Kleih, Ulrich (1994) Feasibility study of cassava production and marketing in Zimbabwe. Technical Report. Natural Resources Institute, Chatham, UK.

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Abstract

This report presents the findings of three visits to Zimbabwe between June and October 1993 to identifiy potential industrial markets for cassava products and assess the feasibility of producing and processing the crop in communal areas. The study was initiated at the request of the Commonwealth Science Council (CSC, based in London), and the Biomass Users Network (BUN, based in Harare) during a workshop in Harare in May 1993 in which Dr Poulter and Dr Westby of NRI participated. The stockfeed industry was identified as the largest immediate market for cassava in Zimbabwe. Seasonal demand for beef fattening rations is highest between June and October which is when climatic conditions for sundrying of fresh roots are best in the country. The stockfeed industry offers about Z$500 per tonne of dried cassava. Demand from other industries such as starch manufacturing, flour processing, brewing and fuel production may only arise once a self-sustaining cassava economy producing considerable quantities of raw material is established. Table 1 summarizes the findings and gives details of size and particulars of each potential market. The net forex savings due to the utilisation of 20,000 tonnes of dry cassava in stockfeed is of the order of US$1.5 million. However, this amount of forex can only be saved if the demand from the feed industry can actually be met by corresponding Zimbabwean supply of roots. In the course of the Rapid Rural Appraisal exercise in communal areas of Masvingo, Mashonaland East and Manicaland Provinces, very little cassava was seen. Food security and cash were identified as the farmers' main motivations to engage in cassava production. Farmers would like to try out the crop on small plots before embarking on larger scale production (ie. on more than one acre). Drought resistance and the possibility of growing the crop on marginal soils are the main advantages of producing cassava. The main constraints to agricultural production are, besides low rainfall, lack of funds to purchase inputs and lack of draught power. Fencing is a particular necessity with regard to cassava since the crop requires protection against domestic and wild animals during the dry season when it would be the only green vegetation present.

Item Type:	Monograph (Technical Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cassava, production, marketing, Zimbabwe, processing, stockfeed, rapid rural appraisal, food security, agriculture, starch, flour, brewing, ethanol
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Food & Markets Department
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2019 12:24
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/12176

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