Prices of cassava stems have nosedived to N400 per bundle after touching a high of N1200 as demand eases in Nigeria.
Last year and earlier in 2017, prices of cassava roots and its
derivatives such as Gari climbed to an all-time high as demand
outstripped supply.
derivatives such as Gari climbed to an all-time high as demand
outstripped supply.
Researchers are still expecting data on demand and
supply from the National Bureau of Statistics, but cassava roots moved
from N13,000 per ton to about N40,000, according to local buyers.
supply from the National Bureau of Statistics, but cassava roots moved
from N13,000 per ton to about N40,000, according to local buyers.
Cassava is an important crop in Nigeria and the roots are processed
to starch, ethanol, flour and gari—a staple. Other uses include akpu,
and lafun. In some communities, the root is boiled and eaten directly.
to starch, ethanol, flour and gari—a staple. Other uses include akpu,
and lafun. In some communities, the root is boiled and eaten directly.
In 2014, about 7 million hectares was planted with cassava, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Most of the varieties planted to cover this hectarage were from the
informal sector, says Dr Peter Kulakow, Cassava Breeder with IITA who is
also working on the cassava seed systems project.
informal sector, says Dr Peter Kulakow, Cassava Breeder with IITA who is
also working on the cassava seed systems project.
The Nigerian cassava seed system is not well structured, an
arrangement that the project—Building an Economically Sustainable
Integrated Seed System for Cassava (BASICS) is trying to correct.
arrangement that the project—Building an Economically Sustainable
Integrated Seed System for Cassava (BASICS) is trying to correct.
Farmers usually obtain planting materials from previous field, cut
them in lengths of about a meter and tie them into bundles comprising 50
stems each and sell.
them in lengths of about a meter and tie them into bundles comprising 50
stems each and sell.
Certification from regulators is still rare but the Nigerian
Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) is working with BASICS to set standards
and begin the certification of cassava planting materials.
Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) is working with BASICS to set standards
and begin the certification of cassava planting materials.
Farmer Monsurat Kassim, is one of those selling cassava stems in South West Nigeria through the informal channel.
In an interview with Cassava Matters, she said there has been more demand for cassava stems than the previous years.
“More people are buying the stems this year than they did last year… I
think the rise in price of cassava products is part of the motivation,”
she explained.
think the rise in price of cassava products is part of the motivation,”
she explained.
Source: Newspeak
Donate to Precision
