Daniel Danino is the CEO and founder of Volta Metals, an international group focused on energy, industry and trading in EMEA.
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Africa is a continent rich in natural resources, including fertile soil and abundant water sources. However, despite its potential for agriculture, many African countries still struggle with food insecurity, poverty and malnutrition. To address these challenges, the continent must focus on developing sustainable and efficient agricultural practices that can help feed its growing population and provide economic opportunities for farmers.
One crop that has the potential to play a major role in Africa's agricultural future is cassava. Cassava, also known as yuca or manioc, is a staple food in many African countries.
How Cassava Can Impact African Agriculture
The heavy reliance on wheat flour imports in Africa has had a major impact on the trade-balance deficit, with the importation of Western customs of wheat bread consumption weighing heavily on African economies. In recent years, the importation of wheat into African countries has significantly impacted the GDP of the countries on the continent.
By investing in cassava, African countries can reduce their dependence on imported wheat flour, improve food security and support economic growth. Cassava is a hardy crop that is capable of growing in harsh conditions and can be used to produce a wide range of products, including flour, ethanol and animal feed. Cassava is also a major source of carbohydrates and provides important nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. With the right growing conditions, cassava can produce up to 50 tonnes of fresh roots per hectare, making it one of the most productive crops in the world.
Despite its potential, cassava has often been overlooked as a crop for commercial production. However, with the global demand for food increasing, the potential for cassava to contribute to Africa's agricultural growth is becoming increasingly apparent.
How To Transform Cassava Production
Despite the many benefits of cassava, there is still much that is not known about the crop, including the best ways to grow and process it.
Investing further in research and development could help farmers to grow the crop more effectively while also helping to improve the quality and safety of cassava products. Some areas of research and development that could benefit cassava production include breeding and genetics, agronomy and crop management, processing and value addition, post-harvest management and climate change adaptation.
Another area where investment is needed is in improving the infrastructure for cassava production and processing. This includes building roads and storage facilities as well as developing processing plants and distribution networks. Improving infrastructure could help farmers get their products to market more efficiently and increase their income while improving food security in the region.
A Cassava Investment Strategy For Africa
Investments in cassava will involve a diverse set of stakeholders who play different roles in the cassava value chain, including farmers, processors, traders and marketers, researchers and scientists, policymakers and consumers.
That said, there are still several challenges that can impede the growth and sustainability of the cassava sector. To solve these issues, the stakeholders mentioned above will need to focus on:
1. Developing new products.
2. Supporting processing and marketing infrastructure.
3. Providing training and technical assistance to farmers.
4. Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.
5. Creating markets for cassava products.
In short, cassava has the potential to play a critical role in Africa's future, providing food security, economic benefits and opportunities for value addition and industrialization. However, addressing the challenges that currently limit cassava productivity will be key to realizing its potential and ensuring that cassava can meet the growing demand for food and economic opportunities in Africa.
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