Cassava varieties with high dry matter and starch content

Enhancing cassava yields and quality for greater food security in Africa.

Cassava varieties with higher dry matter and starch content in their roots, significantly impacting their value for farmers. This addresses the limited availability of suitable varieties in Sub-Saharan Africa, leading to better economic yields and increased food security. Through selective breeding and resistance to pests and diseases, we've created cassava with 40% to 45% dry matter and 80% to 95% starch. These improved roots can be used fresh or processed into high-quality flour or starch, serving as crucial ingredients in various industries. This technology not only benefits small-scale farmers but also provides a cost-effective source of essential ingredients for commercial agri-businesses.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 8/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: Positive medium

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive high

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: No impact on biodiversity

Soil quality: Does not affect soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Low Dry Matter and Starch Content: Traditional cassava varieties often have low dry matter and starch content, reducing their economic value and utility in food and industrial applications.
Limited Variety Options: Farmers have limited access to high-quality cassava varieties, which restricts their ability to improve crop yields and quality.
Poor Economic Yields: Due to the low quality of roots, farmers struggle to achieve higher economic returns from their cassava crops.
Food Security Issues: Low yields and poor-quality crops contribute to food insecurity in many regions.

Solution

Higher Dry Matter and Starch Content: Improves root quality for fresh consumption and industrial processing. Ideal for producing flour, starch, and other industrial products, supporting local agri-businesses.
Increased Economic Yields: Better quality and higher yield of cassava roots lead to higher economic returns for farmers.
Adaptability: Bred to be resistant to pests, diseases, and adverse growing conditions, making them suitable for various environments.
Food Security Improvement: Provides more nutritious and higher-yielding crops, contributing to food security.

Key points to design your program

A Solution for Cassava Cultivation

This technology addresses key challenges in cassava farming, such as low root quality, poor yields, and susceptibility to pests and diseases. Improved cassava varieties with high dry matter and starch content are tailored for both fresh consumption and industrial processing. These varieties are ideal for producing high-quality starch, flour, and ethanol, offering a significant advantage for farmers and processors.

In Nigeria, where cassava is a major staple, these varieties have demonstrated higher productivity and market value, helping farmers achieve better economic returns. Their resistance to cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease ensures reliable yields even in areas affected by these prevalent challenges.

This technology supports several Sustainable Development Goals SDG 2 by increasing root quality and yields, it enhances food security and supports industrial value chains; SDG 5 women, who are often key players in cassava processing, benefit from improved income opportunities; SDG 13 the varieties’ natural resistance to pests and diseases reduces the need for chemical inputs, promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

This technology is an integral component of the Cassava Toolkit, working in synergy with complementary innovations to boost productivity and resilience. Key technologies that complement the use of cassava varieties with high dry matter and starch content include Mobile Cassava Processing Plant that provides on-site processing of cassava into various products, reducing post-harvest losses and transportation costs.

The technology has been introduced in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda under the Enabling Sustainable Regional Agricultural Extension (ENSURE) project funded by AfDB.

35 ton/ha

potential yield

40 - 45 %

dry mater content

80 - 95 %

starch content

IP

Plant variety protection

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 8 out of 9

Uncontrolled environment: tested

Level of use 8 out of 9

Used by some intended users, in the real world

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Enabling Environments for Sustainable Regional Agriculture Extension (ENSURE)

