Cassava, introduced into India during the 19th century, has
established itself as an important industrial and food crop expanding to
an area of 2.6 I ha producing at 60 I T.Average productivity in India is about 24 t/ha with peaks of 37
t/ha reached in certain locations due to intensive production
technologies coupled with the availability of nearly a dozen varieties
of improved cultivars.These
factors have raised the importance of cassava in three major states in
South India, while gaining prominence in other parts of India.In times of food shortage due to inadequacy in supply or movement
of rice or wheat, cassava finds its role because of its nutritional
value besides carbohydrate.It
is a staple food for a large number of people living below the poverty
line.This includes
fisherman and tribal areas which do not have adequate access to rice and
easily accounts for nearly 23% of all Indians.Cassava is cultivated generally as an upland crop giving an yield
of approximately 22 t/ha compared to that under irrigation where the
yield level rises to 37 t/ha.Certain
biotic stresses like mosaic disease, tuber rot, leaf spot/blight and
abiotic stresses due to drought and salinity could depress yield levels
and thereby reduction profits.Nearly
5 I work rice force is employed in cassava based industries numbering
about 1000 in South India.The
availability of technologies show promise to improve yield levels and
the Indian experience is certainly a model for many other countries to
adapt.Proper marketing infrastructure, export promotion activity as
well as realization of new end-products and value addition show great
scope.It will also enhance
the role of rural women and their participatory role in decision making
and their empowerment in increasing productivity.The paper will discuss ways and means of achieving the goals of
increasing the productivity, profitability, sustainability and
adaptability of cassava technologies in the developing world.
