ...

The study assessed the entrepreneurial behaviour of smallholder cassava farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of 108 cassava farmers across the agricultural zones in Ebonyi state... more

The study assessed the entrepreneurial behaviour of smallholder cassava farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of 108 cassava farmers across the agricultural zones in Ebonyi state using pretested and structured questionnaire from which data and information were elicited. Analytically, the study employed entrepreneurial behavioural index (EBI) in the assessment of entrepreneurial behaviour of the cassava farmers. The result showed that the overall entrepreneurial behaviour of the cassava farmers posted a mean value of 0.4529 on a range of 0.17 – 0.70. This implies that their minimum entrepreneurial behaviour indicates gross underutilization of entrepreneurial attributes by the farmers while the maximum shows reasonable utilization of entrepreneurial capacity. The study concluded that aggressive agricultural transformation to enhance food security in Nigeria is feasible with effective management of human as well as material resources by promoting entrepreneurial behaviour of farmers. The study therefore recommends amongst others that government at all levels needs to deepen its educational and policy support to farmers through total overhauling of activities/programmes to activate their creativity.

Nigeria possesses enormous potentials in the agricultural sector especially in the cassava sub-sector. This paper reviews the cassava production, consumption and utilization along its value chain globally. The paper focuses on Nigeria’s... more

Nigeria possesses enormous potentials in the agricultural sector especially in the cassava sub-sector. This paper reviews the cassava
production, consumption and utilization along its value chain globally. The paper focuses on Nigeria’s cassava trade outlook and how it can compete favourably with other exporting nations while examining its prospects, strategies for development and challenges the cassava sub-sector is facing in recent time. Cassava production in Nigeria reached the highest level with an estimated value of 59 million and accounted for 20.4% world share in 2017. Egypt is the only African country ranked among the top ten highest exporters of cassava in the world with export value of 20.7millionandalsothehighestcassavaexporterinAfricaeventhoughnotamongthehighestproducersofcassavainAfricaandglobally.CassavaisunarguablythemostimportantrootcropinNigeriaintermsofconsumption.Asthehighestproducerofcassavaintheworld,Nigeriarecordedasmalltotalexportvalue(20.7million and also the highest cassava exporter in Africa even though not among the highest producers of cassava in Africa and globally. Cassava is unarguably the most important root crop in Nigeria in terms of consumption. As the highest producer of cassava in the world, Nigeria recorded a small total export value (20.7millionandalsothehighestcassavaexporterinAfricaeventhoughnotamongthehighestproducersofcassavainAfricaandglobally.CassavaisunarguablythemostimportantrootcropinNigeriaintermsofconsumption.Asthehighestproducerofcassavaintheworld,Nigeriarecordedasmalltotalexportvalue(1.25million) when compared to other leading producers like Thailand with highest export value of $1.19billion in 2017. Nigeria and the rest of African nations are yet to harness the great trade possibilities in the cassava sub-sector when compared to other regions (like Asia and North America) of the world.

Selected local cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) starches were investigated as additives for water-based drilling mud. Cassava cultivars, TMS 30572, TMS 98/0505, TMS 98/0581, M98/0068, TMS 92/0057, TMS 96/1632, NR8082, TME 419, TMS... more

Selected local cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) starches were investigated as additives for water-based drilling mud. Cassava cultivars, TMS 30572, TMS 98/0505, TMS 98/0581, M98/0068, TMS 92/0057, TMS 96/1632, NR8082, TME 419, TMS 97/4779 and TMS 01/1412 were processed to starches and used for drilling mud treatment at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 percent. Polyanionic cellulose (PAC), xanthan gum (XG) and industrial starch-modified drilling muds served as controls. Physicochemical analysis of the starches showed significant differences in their properties. Viscosity and fluid loss profiles revealed that some of the local cassava starches had comparable performance with the commercial polymers. The optimal concentration of the industrial starch in the mud system was 0.5 percent, while that of the local starches were between 0.5 and 1.0 percent. PAC and XG performed best at 1.0 and 2.0 percent respectively. The highest viscosities were shown by muds treated with TMS 98/0581, XG, TMS 96/1632, M98/0068, TMS 92/0057 and PAC, arranged in decreasing order. And the lowest fluid losses were exhibited by muds with PAC, industrial starch, XG, TMS 98/0581 and M98/0068 in increasing order. Viscosity and fluid loss models as functions of cassava starch physicochemical properties were developed. Increase in starch content, amylose content, solubility index would readily increase viscosity, while high starch content, amylopectin content, solubility index and pH would reduce the fluid loss. Local starches from TMS 98/0581, TMS 96/1632 and M98/0068 and TMS 92/0057 could be used as a substitute in drilling mud as viscosity enhancers and fluid loss control agents in Nigeria.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) remains one of the most important and widely grown food crops in tropical region which has persistently contributed food security and economy. Cassava roots deteriorate rapidly within 40-48 hours after harvest,... more