Project funder: African Development Bank & East Africa Community
Planned Budget: USD 13.14 million
Location: East African Community (Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda)
Planned duration: 2024–2027
Deployment means: On-farm demonstrations, training, digital tools (SMS, IVR, video, radio, pictorial guides), bundled inputs + advisory services, Training of Trainers (ToT)
Project main implementer: East African Community (EAC)
Project Description: Strengthen agricultural extension systems using digital tools, private-sector approaches, regional coordination, and multi-commodity focus (maize, cassava, rice, drought-resilient crops).
Objective: Promote regional extension, enhance advisory services, scale climate-smart technologies, build sustainable private sector–led extension systems, strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks.
Expected outcome: Increased adoption of improved technologies, improved farmer productivity and profitability, enhanced access to quality inputs and pest management solutions, strengthened resilience to climate and pest risks, regional market integration, job creation for youth and agripreneurs.
Figures of adoption: Target 3 million farmers reached over 4 years, digital extension pilots in 7 EAC states, training of extension agents, lead farmers, cooperatives, and youth agripreneurs, rollout of Pest Information Management Systems (PIMS).
Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers, women, youth agripreneurs, cooperatives and producer organizations, public and private extension agents, National Plant Protection Officers (NPPOs).
Lessons learnt: System-level approaches needed beyond technology delivery, digital tools most effective with in-person facilitation, supportive policy/regulatory environment critical, regional harmonization boosts scalability and cross-border diffusion of technologies.

Projet d’Appui au Développement des Chaînes de Valeurs en soutien au Programme de Transformation de l’Agriculture (PADCV-PTA)

Project funder: African Development Bank
Planned Budget: USD 311.609 million
Location: 6 provinces in Congo (Kongo Central, Kwango, Maï-Ndombe, Kasaï Oriental, Lomami, Sud-Kivu)
Planned duration: 2024–2029
Deployment means: Direct access to improved seeds and planting materials, seed system strengthening (INERA, SENASEM, multipliers), Farmer Field Schools and demonstration plots (1,600 sites), strengthened public extension (SNV), training/capacity building, subsidized or cost-shared inputs and equipment, irrigation infrastructure (5,200 ha), rural road rehabilitation (600 km), contract farming and private sector partnerships
Project main implementer: Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Project Description: Implements the National Pact for Food and Agriculture (PNAA) using an integrated value chain approach combining technology access (seeds, practices), infrastructure development (irrigation, roads), extension services, farmer organization, finance, and market access to boost productivity, reduce imports, strengthen resilience, and structure agricultural value chains.
Objective: Restore national seed capital, scale improved and climate-resilient technologies, increase productivity, facilitate access to inputs/advisory/markets/finance, promote climate-smart agriculture, strengthen farmer organizations and value chain governance, reduce food imports, and enhance resilience to climate shocks and conflict.
Expected outcome: ~80% crop yield increase (rice, cassava, maize, soybean), 1.68 million tons/year additional production, expansion of irrigated rice, improved access to seeds/inputs, stronger farmer organizations, better post-harvest handling and market integration, increased private sector engagement, reduced food imports, improved national food security.
Figures of adoption: 900,000 farming households directly supported, ~295,000 ha cultivated with improved seeds, 5,200 ha irrigated rice, 600 km rural roads rehabilitated, 1,600 FFS/demonstration plots, 2 million households indirectly benefiting, +4.1 million tons private sector processing, ~1.68 million tons annual production increase
Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers, women farmers (100% of women-headed households in target areas), youth/agripreneurs, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Kivu, seed producers, cooperatives, farmer organizations/inter-professional associations, public extension services, local authorities
Lessons learnt: Infrastructure (irrigation, roads) and market access are critical for adoption, seed system reform is a bottleneck, contract farming/aggregation incentivizes adoption, combining inputs + extension + finance accelerates impact, governance and institutional coordination are key for scaling and sustainability

Emergency Food Production Project (Projet de Production Alimentaire d’Urgence - PPAU)

