FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Commercialization of Cassava for Increased Food Security Indicative Trends and Patterns towards Commercialisation

Executive Summary 1. Maize has been the recognised staple food for most Zambians in rural and urban areas. Food security policies and strategies in Zambia have therefore, remained highly biased towards maize. The danger of over-depending on maize is that its production is expensive and reliance on it alone narrows the food base, and also makes the national food security system vulnerable to droughts. Maize needs a companion staple and at the moment, the only cost-effective candidate is cassava. Western Africa as well as other tropical countries show that when properly promoted and its preparation improved, cassava can be a reliable staple food. In Congo D.R., cassava represents 70% of people's daily calorie intake. 3. In Zambia, trends show a declining pattern of cereal (maize, rice, wheat and sorghum/millet) production per capita in recent years. In contrast, production of starchy (sweet potato and cassava) roots production has been rising. 4. Over 30% of Zambians depend on it as staple food. Its importance is dwarfed by lack of official statistics. Insecurity related to maize production has also driven most farmers back to cassava. Consumer habits and rising cost of living in urban areas are also driving the change in favour of traditional foods. A prolonged and sustained increase in cassava production can only be achieved with better market opportunities created by increased demand in urban markets through domestic and industrial use. Cassava is also a dependable staple in areas where it is grown. Cases of acute food insecurity even during drought years are rare in cassava growing areas of northern Zambia. In contrast, maize growing areas show a high sensitivity to drought and factor prices. 5. Some people urgue that cassava is an inferior crop. It might seem so at face value. However, the basic rule of good nutrition is for a balanced diet. Any food, including cereals, consumed on its own is inadequate for optimum human nutrition. Cassava is deficient in some nutrients but is quite rich in others especially energy. Cassava flour is a cheap source of energy comparable to maize and rice since its production cost is lower. The cassava leaf is richer in protein and energy than rape, a commonly accepted urban vegetable. Cassava indeed has some toxic cynogenic glucoside substances but these can be removed through careful processing and use of sweet varieties. 6. Zambia is in the process of preparing a Firth National Development Plan …