At the presentation of the cassava varieties |
The
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in a bid to boost the
agricultural sector in Cameroon on food security has unveiled improved cassava
varieties.
IITA revealed
to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement
that five new improved cassava varieties were released to safeguard the lives
of millions of Cameroonians.
These varieties
namely with genotypes TMS 92/0326, TMS 96/1414, TMS 96/0023, TMS 92/0057, and
TMS 92/0067, according to IITA were developed through conventional breeding by
the institute and some other partners.
The improved
varieties would improve nutritional values through the provision of
caratenoids, iron and zinc as they have an estimated 20 tonnes to 35 tonnes per
hectare.
Programme
National de Development des Racines et Tubercules (PNDRT), the Institute of
Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), non-governmental organizations as well as local
farmers partnered IITA on this project.
According to
the IITA Director General, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, who was quoted as saying that
the varieties would help close the yield gaps while improving yield and
increasing farmers' revenue especially those that rely on cassava for livelihood.
"IITA will
continue to support farmers in Cameroon by offering improved varieties and
technologies that address the constraints to development in tropical
nations," the IITA boss said.
Cameroonian
Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Essimi Menye commended the efforts of IITA in
developing these varieties, adding that the new they would assist the nation to
take advantage of the opportunities of the crop which is one of the major staples
in Cameroon.
As said by IITA,
Cassava in Cameroon is either boiled and eaten, or processed into local
delicacies such as Mitumba, Baton de manioc, Beignets de manioc, gari, and Ndas
among others. Other use includes ethanol production, inclusion in bread
production ad glucose syrup production.
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