Project funder: African Development Fund (ADF) (Loan and Grant) and the Government of Guinea
Planned Budget: 19.39 million UC (~USD 25.23 million)
Location: Republic of Guinea – national coverage
Planned duration: Nov 2022 – June 2024 (Completion) / Dec 2024 (Closing)
Deployment means: Distribution of certified seeds and fertilizers (30% government subsidy), GAP training, digital platforms (e-Voucher/e-Extension), TAAT technical assistance
Project main implementer: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) via Project Management Unit (UGP) of PATAG-EAJ
Project Description: Emergency operation to mitigate rising input/food prices and boost production of rice, maize, and tubers
Objective: Improve food and nutritional security; increase agricultural production and productivity in intervention zones
Expected outcome: Additional production of 71,429 tons rice, 57,000 tons maize, 12,000 tons cassava; significant yield increases across crops
Figures of adoption: 35,750 direct farmers; 2,000 tons rice seeds, 750 tons maize seeds, 20,000 cassava cuttings distributed; 63,286 ha additional sown area
Profiles of adopters: Smallholder farmers (≥10,750 women – 30%), 1,650 livestock farms, youth entrepreneurs; targeting vulnerable populations
Lessons learnt:
- Constraints: High international input prices, climate vulnerability
- Success factors: Strong existing UGP (PATAG-EAJ), e-Voucher digitalization for transparency, TAAT technical support for rapid multiplication technologies (SAH)

Projet de Développement des Chaînes de Valeurs Manioc, Igname, et Patate douce au Bénin (BEN1019)

Project funder: Islamic Development Bank (IsDB/BID) and the Government of Benin
Planned Budget: Approximately USD 64 million (including USD 250,000 for digitalization, USD 200,000 for alternative energy, national counterpart 1.5 million Euros)
Location: Benin – 20 communes across Agricultural Development Poles 4, 5, 6, and 7 (regions: Borgou, Donga, Collines, Couffo, Mono, Atlantique, Ouémé, Plateau, Zou)
Planned duration: Priority intervention under Government Action Program (PAG II 2021–2026)
Deployment means: Access to quality plant material, specialized technical training, production/processing equipment, digitalization initiatives
Project main implementer: Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries
Project Description: Transform cassava, yam, and sweet potato value chains to ensure food security, nutrition, and inclusive rural growth
Objective: Ensure food and nutritional security, promote inclusive growth, foster rural prosperity, create local jobs
Expected outcome: Scale Semi Autotrophic Hydroponic (SAH) seed multiplication, improve market access, strengthen capacities of national structures
Figures of adoption: Target 20 communes; USD 100,000 for youth and women capacity building; USD 250,000 for digital service implementation
Profiles of adopters: Smallholder producers, transformation cooperatives, SMEs, women and youth agriculture associations
Lessons learnt:
- Success Factors: Strong partner synergy (e.g., IITA for technical seeds), alignment with national agricultural plans
- Constraints: Need for better rural roads, increased access to mechanization services

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
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–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

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Variety Selection: Choose the enhanced cassava variety suitable for your specific conditions and context in the value chain.
Acquire Planting Material: Purchase high-quality planting material from reputable seed companies for initial planting.
Planting and Cultivation: Use the acquired planting material to establish your cassava crop. Ensure the planting materials are free of disease symptoms when transferred to the field.
Planting Technique: Depending on rainfall conditions, plant cuttings horizontally in dry climates and vertically or angularly in humid areas with high precipitation. Cover them entirely with soil.
Soil and Fertilizer Management: Adhere to recommended soil and fertilizer management practices for your specific growing area and conditions to achieve high root yields.
Monitoring and Maintenance: Keep an eye on the cassava crop for signs of pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. Address these issues promptly to maintain healthy growth.
Harvesting: Harvest the cassava roots once they have reached the desired maturity and size, typically around 8-12 months after planting.
Post-Harvest Handling: Handle the harvested roots with care to avoid damage. Store them in a cool, dry place to prevent spoilage.
Processing (Optional): If needed, process the roots into flour or starch for various applications in food, pharmaceuticals, packaging, or industrial products.
Seed Management (Optional): If you're interested in multiplying the improved varieties, follow recommended seed management practices for certification and compliance.
Market Linkages (Optional): Establish connections between seed suppliers, cassava growers, food processors, and consumer groups to create demand for cassava-based products.