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) remains one of the most important and widely grown food crops in tropical region which has persistently contributed food security and economy. Cassava roots deteriorate rapidly within 40-48 hours after harvest, due to physiological factors and microbial infection. Fresh roots storage is a huge challenge, there is thus a pressing need to process tubers into some stable form as soon as they are harvested. Cassava roots can be processed into chips to hasten drying into a staple form while vital qualities of the roots are preserved. This creates a huge export demand for cassava chips making it an agricultural foreign exchange earner. A rotary disc (knife and groove) type chipping machine was also developed at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria (NCAM). This study sought to test the effect of the number of knives on the rotary chipping disc on the performance of the chipping machine. This is intended to improve chip efficiencies for boosting capabilities to preserve cassava root and also make Nigeria better active in the international chip export market. Results of this study showed that the chipping disc with two blades at the medium test operating speed of 596 rpm had the best chipping capacity of 375kg/hr., while the two blade disc operating at the least test speed of 422 rpm gave the best chipping efficiency of 88%. The two blade disc operating at the mid test speed of 596 rpm also recorded the best quality performance. On the other hand, the three blade disc at the medium test operating speed had the highest mechanical loss.

This paper analyses the constraints and their effects on the marketing of cassava by farmers in the Ajumako-Enyan Essiam District (AEED). Simple descriptive statistics like percentages, rank score, Kendall's coefficient of concordance... more

This paper analyses the constraints and their effects on the marketing of cassava by farmers in the Ajumako-Enyan Essiam District (AEED). Simple descriptive statistics like percentages, rank score, Kendall's coefficient of concordance test and student's t-test were used in the analysis. The results show that farmers mostly sell 56%, 20%, 14% and 10% of their products to urban wholesalers, urban retailers, rural retailers and consumers, respectively. Among the 10 constraints ranked by the farmers, the results show that the difficulty in harvesting during the dry season is the most pressing constraint, followed by inappropriate sales measurement, bad road network and then the absence of government support for cassava marketing. The Kendall's statistical test conducted suggests that there is (about 63.9%) agreement among the rankings of the constraints by the farmers. cassava farmers and consumers are likely to lose, while the traders will gain from the effect of marketing constraints like bad road networks. Upgrading of roads connecting the farming areas and the marketing centres, enforcing any bye-laws for standardizing the cassava market in terms of weight and equivalent prices and developing appropriate technology to aid harvesting of cassava in the dry season are drawn as policy recommendations.

The study uses the linear AIDS technique to analyse how consumers of cassava food products in the Lagos metropolitan area react to economic and demographic factors and how consumer reactions can be captured to bring about effective policy... more

The study uses the linear AIDS technique to analyse how consumers of cassava food products in the Lagos metropolitan area react to economic and demographic factors and how consumer reactions can be captured to bring about effective policy formulation for food security and poverty alleviation through value added agricultural production. The results establish that demographic factors such as religion and residential area help to explain perceived variations in the consumption of cassava food products. Given that demand is price-inelastic for all cassava food products examined in the study, declining prices stemming from a bumper cassava crop harvest would lead to corresponding declines in producer revenues. In view of the high expenditure elasticities, therefore, a policy option that would boost productivity and incomes of consumers is considered desirable. Such a policy could be one that saps off excess farm labour through maintaining and promoting investment in the food-processing s...

