ABSTRACT
Cassava is one of the most productive crops in the globe and it is relatively drought-tolerant. The crop provides some yields even in periods of harsh environmental conditions. Prussic acid content in cassava hampers its utilization as food for man and as feed for livestock. Some cassava varieties have excellent qualities for consumers’ acceptance and little cyanide content. Sweet varieties are pounded and eaten by man; garri, a product of cassava, is a staple for most tropical African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. Cassava flour is utilized in making bread and cassava based infant food formulations. Terminal shoots of the crop are used as vegetable in soup. Starch which is an important industrial product derived from cassava is a major raw material for the production of glucose syrup. Adhesives, flour and ethanol are derived from cassava; chips and pellets which are obtained from cassava are valuable for livestock feeding. A significant contribution towards cassava utilization would be the provision of high yielding cassava varieties with low cyanide content made readily and cheaply available to farmers. |
Keywords: |
Cassava starch, Cyanide in foods, Hydrocyanic acid, Prussic acid, Utilization challenges |
