Consumption of pro-vitamin A cassava can boost GDP

The consumption of pro-vitamin A cassava could reduce economic losses in Gross Domestic Product estimated at about $1.5billion, the Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, has  said.

But more than economic savings, it will also improve the nutrition of women and children who are the most vulnerable, he said at the public presentation of pro-vitamin A varieties in Umudike, Abia State.

Represented by the Coordinator, Cassava Enterprise Development Project, IITA, Dr. Gbassey Tarawali,  Sanginga commended the government for taking the lead in biofortification with the release of cassava varieties to farmers.

He canvassed joint efforts from partners and the private sector to ensure that the pro-vitamin A- rich varieties get to resource-poor farmers.

“Today, we have varieties that have beta-carotene that can help tackle vitamin A deficiency.  What is needed now is to get these varieties to farmers with the support of all stakeholders,” he said.

In developing countries, vitamin A deficiency remains a major bottleneck to improved nutrition with approximately 500,000 malnourished children going blind each year, and half dying within a year of becoming blind.

The prevalence of night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency is also high among pregnant women in many developing countries.

“Vitamin A deficiency also contributes to maternal mortality and other poor outcomes in pregnancy and lactation,” Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Akinwumi Adesina said.

He added: “Annually, Nigeria loses over $1.5 billion in GDP to vitamin and mineral deficiencies as many staple foods are low in essential micronutrients.

“It is crucial that Nigeria accelerates efforts and policy measures on improving health and nutrition of vulnerable groups, especially women, infants and children,” adding that scaling up core micronutrient interventions would cost less than $188 million per year, which, Adesina stressed, makes economic sense. 

To popularise the pro-Vitamin A cassava, he said greater effort would be needed to increase the nutrition capacity within the ministries of Health and Agriculture and Rural Development; improve infant and young child feeding through effective education and counselling services; and increase coverage of vitamin A cassava within the nation.

He assured of  government’s  support for the dissemination of the pro-vitamin A varieties by directing the inclusion of Abia State.

The government announced the release of the pro-vitamin A cassava varieties, last year.

Developed by IITA in partnership with the National Roots Crops Research Institute, (NRCRI), Umudike, the project was funded by Harvestplus. The vitamin A cassava varieties are named by the National Variety Release Committee of Nigeria as UMUCASS 36, UMUCASS 37, and UMUCASS 38; and are recognised as IITA genotypes as TMS 01/1368, TMS 01/1412, and TMS 01/1371.

NRCRI Acting Executive Director Dr Thomas Ezulike said  they have high beta carotene (pro-vitamin A) and are suitable for food uses, such  as garri, fufu and high quality cassava flour.