USAID/Nigeria: Economic Growth

Functional Objectives

Activity Name: Cassava Enterprise Development Project
Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Implementing Partners : International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Activity Start Date: June 9, 2004
Activity Completion Date: August 20, 2009
LOP Funding : $2,917,353

 

Background: The Cassava Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) is a $11.7 million, five year partnership between USAID/Nigeria, the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, Bayelsa State Government and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. USAID funding to the project is $2,917,353 while Shell Petroleum contributes $7.5 million. The aim of the project is to develop and strengthen the entire cassava value chain so that farmers and entrepreneurs participate to generate greater incomes. The activity which is particularly designed to benefit women provides improved cassava varieties that resist cassava mosaic disease; develops sustainable cassava processing technologies and identify commercial markets for value-added products form cassava. The Cassava Enterprise Development Project has three core components.

Key Components:The Cassava Enterprise Development Project has three components.

  • Reduce the impact of virulent cassava mosaic disease


    Virulent cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is a highly-destructive disease that originated in East Africa and can totally destroy the crop and today it poses a serious threat to farmers in the South East and South South geopolitical zones of Nigeria. CEDP will stem the disease through the widespread dissemination and adoption of high-yielding, disease-resistant cassava varieties.

  • Increase cassava productivity


    There is a wide gap between potential yield (over 40 MT/ha) and average yields of below 12 MT/ha in the farmers' field. Low yields are due to poor agronomic practices, low soil fertility, and poor input delivery mechanisms. CEDP will increase productivity through the generation, promotion and adoption of demand-driven, sustainable and competitive cassava production technologies.

  • Develop and expand post-harvest processing and marketing outlets for cassava products


    The potential of post-production processing to add value to cassava and increase incomes is enormous. CEDP will strengthen small and medium processors and enterprises and facilitate their access to post harvest processing technologies, credit, information, and domestic markets. Significant potentials exist in livestock feed, ethanol, starch and other industries, both small and large scale.

  • Anticipated Results
    • Reduced incidence of Cassava Mosaic Disease.
    ( To release of at least 3 CMD resistant cassava varieties and 300, 000 farmers adopting CMD resistant varieties)
    • Increase Productivity of cassava from 9.8 to 24 MT/hectare
    ( To assist the development 100, 000 hectares of cassava under Sustainable management)
    • Increased value-added cassava products
    ( To assist the establishment of 1,000 processing enterprises and generation of 560, 000 MT of value-added cassava products)
    • Increased employment in assisted enterprises (Create 3000 new jobs)
    • Increased income of assisted clients (Generate $34 million sales from cassava and improved cassava products from assisted entrepreneurs)

    Last Updated on: March 05, 2009