The study assessed the entrepreneurial behaviour of smallholder cassava farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of 108 cassava farmers across the agricultural zones in Ebonyi state... more

The study assessed the entrepreneurial behaviour of smallholder cassava farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in the selection of 108 cassava farmers across the agricultural zones in Ebonyi state using pretested and structured questionnaire from which data and information were elicited. Analytically, the study employed entrepreneurial behavioural index (EBI) in the assessment of entrepreneurial behaviour of the cassava farmers. The result showed that the overall entrepreneurial behaviour of the cassava farmers posted a mean value of 0.4529 on a range of 0.17 – 0.70. This implies that their minimum entrepreneurial behaviour indicates gross underutilization of entrepreneurial attributes by the farmers while the maximum shows reasonable utilization of entrepreneurial capacity. The study concluded that aggressive agricultural transformation to enhance food security in Nigeria is feasible with effective management of human as well as material resour...

The plastics are polluting the environment and affect the humans. 94% of the plastics are thermoplastics or recyclable materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The purpose of bioplastic production... more

The plastics are polluting the environment and affect the humans. 94% of the plastics are thermoplastics or recyclable materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The purpose of bioplastic production is an alternative for synthetic plastic. The starch is a natural biopolymer. Cassava starch is used for bioplastic production in many ways.

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around... more

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558. Today, it is a dietary staple in much of tropical Africa.
It is rich in carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals. However, nutrient composition differs according to variety and age of the harvested crop, and soil conditions, climate, and other environmental factors during cultivation.

This article concerns the practice of cassava gardening among the indigenous Makushi people of Amazonian Guyana. By focusing on the cassava garden (mîî) as a primary site of multispecies engagement, I explore some of the heterogeneous... more

This article concerns the practice of cassava gardening among the indigenous Makushi people of Amazonian Guyana. By focusing on the cassava garden (mîî) as a primary site of multispecies engagement, I explore some of the heterogeneous modes that people-plant relationships take in everyday life and ritual practice. Plants, for the Makushi, are typically thought of as 'persons' (pemon), and gardening is predicated upon maintaining relationships of interspecies care via regular human-plant communication. In the idiom of human kinship, cassava plants are spoken of as being 'children' (more yamî'), both of human gardeners and Cassava Mama, the tutelary spirit of cultivated plants. Human-plant communication is both verbal, in the form of poetic language (taren) and songs (eremu), and embodied, in the form of tactile engagement and substance-based transfers. It is in the cultivation of communicative relationships with plants and their spirits, I argue, that Makushi gardeners create and nourish human persons and, ultimately, reproduce society. I go on to address the anthropological problem of plant animism in Amazonia, arguing that a more embodied, sensorial and, following Strathern, 'immanentist' notion of spirit is required to better account for the complex entanglement of bodies and souls that undergirds human-plant interpenetration in indigenous Amazonia. In dialogue with literature from the multispecies turn, I suggest that an anthropology beyond the human, much like Makushi gardening, might usefully be thought of as a process of more-than-human ontogenesis.

Studies have shown that cooking fuels currently in use in the majority of Equatorial East African communities (specifically Mozambique) have a lot of adverse effects on the livelihood and health of the citizens and the environment.... more

Studies have shown that cooking fuels currently in use in the majority of Equatorial East African communities (specifically Mozambique) have a lot of adverse effects on the livelihood and health of the citizens and the environment. Kerosene and firewood cause of lot of respiratory problems in the users and also their prices are completely unstable. Project CASSAVA proposes cassava-sourced, ethanol-based cooking fuel as an alternative for these communities. Inspired by the existing models of operation in Nigeria and Zambia we plan to have a holistic and sustainable business model which is extremely favorable to both the investors and the users. Project CASSAVA plans to provide an end-to-end solution to the issue at hand by setting up versatile systems that will handle specific tasks including the processing of cassava and the cooking stove itself. The technical maintenance for this endeavor will be done in partnership with Universidade Lúrio, mainly to save on the costs of transportation and solving the problem of the language barrier. Project CASSAVA will be beneficial in terms of boosting rural agriculture, creating jobs, alleviating poverty, conserving forest from fuel wood exploitation, and preventing indoor pollution. The proposed technical and business design is available in detail, in the paper, with the aim of highlighting the benefits of this project for the development of the “other 90%” of the global population.

