Cassava commercialization in Southeastern Africa

Cassava commercialization in Southeastern Africa

Purpose - Cassava production surged noticeably in Southeastern Africa beginning in the 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to examine the commercial responses and food security consequences of cassava production growth in the region. Design/methodology/approach - The paper incorporates a mix of quan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agribusiness in developing and emerging economies Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 4
Main Authors: Haggblade, Steven, Agnes Andersson Djurfeldt, Drinah Banda Nyirenda, Johanna Bergman Lodin, Brimer, Leon, Chiona, Martin, Chitundu, Maureen, Linley Chiwona-Karltun, Cuambe, Constantino, Dolislager, Michael, Donovan, Cynthia, Droppelmann, Klaus, Jirström, Magnus
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Bingley Emerald Group Publishing Limited 01-01-2012
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agricultural Science
Agriculture
Biofuels
Calendars
Calories
Cassava
Climatic zones
Commercialization
Corn
Crop diseases
Drought
Economics
Estimates
Famine
Field study
Food safety
Food Science
Food security
Harvest
Households
Industrial products
Jordbruksvetenskap
Livsmedelsvetenskap
Marketing
Nationalekonomi
Prepared foods
Productivity
Quantitative analysis
Studies
Teams
Value chain
Zambia
Mozambique
Malawi
Southern Africa
Africa
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Summary:Purpose - Cassava production surged noticeably in Southeastern Africa beginning in the 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to examine the commercial responses and food security consequences of cassava production growth in the region. Design/methodology/approach - The paper incorporates a mix of quantitative analysis, based primarily on original analysis of national farm household survey data, together with key informant interviews with value chain participants in the three neighboring countries of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Findings - In the cassava production zones, cassava's high productivity translates into per kilogram carbohydrate costs 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the cost of cereals such as maize and wheat, thereby opening up a range of profitable opportunities for commercialization of cassava-based foods, feeds and industrial products. Despite this potential, cassava commercialization in Southeastern Africa remains in its formative stages, with only 10 per cent to 30 per cent of production currently marketed. Unlike West Africa, where cassava commercialization has centered on marketing prepared cassava-based convenience foods, the emerging cassava markets in Southeastern Africa have centered on fresh cassava, low value-added cassava flour, and experiments in industrial processing of cassava-based starches, biofuels and feeds. Strategic investment in a set of key public goods (breeding, training in food sciences and food safety, and research on in-ground cassava storage) can help to shape this transition in ways that benefit both commercial interests and the food security of vulnerable households. Originality/value - The paper compares cassava commercialization across differing agro-climatic zones, policy environments and food staple zones.
ISSN:2044-0839
2044-0847
2044-0847
DOI:10.1108/20440831211219219