Nigeria is accountable for 19% of cassava production in the world. big sum right?. With an annual output of 34 million tonnes of tubers,Nigeria is rated as the largest producer of cassava in the world.

Its quite dissapointing that this huge production is not well utilised, some countries that produce less tubers of cassava make more profit from it than our dear country Nigeria.

Women play a vital role in the production of cassava in Nigeria, through the operation of harvesting,peeling,grating,fermentation, pressing,milling,cooking,roasting,etc. Most of these operations are done manually, thereby consuming much time and energy. There has been recorded complaint of lack of processing equipments,storage infrastructures, high transportation fee, lack of funds, poor extension service and high cost of production. This has led to a good amount of cassava produced becoming a waste.

How Nigeria Can Get Richer Through Cassava

1. More attention should be channeled to cassava processing and production.
2. Converting cassava peel waste to animal feed.
3. Increase production for exportation.
4. Provision of extension services to rural farmers.
5. Lease of land for cassava production.
6. Adaptation of mechanised processing method for cassava.
7. Availability of funds for transportation and equipments needed.
8. Invest in storage and packaging for cassava.
9. Expansion of cassava production to various states in Nigeria.

Cassava is rated as the the most important root crop and is well appreciated all over the world. Nigeria has a big advantage over other countries,it's time we wake up and give a cassava a chance.

Thanks for reading
i got this topic while flashing back to my note, course of study: Farm mechanisation
photo credit
thanks to @marvel1206 for the toon