Partnership to promote cultivation of improved cassava varieties and consumption of locally processed agricultural products begins

A public-private sector initiative between the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as part of building an integrated economically sustainable cassava seed system, phase 2 (BASICS-II) and SANO Foods Limited aims to also promote the cultivation of improved varieties of cassava. such as the consumption of locally processed products in Nigeria.

Part of the deal is to raise awareness about newly marketed cassava varieties and at the same time draw consumers’ attention to the availability of nutritious and locally produced foods designed to fight malnutrition.

The partnership recently started with a “Joint Public Exhibition of Fortified Foods and Cassava Varieties” at IITA, Ibadan. Newly released cassava varieties including Game Changer, Obasanjo-2, Hope, Poundable and Baba-70 were on display. Others were: TME 419, Farmer’s Pride, Dixon, Ayaya, Sunshine and Fine face. All these varieties have yields greater than 20 tonnes per ha, unlike local varieties which give less than 10 tonnes per ha. Processed foods featured included enriched orange-fleshed sweet potato garri (OFSP), orange-fleshed sweet potato bread (OFSP), lemongrass tea, among others.

IATI Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa, Phase II (YIFSWA-II) showcased improved yam varieties and value chain products, while that the IITA mechanization unit featured locally made cassava harvesters.

In his keynote address, IATI (Delivery Partnerships) Deputy Director General Dr Kenton Dashiell noted that breeders were making great strides in developing crop varieties but needed contributions from other parties. stakeholders such as government and processors, who would add value. to research products.

According to him, the final development required partnerships and collaborations with the private sector to add value to these cultures, stressing that “I believe this is what SANO is doing and I am sure we will learn more”.

IATI Development and Delivery Office Director Dr Alfred Dixon, who in his own speech described the SANO-BASICS-II partnership as a “win-win collaboration”, stressed that “the development Cassava led by the private sector in Nigeria was essential for the transformational change of cassava in the country. ”

“Together, we will create an economically sustainable cassava value chain where every actor will have space and benefit from cassava,” he said. “We will raise awareness and trigger the adoption of these varieties by farmers.”

The famous cassava breeder insisted on the need to harness the potential of cassava as a poverty fighter to create jobs, fight food insecurity and boost the country’s economy.

In his own remarks, Sano Foods Acting Managing Director Mr. Solomon Ojeleye stressed that SANO’s vision is to provide healthy, vitamin-rich foods. He identified garri turmeric and garri FOPH, two products that the company has developed through research to add nutritional value to cassava.

His words: “We have over 39 products on the market and all of them are organic because we put the health of our consumers first. We use mash, flour and roots of yellow cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potato, yellow corn and other crops for the production of several confectionery which includes varieties of bread, cookies and cakes and baby food.

According to Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, vegetative seed production expert at IITA GoSeeed, some of the new and improved varieties currently being promoted boast of high vitamin A content. They also have excellent garri qualities and fufu and superb dry matter content, properties which are important for food processors, flour mills and industries.

IITA BASICS-II project director Professor Lateef Sanni said working with organizations such as Sano Foods would advance the cassava value chain.

Other scientists who also spoke at the event were: Michael Abberton, IATI Director for West Africa Hub; Ismail Rabbi, NextGen Cassava Project; and tissue culture specialist YIIFSWA-II, Morufat Balogun. Engr. Thierno Diallo, IITA post-harvest engineer, also gave a presentation on locally produced cassava harvesters.