Equipment for feed production: Cassava Peels for Animal Feed Production

Affordable animal feed for breeders

This technology is a simple equipment to mechanize the conversion of cassava peels into animal feed, offering several advantages, including reduced labor costs, shorter drying times, and extended shelf life for the feed products. This innovation addresses the issue of environmental hazards caused by the large quantities of cassava peels generated during cassava root processing in many African communities. Cassava peels have the potential to serve as an excellent source of animal feed and fiber, providing a sustainable solution to the problem of underutilized peels.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

It can increase their income by engaging in cassava peel processing and selling value-added feed products.

The poor: Positive high

Smallholder farmers and those from low-income backgrounds can benefit from cheaper, nutritious animal feed, improving their livestock productivity and overall food security.

Under 18: Positive low

Youth can benefit from job creation in rural areas as the technology introduces new business opportunities in cassava peel processing.

Women: Positive high

The mechanized equipment reduces the physical labor required for processing, which can improve working conditions and reduce the time women spend on manual tasks.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The efficient use of cassava peels reduces the need for additional feed resources, which can help adapt to climate-related fluctuations in feed availability.

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

The technology promotes sustainable waste management practices, contributing to overall climate readiness by encouraging the use of local resources.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Improved animal feed quality can support healthier livestock, which may indirectly benefit local biodiversity by promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

Mechanized processing reduces the need for open burning of cassava peels, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste disposal.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

The technology helps prevent pollution from cassava peel waste, which can otherwise contribute to environmental degradation and health hazards.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Processed peels can potentially be used as organic matter or compost, improving soil quality and fertility.

Water use: A bit less water used

The technology reduces water usage by improving drying processes, which can help conserve water resources in regions with limited water availability.

Problem

Environmental Hazards: Processing cassava roots into food or starch products generates large quantities of peels, which are often disposed of through uncontrolled dumping and burning, creating environmental problems.
Underutilization of Cassava Peels: Cassava peels have the potential to serve as an excellent source of animal feed and fiber for livestock and fish but are generally not marketed at their full potential due to drying constraints, possible aflatoxin contamination, and poor storability of traditional feed products.
Limited Access to Nutritious Animal Feeds: Scarcity of nutritious animal feeds in many African communities, leading to challenges in livestock and fish rearing.

Solution

Mechanized Processing: The technology is an equipment to mechanize the conversion of cassava peels into animal feeds, reducing labor costs, shortening drying times, and extending shelf life.
Safe and Hygienic Animal Feed: Mechanized processing ensures that harmful substances like cyanides and aflatoxins do not accumulate in the final wet cake or dry mash product, safeguarding the health of animals and consumers in the food chain.
Job Creation and Business Development: Scaling up mechanized processing of cassava peels presents opportunities for job creation and business development in rural parts of Africa, benefiting local communities.
Access to Affordable Animal Feeds: Utilizing cassava peels as animal feed ingredients provides an affordable and high-quality alternative to more expensive feed sources like maize and wheat, addressing the issue of limited access to nutritious animal feeds.

Key points to design your project

The use of cassava peels for animal feed production promotes gender empowerment by providing income-generating opportunities for women in rural areas. The practice reduces climate impacts by minimizing waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with cassava disposal. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals related to sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).

To successfully incorporate the cassava peels for animal feed production technology into your project, the following activities and requirements should be considered:

Raising awareness of the benefits of producing animal feed from cassava peel waste
Identification of suitable equipment for cassava processing and livestock farming
Tailored operating protocols for processing cassava peel animal feed products
Inventory cassava peel sources at local and district levels to provide information on available volumes for processing facilities.

A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the promotion of the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

In tandem with this technology, accompanying solutions include:

Mechanized drying of cassava using flash dryers (or pneumatic dryers)

3,400 USD

The base equipment required for small-scale processing of cassava peels into animal feeds

1,000 USD

Cost of a motorized grater

600 USD

Cost of a press with hydraulic jack

850 USD

Cost of a motorized pulverize

400 USD

Cost of a mechanical sieve

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

The technology creates new economic opportunities and income streams for smallholder farmers and rural communities by turning waste into valuable animal feed.

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Reduces the risk of harmful substances (e.g., aflatoxins and cyanides) in animal feed, promoting healthier livestock and safer food products.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Generates employment opportunities and promotes local business development in rural areas, contributing to economic growth and job creation.

Goal 13: climate action

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by preventing open burning of peels and optimizing resource use, contributing to climate mitigation efforts.

Goal 2: zero hunger

By producing nutritious animal feed, the technology enhances food security and livestock productivity, contributing to better food availability and quality.

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Efficiently processes cassava peels, turning agricultural waste into valuable products and promoting sustainable resource use and waste management.

Preparing Cassava Peels: Ensure that cassava peels are free from remnants of soil to protect the grater and prevent spoilage of feed products.
Grating Cassava Peels: Grate the hardy peels up to three times to reduce particle size. Pack the grated peels into sacks for further processing.
Dewatering and Fermentation: Place the sacks containing grated peels in a hydraulic press for dewatering. Leave the resultant wet cake in the sacks overnight for fermentation, allowing hydroden cyanides in the product to break down.
Further Particle Size Reduction: Grate the wet cakes for up to three times to achieve finer particle sizes. Sieve the grated material to separate fine and coarse fractions.
Drying the Mashes: Spread the mashes thinly over clean plastic, metal sheeting, or a cement slab for drying in direct sunlight. Stir the materials at hourly intervals during the drying process. Alternatively, use a roaster for drying if necessary.
Maintain Hygiene: Ensure all machines and processing areas are kept in hygienic conditions after each run to prevent fungal contamination.
Waste Water Disposal: Dispose of process waste water through seepage tanks to prevent pollutants from entering surface waters.