pharvest01

Uses of Cassava

Cassava is known by various names in Nigeria. To mention a few, the plant is called akpu by Igbos’, ege by Yorubas’, igari by Ikas’, rogo by Hausas’, ijiakpu by Olukwumis’, midaka by Urohbos’, iwa by Anags’/Ibibios’, okponkoro by Ijaws’, and bobozi by Ishans’.

Nutritionally, cassava contains potassium, iron, calcium, vitamin A, folic acid, sodium, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and protein.

Cassava is applicable in many types of products such as food, confectionery, sweeteners, glues, plywood, textiles, paper, biodegradable products, monosodium glutamate, and drugs. Cassava chips and pellets are used in animal feed and alcohol production.

Cassava utilisation

Gari

Fufu flour

High quality cassava flour

Postharvest equipment

Peelers

Washers

Graters

Pressers

Extruders

Millers

Dryers

Pelletizer

Sealers

Packaging materials

Ethanol
Cassava chips are an alternative source of raw material for producing liquor as well as medical and industrial alcohol.

Livestock feed
Cassava roots can be processed into chips and pellets which can be used in compounding animal feed for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, and farmed fish. The cassava leaves are also a good source of feed for livestock.

Food
Cassava is used widely in Nigeria as food. It is mostly consumed in the form of gari, fufu, tapioca, starch, kpokpogari, and lafun. In the northern part of the country it is eaten raw as a snack. Cassava flour is majorly used in bakery products and cassava starch can be used as a general thickening agent. Modified cassava starch or starch derivatives have been applied for thickening, binding, texturing and stabilizing a range of food products such as canned foods, frozen foods, salad dressings, sauces, and infant foods.

Confectionery
Modified cassava starch or starch derivatives are used in confectionery for different purposes such as thickening and glazing. Cassava starches are widely used in swests such as jellys and gums.

Monosodium glutamate
Cassava starch is a common source for making monosodium glutamate in Asia. It is used to enhance flavor in food, e.g., Ajinomoto.

Sweetener
Glucose and fructose made from cassava starch are used as substitutes for sucrose in jams and canned fruits. Cassava-based sweeteners are preferred in beverage formulations for their improved processing characteristics and product enhancing properties.

Pharmacy
Native and modified cassava starches are used as binders, fillers, and disintegrating agents for tablet production.

Glue
Cassava starch is a very important raw material in making glue. Cassava starch–based dextrates are excellent adhesives and are used in many applications including pre-gummed papers, tapes, labels, stamps, and envelopes.

Biodegradable products
Cassava starch can be used as a biodegradable polymer to replace plastics in packaging materials.

Plywood
Glue made from cassava starch is a key material in plywood manufacturing. The quality of plywood depends heavily on the glue that is used.

Paper
Modified cassava starch is used in the wet stage of paper making to flocculate the pulp, improving run rate and reducing pulp loss. Native and modified cassava starches are also used in the coding and sizing of paper, improving the strength, binding codings to the paper, and controlling ink consumption to improve print quality.

Textile
Cassava starch is used in three stages of textile processing: to size the yarn to stiffen and protect it during weaving, to improve color consistency during printing, and to make the fabric durable and shining at finishing.

Fair use of the material on this website is encouraged. Short excerpts of text may be quoted provided that the source is acknowledged; however, for permission to use substantial quantities of text, or images, please contact iita-icp@cgiar.org. ICP is implemented by IITA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD), and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and States in southern Nigeria. © 2005 IITA.