Nigeria is the largest cassava producer in the world, averaging an annual production of about 35 million metric tons over the last five years. About one-third of the total national output comes from the Niger Delta region where cassava production, processing, and marketing are widespread activities involving small, medium and large-scale producers and processors. Over 80% of the rural poor in this region depend on cassava as a main source of food, income, and employment. Cassava therefore has tremendous potential to improve the lives of low-income, rural farmers, processors, and their families and increase food security within the region.

PIND conducted a value chain analysis of the cassava sector in the Niger Delta region which identified a number of systemic constraints inhibiting growth in the sector. These constraints ranged from weak linkages between market actors which delay harvested cassava from reaching processors within an adequate time before spoiling to insufficient input supply and weak cassava farm extension services. Lack of farmers’ access to credit for operating and expanding enterprises, low efficiency of cassava processing equipment and lack of commercial orientation of farmers and processors were also identified as inhibiting factors. To address these systemic constraints and develop a more competitive and sustainable cassava value chain, PIND initiated the Cassava Value Chain Project.