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Cassava Commercialization in Southeastern Africa

Haggblade, Steven ; Andersson Djurfeldt, Agnes LU ; Banda Nyirenda, Drinah ; Bergman-Lodin, Johanna LU ; Brimer, Leon ; Chiona, Martin ; Chitundu, Maureen ; Chiwona Karltun, Linley ; Cuambe, Constantino and Dolislager, Michael , et al. (2012) In Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies 2(1). p.4-40
Abstract
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... (More)
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. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies
volume
2
issue
1
pages
4 - 40
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:84872269597
ISSN
2044-0839
DOI
10.1108/20440831211219219
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c379b19c-44c8-4823-bc4f-5eca260c1b3c (old id 2430646)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:45:46
date last changed
2022-04-21 23:26:45
@article{c379b19c-44c8-4823-bc4f-5eca260c1b3c,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Haggblade, Steven and Andersson Djurfeldt, Agnes and Banda Nyirenda, Drinah and Bergman-Lodin, Johanna and Brimer, Leon and Chiona, Martin and Chitundu, Maureen and Chiwona Karltun, Linley and Cuambe, Constantino and Dolislager, Michael and Donovan, Cynthia and Droppelmann, Klaus and Jirström, Magnus and Kambewa, Emma and Kambewa, Patrick and Meso Mahungu, Nzola and Mkumbira, Jonathan and Mudema, João and Nielson, Hunter and Nyembe, Mishek and Salegua, Venâncio Alexandre and Tomo, Alda and Weber, Michael}},
  issn         = {{2044-0839}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{4--40}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies}},
  title        = {{Cassava Commercialization in Southeastern Africa}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/20440831211219219}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/20440831211219219}},
  volume       = {{2}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}