Why Nigeria cannot export cassava now – Experts

Other factors hindering Nigeria’s ability to export cassava are that the cost of producing the crop is still very high and farmers in particularly lack the modern capacity and still employ unimproved methods in the production of the crop even though they go through the ordeal to produce small quantities for nearby markets.These facts were […]

Other factors hindering Nigeria’s ability to export cassava are that the cost of producing the crop is still very high and farmers in particularly lack the modern capacity and still employ unimproved methods in the production of the crop even though they go through the ordeal to produce small quantities for nearby markets.
These facts were again brought to the fore by agricultural experts at the National Root Crops Research Institute in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, when a group of media fellows from the Biosciences for Farming in Africa (b4fa) visited the institute recently to see extent of researches carried out in some tuber and root crops in the country.
Dr Kenneth Ekwe, the assistant director in charge of the institute’s media and publicity who showed the media fellows round and presented printed versions of their researches, said the institute has led the way from inception and so far has 43 improved varieties of cassava which are  disease-resistant and can be grown in any ecological zone even beyond the country.
In some of the institute’s public statements on the threat against and inability of the country to export the staple crop to boost foreign exchange earnings, it said Nigerian cassava crops face increasing competition through increased imports of competitively priced products because most farmers are yet to apply new biotechnology to improve their yields.
Another is that the glut in the world market discourages local farmers, so that they would prefer to wait hoping that the demand in the international markets would improve.
The statements raised concerns that unpredictable changes in policy do impact against the production and export of the crop although the country can conveniently sell its product abroad and still have surplus to feed the population, adding to that domestic maze prices compete against efforts of cassava. Certain communities can substitute byproducts of maize in the place of cassava.
If the country must play its leading role in the cassava production area, the increasing difficulties Nigerians engaged in commercial farming, even the small-holder farmers are facing should be seriously looked at, the statements added.
“Our farmers have limited capacity to expand their production owing to paucity of funds and poor machinery and access to available credits and inputs. The hazards of the environment and poor infrastructure also count against them. These put together work against the Nigerian farmers but improved productivity or commercialization of the crop can make it more competitive”, one of the statements said.
Dr Ekwe said that if Nigeria can effectively explore the crop and give greater attention to its production through the introduction of biotechnology, by-products of the crop which are well used in many areas of life, can favourably compete with oil as foreign exchange earner.
On the need to introduce biotechnology into cassava farming in the country for export purposes, experts at the Umudike institute compiled a compendium titled ‘Root and Tuber Crops – Research for  food security and empowerment’  and explained with emphasis that, “biotechnology provides a means of designing crops for specific environments which is a major departure from traditional agriculture. There is therefore need for genetic engineering to be applied to improve cassava production as well as the enhancement of nutrient availability, pest and disease control.”
Stressing on plant biotechnology for genetic improvement of root and crops, E.N.A Mbanaso and C.N. Egesi said that the application of biotechnology in crops production will impact positively on agricultural farming and nutritional quality including the protection of the environment.
They equally emphasized on importance of plant biotechnology as a tool for crop improvement, adding that “humans have been manipulating crops to enhance their quality and yield since the dawn of agriculture.  Today, over 800 million people face daily hunger, majority of the global population growth in the next 50 years will be in developing countries where malnutrition is already prevalent in-spite of good soil.”
These experts have also raised alarm that there is micro-nutrient deficiency in the country due to the unimproved methods employed by farmers. In this regard, they said it is important while cassava is fulfilling its food security and cash crop roles in the country, it should meet the nutrition security of the many poor people who are those that largely depend on the crop for their daily livelihood.
Stressing on biotechnology to improve cassava production and nutrient properties, the experts called on the government to enforce application of modern technologies in agriculture.
“Government needs a paradigm shift to adopt new technologies that will maximize the emerging opportunities for better nutrition. Micro-nutrient malnutrition is a condition that is rife in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Nigeria where an estimated 41 percent of children are stunted, 14 percent wasted and 25 percent underweight.  The phenomenon impairs growth and development and increases morbidity in vulnerable populations..
“In order to completely revolutionize and boost agriculture in the country and also sustain her position as a leading cassava producer in the world, experts at the institute have said that the country must also place premium in biotechnology in view of its vast potentials to multiply yields and nutrient capacity.
“The application of downstream agricultural biotechnology in the genetic improvement of root and tuber crops is needed especially in areas where the conventional methods are difficult or not practicable”, the experts said.