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Roots
and Tubers Expansion Programme
Population pressure on the land has significantly reduced soil fertility in many parts of the country. For poor farmers coping with declining soil fertility and crop yields, fertilizers are expensive and frequently unavailable, and shifting to cassava production is often the best option. Cassava grows better than yam in low fertility conditions. In the poorest communities roots and tubers make up a high proportion of the family diet. The long-term objective of the programme is to commercialize root and tuber production in order to improve the living conditions, income, food security and nutritional health of the poorest smallholder households in the programme area. It particularly targets small-scale farmers with less than 2 ha of land per household. The programme uses the existing extension service system to introduce improved varieties of roots and tubers as well as better cultivation techniques. Since women play a major role in cassava and other food crop production, processing and marketing, the programme encourages them to participate in research trials and demonstrations. Specific programme objectives include:
The programme has improved availability and access to new varieties of planting materials, and has also enhanced the processing and marketing of products. The programme introduces trade policies to expand the breadth of demand for root and tuber products, and cassava in particular. It will also help targeted communities purchase equipment for processing.
Source: IFAD |
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