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around... more

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558. Today, it is a dietary staple in much of tropical Africa.
It is rich in carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals. However, nutrient composition differs according to variety and age of the harvested crop, and soil conditions, climate, and other environmental factors during cultivation.
Pig farming in Nigeria is becoming very popular day by day. It is a wonderful business idea and very profitable. You can get return of your total investment within very short time. Pig farming is very easy and pig meat has a huge global popularity. This is the main reason of increasing this business in Nigeria
Native breeds of pig can be found throughout the country. They are a small body size compared to other exotic and crosses pig types.
Their name varies from region to region, for example: Jangali Bandel / Wild Boar, Pygmi Bandel, Hurra, Banmpudke, Chwanche, Pakhribas Black Pig and Dharane Kalo Banggur

Bioplastics are made from starch of plants that can easily dissolve in water and decompose; it can be molded to make plastic products than can replace the conventional plastic we have today. The starch of the cassava and corn can be a... more

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around... more

Cassava is a perennial woody shrub with an edible root, which grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558. Today, it is a dietary staple in much of tropical Africa.
It is rich in carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals. However, nutrient composition differs according to variety and age of the harvested crop, and soil conditions, climate, and other environmental factors during cultivation.
Pig farming in Nigeria is becoming very popular day by day. It is a wonderful business idea and very profitable. You can get return of your total investment within very short time. Pig farming is very easy and pig meat has a huge global popularity. This is the main reason of increasing this business in Nigeria
Native breeds of pig can be found throughout the country. They are a small body size compared to other exotic and crosses pig types.
Their name varies from region to region, for example: Jangali Bandel / Wild Boar, Pygmi Bandel, Hurra, Banmpudke, Chwanche, Pakhribas Black Pig and Dharane Kalo Banggur

This chapter is an ethnographic case study of the fermentation of cassava beer among the indigenous Makushi people of southern Guyana. The chapter constitutes the first in-depth anthropological study of parakari, a unique kind of cassava... more

This chapter is an ethnographic case study of the fermentation of cassava beer among the indigenous Makushi people of southern Guyana. The chapter constitutes the first in-depth anthropological study of parakari, a unique kind of cassava beer fermented via the cultivation of a domesticated species of saprotrophic fungus (Rhizopus sp.). Herein, I explore Makushi theories and practices of fermentation, and, more broadly, the ways in which alcoholic drinks operate as catalysts for processes of social and cosmic reproduction and transformation in indigenous Amazonia. For the Makushi, as I argue, the production and consumption of cassava beer is understood as a more- than-human process of person-making, harnessing the vibrant agency of a diversity of vegetal, animal, microbial, and spiritual entities and forces. Fermentation, in this frame, is treated both as a socio-technical system and a cosmo-ecological system.

"Саагун Б. де., Куприенко С. А. Общая история о делах Новой Испании. Книги X-XI: Познания астеков в медицине и ботанике / Бернардино де Саагун, С. А. Куприенко. — Киев : Видавець Купрієнко С. А., 2013. — 218 с. : ил. — (Месоамерика.... more

The cassava peeling and washing machine was designed, fabricated and tested. The machine consists of two chambers joined together as a single machine to perform the work of peeling and as well as washing. The brushes which are in form of... more

The cassava peeling and washing machine was designed, fabricated and tested. The machine consists of two chambers joined together as a single machine to perform the work of peeling and as well as washing. The brushes which are in form of shafts were fixed in the upper chamber and they remove dirt and sand aided by plentiful supply of clean water under pressure via water pump. The peeler drum was enclosed by the down chamber with rough and sharp surface that peel and also oriented in a spiral form (auger) for conveyance of the cassava tuber to the outlet chute. A 3hp single phase electric motor supply power to the machine via pulley and belt to the peeler drum shaft. The peeler drum shaft that transfers the drive to the drum was fixed at the centre of the drum. It was observed that the efficiency of the machine was hindered by the speed. The efficiency of the machine was 70% on the speed of rotation of peeler drum at 420 rpm. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed that speed was an important parameter that affects the performance of the machine.

