Journey to consumption of pro-vitamin A cassava varieties in Nigeria

By Jimoh  Babatunde
Cassava is the most important staple food in Nigeria given the number of people who eat it daily and the huge amount of calories derivable.

Over time, it has evolved from being a peasant’s crop to cash and industrial crop with earlier research work and successes focused on food security as well as cash crop roles without attention on its nutritional value.

It is said that large component of vulnerable population, women of childbearing age and children in areas where cassava consumption is high are at risk of Vitamin A deficiency. It was against this background that researchers at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, led by Dr.  Chiedozie Egesi, a Cassava Breeder, to engage with other partners in developing cassava enriched with vitamin A.

The journey which started about 12years  ago in solving  Vitamin A deficiency  came to fruition December last year with the release of  three  yellow  varieties  of cassava  that are  rich in vitamin A.

Drs. Peter Kulakow of IITA and Chigozie Egesie of NRCRI said the development of the varieties was a major breakthrough that would change the nutritional status of people living on cassava-based food. While explaining that what they had come out with is not Genetically Modified crop, Egesi noted that what they breed developed from original stem received from Brazil through International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Egesi disclosed that from over 20 varieties earlier identified and through intense selection and conventional breeding work that they were able to arrive at three varieties that compare favourably in proVitamin A.

“Vitamin A cassava was developed through conventional breeding similar to most other improved varieties that are cultivated by farmers in Nigeria.

“To increase Vitamin A to a level that can have an impact in health, breeders conducted a series of crosses among selected parents and evaluated their promising progenies during a period of over 10 years. The result was the release of three new varieties with intermediate content of vitamin A.”

Paul Ilona of HarvestPlus said “ Given the importance of  cassava in Nigeria, these  new varieties  could provide  more vitamin A  in the diets  of over 70 million Nigerians and continue to  reducing  vitamin deficiency , which is widespread in the country.”

Elated Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the official launch of the released pro-vitamin  A cassava  varieties in Nigeria last week at  Umudike, Abia state said  that ProVitamin A or beta carotene varieties of cassava would go a long way in correcting the deficiency of this nutrient in diets, particularly those of the poor and the vulnerable. “Because cassava is still a cheap crop, affordable to most people, the beta-carotene variety will go a long way in helping to correct individual and household vitamin A deficiency.”

He said the success made is part of the drive of the Federal Government to transform agriculture through its Agricultural Transformation Action Plan. “This plan, called ATA, has as its goal the addition of 20 Million MT of food to the domestic food supply.”

The Minister added that cassava is one of the major crops under the ATA as their focus is to create new markets for cassava  through  high quality cassava flour, to be used in replacing some of the wheat flour being imported to produce bread; high fructose cassava syrup to replace the 200,000 MT of sugar currently being used in the juice manufacturing industry; dried cassava chips, and the production of ethanol.

“Our goal is to add an additional 17 million MT of cassava to our domestic food supply. The Agricultural Transformation Action Plan hopes to create 1.3 million jobs across the cassava value chains.”

Dr. Adesina, however, said  producing more food is not enough, “we must also ensure that there is enhanced food nutrition and health.

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

Adesina said that it was 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 US$188 million per year—which makes economic sense.

To popularize the Pro Vitamin A cassava, he said greater effort will 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; increase coverage of vitamin A cassava within the nation.

The minister also gave the government’s support to the dissemination of the pro-vitamin A varieties by directing the inclusion of Abia state—one of the 36 states in Nigeria.

Farmers who participated in the trials of the varieties across Nigeria loved the varieties for their high-yielding ability and resistance to major diseases and pests. “Demand for these varieties has already started, but it will take some time before we have enough quantities to give out,” says Paul Ilona, the HarvestPlus Manager for Nigeria.

The yellow cassava is already being multiplied through stem cuttings. In 2013, when sufficient certified stems will be available, HarvestPlus and its partners will then distribute these to about 25,000 farming households initially.

Farmers will be able to grow these new vitamin A varieties and feed them to their families. They can also multiply and share cuttings with others in their community, amplifying the nutritional benefits. After the mid-2014 harvest, more than 150,000 household members are expected to be eating vitamin A-rich cassava.

The minister of Agriculture promised that they will accelerate efforts to include the pro Vitamin A cassava in the processing of high quality cassava flour. “So, as you choose pro Vitamin A cassava bread, you are choosing improved health and nutrition!

“We will also expand market opportunities for cassava, through the expansion of processing capacity for high quality cassava flour.”

He revealed that the Government is now working to facilitate the purchase and installation of 18 large scale high quality cassava flour plants that will mill 1.3 million MT of high quality cassava flour per year.

These plants, according to him, will be run by the private sector as they will be fully operational within 18 months, all across the cassava growing areas of Nigeria. “This alone, will make Nigeria the largest processor of cassava flour in the world.”