The workshop on "Processing and utilization of cassava by smallscale farmers in Africa" was organized jointly by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, at IITA from 8 to 11 March 1988. The workshop was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Its main objective was to explore avenues for utilizing cassava and its by-products as livestock feed in Africa.
The workshop was well-attended by animal scientists, agronomists, and feedmill managers who all exchanged views on the subject and shared their experiences, particularly on the use of cassava for feeding animals in Africa.
At the meetings, workshop participants centered their technical contributions and discussions on the following themes:
· Roles of cassava in African farming and food systems
· Processing cassava for human food and livestock feed
· Utilization of cassava as food and livestock feed
· Potentials and impacts of cassava improvement
· Development and implementation of future strategies for improved cassava processing and utilization, particularly as livestock feeds in Africa.
Following the presentation of the technical papers, three special working groups were set up to find out the limitations and potentials of cassava use in livestock feeds, to examine existing technologies for processing and utilization of cassava for livestock feeds in Africa and identify research gaps, and to formulate future research strategies and action plans.
It is hoped that the publication of the contributions of the workshop participants will increase awareness of the public and private sectors about the limitations and potentials of cassava as livestock feed in Africa, and also encourage wide interest and further research efforts in the development of improved processing technologies for utilization of cassava in livestock feeds on the continent.
S. K. Hahn
Director Emeritus
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Ibadan, Nigeria