This study was carried out to analyze the trend of cassava (Manihot esculenta) products and impacts on the livelihood of value chain actors in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Thus, surveys were carried out in 2016, in six localities... more

This study was carried out to analyze the trend of cassava (Manihot esculenta) products and impacts on the livelihood of value chain actors in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Thus, surveys were carried out in 2016, in six localities (Yaounde, Bafia, Obala, Ngoumou, Mbankomo and Mbalmayo) of the Centre Region with the aid of structured questionnaires. Three hundred value chain actors mainly producers, processors, transporters, marketers and consumers of cassava and cassava-based products were selected through a multi-stage random sampling technique and interviewed in markets. However, some producers and consumers were interviewed in their farms, restaurants and at home. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS 20. The results indicated that different cassava products were available at different levels of the value chain. Bobolo/baton, flours, tubers, cassava leaves, cassava cuttings, starch, mitoumba/mintoumba/ntoumba, garri/gari, and water fufu were the main products sold. Meanwhile, tubers, bobolo, leaves and flour were observed as the most consumed products. About 87% of producers had farm sizes ranging from 1-5 Ha and 13% had farms greater than 5 Ha. The main sources of planting material were from neighboring farms (65%), friends (19%), seed farms (9%) and donations (7%). Approximately 90% of plant material used were local cassava varieties and 10% were improved varieties. The main difficulties encountered in cassava production were infertile soils (15.73%), unavailability of quality seeds (14.61%), pests and diseases (12.36%) and the remainder were other constraints. At the marketing level, constraints such as poor transport facilities (31.51%), scarcity of conservation or storage facilities (19.18%), price fluctuations (16.44%) and poor marketing channels (15.07%) were noted among others. In the transformation sector, difficulties registered were, poor mechanization, poor transport facilities, scarcity of fuel wood and raw material. Thus, mechanization is recommended to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the cassava value chain in the region.

L'étude a été menée dans l'objectif d'évaluer l'influence de la composition chimique du sol sur la teneur en éléments nutritifs et le rendement du manioc dans deux zones agro-écologiques du Cameroun. L'échantillonnage s'est fait à Ekona... more

L'étude a été menée dans l'objectif d'évaluer l'influence de la composition chimique du sol sur la teneur en éléments nutritifs et le rendement du manioc dans deux zones agro-écologiques du Cameroun. L'échantillonnage s'est fait à Ekona (zone 4) et Ongot (zone 5). Une variété de manioc améliorée (8034) et deux variétés locales (Local Red et Bassa Noire) âgées de 12 mois ont été utilisées. Les résultats ont montrés que le sol d'Ekona (andosol) est significativement plus riche en éléments minéraux (azote total: 1,34% ; phosphore disponible: 15 mg.kg-1) que celui d'Ongot [(ferralsol), (azote total: 0,11% ; phosphore disponible: 4 mg.kg-1)]. La variété 8034 produit significativement plus de biomasse fraîche totale et de rendement en tubercules que les variétés locales. Elle est significativement plus riche en éléments minéraux que les variétés locales dans les deux sites. Les éléments minéraux contenus dans les feuilles de manioc sont très fortement corrélés (r 2 :0,999, p<0,001) à ceux contenus dans le sol. La richesse des feuilles et des tubercules de manioc en éléments nutritifs est donc proportionnelle à celle du sol en éléments minéraux. Ce résultat préliminaire constitue une avancée dans la détermination des doses de fertilisants à recommander pour la culture du manioc au Cameroun.

Sources of cassava samples included 14 selected cassava farms and six common market places in Iloilo. Two major varieties of cassava were collected: those with white roots and red petiole which belongs to the Native/Balinghoy variety and... more

Sources of cassava samples included 14 selected
cassava farms and six common market places in Iloilo.
Two major varieties of cassava were collected: those
with white roots and red petiole which belongs to the
Native/Balinghoy variety and those with yellow roots
and yellow green petiole belonging to the Golden
Yellow/Lakan I variety.
The cyanide content of the roots and leaves were
determined using the sodium picrate method. Color
chart readings for cyanide were compared with
spectrophotometric (spectro) readings to verify the
validity of the color chart results. Color chart readings
fall within range of the spectrophotometric results.
Statistical results show that the differences in the
concentrations of cyanide in cassava roots and leaves
from different sources were significant at 0.05 level.
Cyanide concentrations are higher in the leaves
(50.49+1.4 to 388.08+11.2) than in the roots (12.87+4.2
to 135.63+7.0) and also higher in the Native/Balinghoy
than the Golden Yellow/Lakan I variety. In leaves,
spectrophotometric values range from 91.08+2.8 ppm
(Naclub) to 216.81+26.6 ppm (Lambunao) for the
Golden Yellow/Lakan I variety; and from 50.49+1.4 ppm
(Sigangao) to 388.08+11.2 ppm (Naclub) for the Native
or Balinghoy variety. For the roots, results range from
12.87+4.2 ppm (Carmelo) to 75.24+2.8 ppm (Bungca)
for the Golden Yellow/Lakan I variety; and 17.82+0ppm
(Sigangao) to 135.63+7.0 ppm (Naclub) for the Native/
Balinghoy variety.
Length of storage period of cassava roots has
effect on cyanide content. When storage period is
extended cyanide content decreases significantly at
0.05 level.

