Achieving sustainable cultivation of cassava Volume 1

Originating in South America, cassava is now grown in over 100 countries around the world. It is the third most important source of calories in the tropics after rice and maize. Its caloric value, as well as its ability to tolerate dry conditions and poor soils, makes it a key food security crop in developing countries, particularly in Africa. As demand for food grows, there is an urgent need to increase yields in the face of such challenges as climate change, threats from pests and diseases and the need to make cultivation more resource-efficient and sustainable.

Drawing on an international range of expertise, this collection focuses on ways of improving the cultivation of cassava at each step in the value chain, from breeding to post-harvest storage. Volume 1 starts by reviewing current issues facing cassava cultivation around the world before discussing methods for sustainable intensification such as rotations, intercropping and more efficient nutrient management.

Achieving sustainable cultivation of cassava Volume 1: Cultivation techniques will be a standard reference for agricultural scientists in universities, government and other research centres and companies involved in improving cassava cultivation. It is accompanied by Volume 2 which reviews breeding, pests and diseases.

"The result is a beautiful book with a lot of useful and updated information. I am sure it will be in great demand, and hopefully will help in the further improvement of cassava yields, especially in Africa where it is such an important food crop."
Dr Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT Emeritus; author in: Achieving sustainable cultivation of cassava Volume 1

Originating in South America, cassava is now grown in over 100 countries around the world. It is the third most important source of calories in the tropics after rice and maize. Its caloric value, as well as its ability to tolerate dry conditions and poor soils, makes it a key food security crop in developing countries, particularly in Africa. As demand for food grows, there is an urgent need to increase yields in the face of such challenges as climate change, threats from pests and diseases and the need to make cultivation more resource-efficient and sustainable.

Drawing on an international range of expertise, this collection focuses on ways of improving the cultivation of cassava at each step in the value chain, from breeding to post-harvest storage. Volume 1 starts by reviewing current issues facing cassava cultivation around the world before discussing methods for sustainable intensification such as rotations, intercropping and more efficient nutrient management.

Achieving sustainable cultivation of cassava Volume 1: Cultivation techniques will be a standard reference for agricultural scientists in universities, government and other research centres and companies involved in improving cassava cultivation. It is accompanied by Volume 2 which reviews breeding, pests and diseases.

Part 1 The cassava plant and its uses
1.The emergence of cassava as a global crop: Doyle McKey, University of Montpellier, France and Marc Delêtre, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland;
2.Use and nutritional value of cassava roots and leaves as a traditional food: Aurélie Bechoff, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK;
3.Cassava for industrial uses: Kuakoon Piyachomkwan and Sittichoke Wanlapatit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand; and Klanarong Sriroth, Kasetsart University, Thailand;
4.New uses and processes for cassava: Keith Tomlins and Ben Bennett, Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, UK;

Part 2 Current cassava cultivation and opportunities for improvement
5.Cassava cultivation in Asia: Tin Maung Aye, CIAT, Vietnam;
6.Cassava cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa: Dunstan S. C. Spencer, Enterprise Development Services Ltd, Sierra Leone; and Chuma Ezedinma, UNIDO, Nigeria;
7.Cassava cultivation in Latin America: Olivier F. Vilpoux, Denilson de Oliveira Guilherme and Marney Pascoli Cereda, Catholic University of Campo Grande, Brazil;
8.Drivers of change for cassava’s multiple roles in sustainable development: Clair H. Hershey, formerly CIAT, Colombia;
9.Targeting smallholder farmers to adopt improved cassava technologies: challenges and opportunities: Kolawole Adebayo, Federal University of Agriculture, Nigeria;
10.GCP21: a global cassava partnership for the 21st century: Claude M. Fauquet and Joe Tohme, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia;

Part 3 Sustainable intensification of cassava cultivation
11.Integrated crop management for cassava cultivation in Asia: Tin Maung Aye, CIAT, Vietnam; and Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT Emeritus - formerly CIAT, Thailand;
12.Seed systems management in cassava cultivation: James George and Sarojini Amma Sunitha, ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, India;
13.Cassava cultivation and soil productivity: Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT Emeritus - formerly CIAT, Thailand;
14.Addressing nutritional disorders in cassava cultivation: Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT Emeritus - formerly CIAT, Thailand;
15.Nutrient sources and their application in cassava cultivation: Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT Emeritus - formerly CIAT, Thailand;
16.Intercropping and crop rotations in cassava cultivation: a production systems approach: Thomas W. Kuyper, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; and Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ghana;
17.Value chain approaches to mechanization in cassava cultivation and harvesting in Africa: George Marechera and Grace Muinga, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Kenya;