Vitamin A enhanced cassavas save Nigeria
"But more than economic savings, it will also improve the nutrition of women and children who are the most vulnerable," said Sanginga at the public presentation of pro-vitamin A varieties by the Nigerian government in Umudike last weekend.
Sanginga commended the Nigerian government for taking the lead in bio-fortification with the release of the cassava varieties to farmers.
He called upon partners of the cassava project and the private sector to work together to ensure that relevant varities of cassava are given to resource poor farmers.
"Today we have varieties that have beta-carotene that could help tackle vitamin A deficiency; what is needed now is to get these varieties to farmers with the support of all stakeholders," he said.
"Annually, Nigeria loses over $1.5 billion in GDP to vitamin and mineral deficiencies as many staple foods are low in essential micronutrients," he added.
On December 7, 2011, the Nigerian government announced the release of the pro-vitamin A cassava varieties, developed by IITA in partnership with the National Roots Crops Research Institute, Umudike (NRCRI), the project was funded by Harvestplus.
The vitamin A cassava varieties are named by the National Variety Release Committee of Nigeria as UMUCASS 36, UMUCASS 37, and UMUCASS 38, and are recognised as IITA genotypes TMS 01/1368, TMS 01/1412, and TMS 01/1371.
Drs. Peter Kulakow of IITA and Chigozie Egesie of NRCRI said the development of the varieties was a major breakthrough that would change the nutritional status of people living on cassava-based food.
Source: www.thisdaylive.com
