Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
58
3.3. Case Study 3: Cassava in Nigeria
Cassava is a high volume root crop, important across Africa. As a top producer, cassava is
Nigeria’s most important staple food, especially for smallholder farmers (DADTCO, 2012).
3.3.1. Status and Importance
Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world (FAO, 2005; Sanni et al, 2009). Current
production was estimated in 2010 to be 37.5 million metric tonnes with total area harvested at
3.13 million hectares for an average yield of 12 tonnes per hectare (FAOSTAT, 2012). By 2015
production was about 45 million tonnes per annum, a figure expected to double by 2020.
Although the world leader in cassava production, Nigeria is not an active participant in cassava
trade in the international markets as most cassava is targeted at the domestic food market.
3.3.2. Assessment of On-Farm Losses and Economic Burden
Cassava has a shelf-life that is generally expected to be of the order of 24–48 hours after harvest.
Two types of postharvest deterioration are recognized: primary physiological deterioration that
involves internal discoloration and is the initial cause of loss of market acceptability; and
secondary deterioration due to microbial spoilage. If harvested cassava roots cannot be
marketed within two or three days of harvest then they may be processed into dried products
of low quality, which have lower value (Westby et al., 2002). On-farm assessments at six cassava
farms in Ogun State provided the following data.
Table 3.6: On-Farm Assessments at Six Cassava Farms in Ogun State
Farm Farm Details Sorted
During
Harvest
Quality Sort by
Consultant
(Extreme
Defects or Decay)
Quality Sort by
Consultant
(Moderate
Defects or Decay)
Sorted for Size
(Discarded by
Trader at Farm
Gate
1 30 hectares
(15 farmers with 2 ha each)
Mainly cassava for ethanol
0% 5% 15% 1%
2 2.6 ha
Cassava, pepper, yam, melon
and Roselle
0% 5% 15% 1%
3 7.6 ha
Cassava for gari and fufu
1.5% 10% 10% 0.5%
4 25.5 ha
Cassava for high quality flour
0% 5% 15% 0%
5 2 ha
Cassava for gari and fufu
1% 5% 10% 0.5%
6 2.5 ha
Cassava for gari
1% 5% 10% Not sold
Range: 1-1.5% and 5-10%
Conservative Estimate of On-Farm Losses: 2-5%
Source: Site Visits and Interviews.