Garri processing is a major agricultural and food related activity which leads to waste generation and this waste in turn constitute environmental problems in terms of stench smells and poor hygienic conditions that allow microbes and... more

Garri processing is a major agricultural and food related activity which leads to
waste generation and this waste in turn constitute environmental problems in terms of
stench smells and poor hygienic conditions that allow microbes and germs to thrive.
Rural dwellers are normally poor thus the payment of electricity bills impoverishes
them further. Inadequate energy supply and environmental pollution are gargantuan
problems confronting Nigeria and many other developing nations of the world. In this
research we estimated the cassava waste generation rate associated with processing of
cassava for garri production activities and estimation of amount of biogas generation
from specific mass of the waste. A simple digester is fabricated for sample digestion
process. The result was then used in estimation of biogas generation potential

The active roles played by women farmers in crop production have in no doubt led to increase in cassava production in the country. In spite of these significant contributions, the womenfarmers are still limited in their access to various... more

The active roles played by women farmers in crop production have in no doubt led to increase in cassava production in the country. In spite of these significant contributions, the womenfarmers are still limited in their access to various factors of production, agricultural and market information which could help to enhance their productivities and incomes for sustainable cassava production in the country. This study, therefore, examined the socioeconomic determinants of cassava production among womenfarmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. This is with a view to finding ways to enhance and sustain cassava production in the area. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 2 agricultural zones from the 3 zones in the state out of which 60 women cassavafarmers were randomly selectedfor the study. Interview schedule was used to collect informationfrom the respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function. Household size (p=O.Ol), age (p=O.Ol)Jarming experience (p=O.Ol)Jarm size (p=O.OI), educational status (p=0.05) and land ownership (p=O. JO) were the socioeconomic factors that positively and significantly affected the production of cassava among the womenfarmers in the study area. It was alsofound that the women farmers were faced with some problems such as lack of capital (93.33%), scarcity / high cost 0/ fertilizer (90%), scarcity / high cost of labour (85%), lack ofimproved cassava varieties (80%), lack 0/ access feeder roads (78.33%), etc. The study therefore recommended that the womenjarmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies. The government should also encourage the older and more experienced women farmers to be involved in the cassava production by providing the necessary facilities such as: credits, loan, fertilizer feeder roads, functional and good marketing channels etc. The research and extension agencies should ensure that the improved cassava varieties developed are made available to the women farmers to increase their production and income.

Cassava was domesticated in Central America some 9000 years ago. The Portuguese carried it from Brazil to Africa in the late sixteenth century as a cheap staple to feed slaves. It seems likely that it was introduced into multiple... more

Cassava was domesticated in Central America some 9000 years ago. The Portuguese carried it from Brazil to Africa in the late sixteenth century as a cheap staple to feed slaves. It seems likely that it was introduced into multiple locations rapidly, as borrowings from Portuguese mandioca are found is widely scattered parts of West Africa. Cassava was rapidly taken up by African farmers near the coast, but only began to penetrate the interior in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Due to the highly toxic characteristics of bitter cassava, the techniques of processing it travelled with the plant itself and are found all over Africa. From this point we find both a large number of local roots, comparing cassava to indigenous tubers, and also to the silk-cotton tree. Some peoples, such as the Hausa and Bambara seem to been important secondary distributors of cassava, as their name is borrowed into many surrounding languages. The paper groups the main lexemes identified for cassava, plots them on maps and produces a synthesis of the introduction and spread of cassava in Africa.

Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop in Cameroon where leaves and tubers are eaten. However, its genetic variability remains unexplored in Cameroon. Local varieties are precious genetic resources because of... more

Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop in Cameroon where leaves and tubers are eaten. However, its genetic variability remains unexplored in Cameroon. Local varieties are precious genetic resources because of their diversity. Mastery of this diversity is an important basis for crop improvement through plant breeding programs.
Methods: Local cassava accessions (89) were collected mainly in four regions belonging to the Humid Forest and Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zones. These accessions have been planted with the objective to characterize them, based on qualitative and quantitative agro-morphological traits. The experiment was carried out in experimental station of IRAD Nkolbisson, Cameroon.
Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed for all the 14 analysed quantitative traits. Coefficients of variation of quantitative traits range from 11.85% (number of leaf lobes) to 55.75% (weight of shoot). Of the 14 quantitative traits studied, 7 had high coefficients of variation (CV>20%). The remaining 7 traits exhibit low variations. Root yields of 10 to 13 t/ha was observed with some of the accessions. The Principal Component Analysis for quantitative traits and Multiple Correspondence Analysis for qualitative traits revealed high dispersion of the accessions. On the cluster analysis for qualitative traits the accessions were classified in three groups. The dendrogram with the quantitative traits produced three main cluster groups of the cassava accessions evaluated.
Conclusion: This work showed the variation in agronomic traits existing among cassava accessions in the forest and savannah agro-ecological zones of Cameroon that could be exploited to enhance cassava breeding programs.
Keywords: cassava accessions, genetic diversity, agro-morphological descriptors, principal component analysis, multiple correspondence analysis.

In this research, crude α-amylases associated with the spoilage of cassava (Manihot esculenta) tubers/ product ('eba') were biochemically characterized. They were isolated from five fungi: Aspergillus sp. CSA25, Aspergillus sp. CSA26,... more

In this research, crude α-amylases associated with the spoilage of cassava (Manihot esculenta) tubers/ product ('eba') were biochemically characterized. They were isolated from five fungi: Aspergillus sp. CSA25, Aspergillus sp. CSA26, Aspergillus sp. CSA27, Aspergillus sp. CSA35 and Aspergillus sp. CSA38. The results of the analyses showed that the activities of α-amylase obtained from both sources (cassava tuber/ eba) were optimal at 45°C and pH 5.0. The maximum specific activity (Vmax) of the enzyme was found to be 10 U/mg protein, while its Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) was between 0.37-1.25%w/v. The α-amylase is thermally stable for 1-2 h at optimum temperature and pH (45°C; pH 5.0). A broad range of substrate specificity was expressed by the enzyme for cassava starch-containing products (tapioca flour, garri flour, cassava flour, 1%, w/v); however, potato (Ipomoea batatas) starch, yam (Dioscorea rotundata) flour and cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) flour were relatively minimally hydrolyzed by the crude α-amylases obtained from Aspergillus spp. that caused spoilage of cassava. Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (1 mM EDTA) and Mg 2+ treatment had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the activities of the amylase, but Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , Fe 3+ , thiourea and 5′,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate (1 mM DTNB) enhanced its activities. The fungal α-amylases were most activated by K + and had a salt tolerance of 1-2 M NaCl for 24 h. The fungal α-amylases reported in this study would find useful application in industries like food industry, detergent industry, paper industry, textile industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc where microbial α-amylases would be required for efficient and cost-effective hydrolysis of cassava starch, cassava flour and or its products.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) application in the field of plant virology started in 2009 and has proven very successful for virus discovery and detection of viruses already known. Plant virology is still a developing science in most of... more

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) application in the field of plant virology started in 2009 and has proven very successful for virus discovery and detection of viruses already known. Plant virology is still a developing science in most of Africa; the number of HTS-related studies published in the scientific literature has been increasing over the years as a result of successful collaborations. Studies using HTS to identify plant-infecting viruses have been conducted in 20 African countries, of which Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania share the most published papers. At least 29 host plants, including various agricultural economically important crops, ornamentals and medicinal plants, have been used in viromics analyses and have resulted in the detection of previously known viruses and novel ones from almost any host. Knowing that the effectiveness of any management program requires knowledge on the types, distribution, incidence, and genetic of the virus-causing disease, integrating H...