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CURRENT UPDATES
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About Cassava Network
Cassava (Manihot esculenta
Crantz) is a major staple crop in Africa, with great commercial and
industrial potential owing to the diversity of products that can be
derived from it. There is increasing demand for cassava for
both food and non-food uses associated with its superior productivity
relative to other crops and the needs of increasing populations.
Therefore, there is urgent need for strategies that can rapidly enhance
the genetic productivity of the crop and increase its adoption.
Clearly, such efforts are expected to match the increasing demand of
cassava in non-traditional cassava producing areas and more importantly to
balance the industrial and food demands that are expected to sharply
increase in the near future.
Cassava breeders from the National Research Programmes in the region have a vital role to play in the improvement of cassava; moreover, a forum that brings them together would certainly enhance the process. Such a forum will allow exchange and sharing of ideas, information, projects and other resources related to cassava improvement. For the start, operating at a regional level seems to be more practical; however, deliberations, activities and outputs may later expand to cover other regions. In part, it’s for these reasons that a Cassava Breeders’ Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (CBN-ESA) was formed.
The network held its inaugural meeting in Uganda, which was attended by National Cassava Breeders from six countries in the region, and representatives from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. The participants had two days of deliberations which resulted into development of a roadmap for the network. A website for the network has been developed where more details can be freely accessed. http://www.africancrops.net/cassavanetwork/index.htm
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