CBN-V Video Archives - S1-07
Concerns of Cassava as a Food Security and Industrial Crop, Enabling Rural Employment and Empowerment of Women in India

Edison S., M. Anantharaman and R.R. Nair

CTCRI, 695 017, Trivandrum, India director@ctcri.ren.nic.in

        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.

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