SHOULD CASSAVA BE DEPLOYED MORE FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND LESS FOR INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATIONS?

SHOULD CASSAVA BE DEPLOYED MORE FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND LESS FOR INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATIONS?

Should using cassava in manufacturing of bio-ethanol, oilfield drilling starch, adhesives, emulsion paints, soaps and other non-food products be considered a waste of resources, misplaced priority or a smart approach to industrialization?

There are reasonable arguments on both sides, particularly in a country like Nigeria, where cassava has remained a major staple for generations.

For millions of households, cassava is a strong pillar for food security. Therefore, concerns about diverting fresh tubers from food production utilizations are understandable. Industrial demand that contributes to food shortages, raises consumer prices or makes essential staples less affordable deserves scrutiny. No industrial ambition should undermine access to food.

However, does this mean that cassava must remain predominantly a food crop, even when its derivatives can serve as valuable raw materials for other industries?

Consider Thailand and China, where cassava has developed beyond its traditional food applications. Thailand has built a substantial cassava industry around dried chips, native starch and modified starch, supplying food, animal feed, ethanol and other industrial markets, including export markets.

In same manner, China has developed large cassava-processing and starch-consuming industries, including applications in bio-ethanol production and other high-value utilizations. These experiences demonstrate the possibilities of connecting agricultural production to diversified industrial demand.

Their circumstances are not identical to Nigeria's. Differences in agricultural productivity, processing infrastructure, industrial demand, trade patterns and food consumption matter. Nevertheless, one important lesson is that cassava's economic value can extend far beyond the dinner table.

Why should Nigerian manufacturers continue to depend on imported industrial starch when locally produced cassava could be utilized for starch production? Why should cassava starch processors struggle with weak demand while usage opportunities exist in adhesives, oilfield drilling fluids, paints, detergents and other suitable manufacturing applications? Why should farmers bear the consequences of market gluts when additional industrial outlets could help absorb surplus production?

Yet we must distinguish industrial potential from commercial reality. The fact that cassava starch can perform a particular function does not automatically make it the cheapest or most efficient option. Each application must meet technical specifications and demonstrate commercial viability. Cassava utilization in bio-ethanol production, for instance, must be assessed on feedstock costs, technical viability, and commercial sensibilities, same way for cassava starch used in drilling fluids, adhesives or paint formulation.

The most sensible position for Nigeria lies between the extremes. We should neither discourage industrial applications simply because cassava is a staple nor promote industrialization without considering its consequences for food affordability and availability. The priority should be to develop a balanced cassava economy in which food markets remain adequately supplied while competitive downstream industries create additional demand.

While also protecting the food security interest of our dear nation, government and industry associations also have roles to play in identifying viable cassava detectives' applications, supporting product development, encouraging local sourcing, and addressing the technical and commercial barriers that prevent local manufacturers from adopting locally produced derivatives.

Yes, cassava can remain a pillar of Nigeria's food security, but its industrial potential should not be sacrificed to tradition. We must protect its role on the dinner table while also unlocking its value across factories in Nigeria and beyond.